Friday, July 23, 2010

Coffee Ice Cream


Coffee Ice Cream

In case you didn’t know, July is National Ice Cream Month.  What a spectacular idea!  A whole month devoted to ice cream, one of my very favorite desserts!  Unfortunately this month I have been so busy in my kitchen with other goings on, I have not made a batch of ice cream all month (though I did make awonderful sorbet.)  But, I love ice cream so very much that I couldn’t let this occasion pass without doing something to celebrate.  I decided to finally give coffee ice cream a try, and oh, what a good decision that was.   I’ve made a LOT of ice cream, but I think this has to be in my top three favorite flavors.  It is just perfect.  The coffee flavor is spot on, balanced perfectly with some sweetness, and unbelievably creamy.  I am entering this recipe in for the Ice Cream Social Challenge hosted by Scotty SnacksSavor the Thyme, and Tangled Noodle.  Even though July is almost over, I highly encourage you to indulge in this particular ice cream bliss.  It is ideal for enjoyment any day of the year :)
Coffee Ice Cream
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Ingredients:
1½ cups whole milk
¾ cup sugar
1½ cups whole coffee beans
Pinch of salt
1½ cups heavy cream, divided
5 large egg yolks
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. finely ground coffee or espresso powder
Directions: 
Combine the milk, sugar, coffee beans, salt and ½ cup of the heavy cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.  Once the mixture is warm and just begins to bubble, remove from the heat and let steep at room temperature for 1 hour.  
After steeping, return the saucepan with the coffee mixture to the burner over medium heat.  Pour the remaining 1 cup heavy cream into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer over the top.  In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks until smooth.  Once the coffee mixture has become warm again, slowly pour the mixture into the bowl with the egg yolks, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.  Return the egg-coffee bean mixture to the saucepan over medium high heat. 
Cook the mixture, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula or spoon (about 170-175° F.)  Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream.  Press on the coffee beans in the strainer to extract as much of the coffee flavor as possible, then discard the beans (I used a heavy-bottomed drinking glass to do this.)  Mix in the vanilla and ground coffee or espresso powder.  Chill the batter over an ice bath, or in the refrigerator.  Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator and then freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 
Source: adapted from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

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