Description
Cool summer nights melt into pure bliss with brandied cherry-and-chocolate chunk ice cream, a luxurious dessert marrying rich cocoa and boozy cherries. Sweet memories flow as smooth, creamy scoops promise delectable indulgence you’ll savor slowly.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted and halved
- ½ cup dark chocolate chunks or chips
Sugars and Sweeteners:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- ¼ cup brandy
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Macerate cherries in a small saucepan with sugar and brandy, gently simmering until liquid transforms into a syrupy consistency, stirring periodically to prevent scorching.
- Remove cherry mixture from heat, incorporate vanilla extract, and allow to cool completely to room temperature.
- Warm cream, milk, and half the sugar in a medium saucepan until steaming, avoiding boiling.
- Whisk egg yolks with remaining sugar until the mixture becomes pale and develops a creamy texture.
- Gradually introduce approximately half a cup of hot cream into egg yolks, continuously whisking to prevent curdling.
- Reintegrate the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan, stirring consistently over low heat until the custard thickens and coats a spoon’s back.
- Remove custard from heat, mix in vanilla extract, and strain through a fine-mesh sieve to eliminate potential egg fragments.
- Cool custard to room temperature, then refrigerate for minimum 4 hours or overnight to develop deeper flavors.
- Pour chilled custard into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s guidelines.
- During final churning moments, fold in brandied cherries with their syrup and chocolate chunks for even distribution.
- Transfer freshly churned ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for 2-4 hours until it reaches desired firmness.
- Scoop and savor the decadent brandied cherry-chocolate ice cream.
Notes
- Ensure cherries are pitted and chopped for even distribution and easier eating throughout the ice cream.
- Use high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for a rich, intense flavor that complements the brandied cherries.
- Control the brandy intensity by adjusting the amount added during cherry preparation to suit your taste preferences.
- For a non-alcoholic version, replace brandy with pure cherry juice or grape juice to maintain the fruity depth.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 359
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 143 mg