churned ice cream – Feasting Is Fun

Strawberry Rose Ice Cream

Strawberries are THE taste of Summer. While I love eating strawberries with a tiny sprinkle of sugar and splash of cream, or fresh from the plant warmed by the sun, I also wanted to make a beautiful ice cream with them. Except with a twist! Because summer, is also synonymous with roses blooming in our garden, I decided that would be the additional flavour to compliment the strawberries in this ice cream. And, the addition of rose extract elevates the final flavour to another level. One taste and you are transformed into a bygone era, where life seemed easier, simpler and slower. So, whatever you do this summer, don’t miss out on making this Strawberry Rose Ice Cream.

A Summer Dessert Of Your Dreams

Removing all the pips are during the making of this dreamy dessert, ensures the ice cream has silky texture that lingers on the tongue. As both fresh strawberry and rose flavours meld together, they create a unique flavour experience. Likewise, this truly is a dream ice cream where the finished recipe is so much more than the addition of its component parts. Sieving the strawberries is very important in creating the smooth, finish. And as this small, important step only takes a couple of minutes, it is worth it to ensure the final ice cream has the silky, smooth, texture.

Finally, this ice cream is the epitome of summer in a dessert. And as summer is the season when strawberries and roses are celebrated as being at their best, what better way to celebrate them. While all roses included in the pictures for this post, are from our own garden, I haven’t gone as far as to make my own Rose Extract. That process can safely be left in the hands of Nielsen-Massey , the professionals. Rather, the roses in the photos hint at their presence within the ice cream.

Note: Prior to starting this recipe ensure that the frozen bowl of the ice cream maker is placed in the freezer overnight for at least 8 hours. Or as per manufacturer’s instructions.

Recipe: Strawberry Rose Ice Cream makes approx. 1L

400g Punnet of Strawberries hulled and larger ones cut in half

3tbsp Sugar

4tbsp Tap Water

Scant 1/4tsp Rose Extract- I use Nielsen-Massey

20-30mls Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice

4 Large Free Range Egg Yolks

1tsp Cornflour – I use Doves Farm as this is guarenteed gluten free

5tbsp Caster Sugar

300mls Double Cream

300mls Whole Milk

1tsp Vanilla Extract

Method:

For full step by step instructions with photos on how to make the custard ice cream base, please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream.

Making The Strawberry Puree

First of all place the prepared strawberries into a heavy bottom, medium sized saucepan. Sprinkle over 3 tablespoons of sugar and 4 tablespoons of tap water.
Place the pan over a medium heat and cook the strawberries until the liquid starts bubbling.
Swirl the pan to ensure that the sugar is dissolved and then let the strawberries cook for a further 5 minutes.
While the strawberries are cooking place a sieve over a heatproof bowl.
Once cooked pour the strawberries and liquid on to the sieve.

Use the back of a dessert spoon and gently press the strawberries into the sieve. The juices and flesh will pass through the sieve. Keep running the back of the spoon over the pulp until all that’s left are seeds and the remaining strawberry fibres.
Scrape the underneath of the sieve with a clean spoon. This ensures all of the strawberry that’s passed through the sieve goes into the bowl underneath.
Discard the seeds and pulp left in the sieve.
Cover the bowl with cling film and chill.

Making The Ice Cream Base

To make the ice cream base, first place the cream and milk into a heavy bottom saucepan over a medium heat. Heat to scalding point, where little bubbles form around the rim prior to boiling.
While the cream mix is heating place the egg yolks, cornflour, sugar and vanilla extract into a large heatproof bowl. Whisk together until thickened.
As soon as the milk and cream have reached scalding point remove from the heat.
With the whisk on slow gently pour the hot liquid into the egg mix, increasing the whisk speed to medium.
Pour the custard base back into the saucepan over a medium heat. Stir until the custard is thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
Once cooked pour the custard through a sieve into a heatproof bowl.
Place cling film directly on to the custard to stop a skin from forming.
Leave the custard to cool before placing in the fridge to chill.
Once the strawberry juice has cooled add the Rose extract. Take care not to add more than the recipe indicates, as the finished result will taste soapy. Also add the juice of a small lemon 20-30mls and stir.
As soon as the custard base is chilled, remove the cling film and add the strawberry mix, then stir.

Churning And Freezing The Strawberry Rose Ice Cream

Set up the ice cream maker as per manufacturer’s instructions.
With the machine switched on pour in the flavoured custard base and churn until softly frozen. Similar in consistency to whipped ice cream in a cone.
When the right consistency has been reached switch off the ice cream maker and dismantle.
Spoon the churned ice cream into a freezer proof container with an airtight lid. I used a clean loaf tin to store the ice cream. This was purely for the photos, having seen similar images on Pinterest! The tin was then double wrapped in freezer proof cling film.
Place the container into the freezer and leave overnight, or for at least 12 hours, to allow the ice cream to fully freeze.
To serve, remove the ice cream from the freezer 10-20 minutes prior. As there are no artificial, only natural selection ingredients, this allows the ice cream to soften, so that it can be easily scooped.

So easy to scoop!

Serve in tea cups for dessert or afternoon tea. Likewise, scoop into cones for a delicious fun treat. Also, by using a certified gluten free cornflour, the ice cream is naturally gluten free.

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Strawberry Rose Ice Cream you may also like these:

Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Making ice cream at home, is such a creative and fun process. As you choose flavour combinations the possibilities become endless. Also by only using certain ingredients, homemade ice cream can easily be made gluten free. Finally, I would not be without an ice cream maker now, using it to make countless different flavours.

Whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun!

Sammie xx

Please note that no part of this post may be reproduced or replicated without the specific, written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream

Winter and ice cream. Can they really hold hands and be friends during the coldest months? I say absolutely! My Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream scooped into a bowl and topped with hot, toasted, flaked almonds is perfect any day of the year. Ice cream is for every season, we just have to get creative!

The Benefits Of Adding Almond Liqueur

Amaretto is an Italian Almond Liqueur. It’s flavour is of warm, toasted almonds which, when sipped, produces a warming feeling throughout the body. Add it to ice cream and two different things happen. First of all, due to the alcohol content, this ice cream does not need to wait around, warming up before it can be scooped. Furthermore, the ice cream becomes dreamily creamy. Creating a dessert that stands alone on its own merits, the toasted flaked almonds adding a crunchy texture to the smoothness of the ice cream.

Frozen dessert scooped into a glass mug served on a white plate with a silver spoon. — Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream, 2 scoops into a glass mug.

Two Dessert Options

However, the Italians have a wonderful dessert called Affogato. A scoop or two of ice cream, drowned in a shot of hot, intense, espresso . The coffee drowns the ice cream. The resulting effect being a meeting of ice cold, ice cream and scalding hot coffee. If you love coffee, then this is an incredibly stylish way to end a meal.

Affogato dessert made using Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream and freshly brewed coffee, served in a glass mug. — Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream with fresh, hot coffee poured over, creating Affogato.

The combination of opposites; hot and cold, sweet and bitter, dessert and drink, create an exciting, enticing, taste experience. Most of all, that tastebud sensation is completely homemade. Because the dessert is created from scratch, the control of flavours is in your hands.

Almond liqueur bottle alongside a bowl of frozen dessert made use the liqueur. — Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream topped with toasted, flaked almonds.

Recipe: Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream makes 750ml

300ml/ 1/2 pint Double Cream

300ml/ 1/2 pint Whole Milk

1tsp Vanilla Bean Extract I use Nielsen-Massey

4 Large Free Range Egg Yolks

5tbsp Caster Sugar

1tsp Corn Flour I use Doves Farm as it is 100% gluten free

5tbsp Amaretto Liqueur

Method:

Most importantly, ensure the freezing compartment of the ice cream machine has been in the freezer overnight, or as per manufacturer’s instructions.

For step by step photographs, showing the making of an ice cream base, please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream.

Making The Amaretto Ice Cream Base

First of all, pour both the cream and milk into a large, heavy based saucepan and place over a medium heat. Allow to heat until small bubbles form around the rim of the saucepan – this is known as the scalding point. Once reached, remove the saucepan from the heat.
While the milk/cream mixture is heating, add the egg yolks, sugar, corn flour and vanilla bean extract to a large, heatproof bowl. Whisk until pale and frothy.
As soon as the eggs are mixed and the milk/cream have reached scalding point, continue with the following:
With the whisk still on slow, gradually pour the hot milk mixture into the bowl containing the egg mixture. Keep pouring until all of the hot, creamy liquid is mixed in.
Next pour the contents of the bowl back into the saucepan and place over a low heat. Keep stirring to ensure the custard base does not catch. Continue heating until the custard has thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Place a sieve over a large heatproof bowl and pour the custard base through.
Also, to ensure a skin does not form on top of the custard, place cling film on to the custard. So that it is in direct contact.
Set the bowl aside to cool and then place in the fridge to chill thoroughly.
When the custard has fully chilled remove from the fridge. Now is the time to add the Amaretto Liqueur. Stir to mix.

Smooth Ice Cream Is The Result Of Being Churned

Set up the ice cream machine as per manufacturer’s instructions.
With the machine turned on, pour the deliciously scented custard base into the churning bowl.
Continue churning until the ice cream has a thick consistency.
Stop the machine and remove the lid and paddle. Scrape the ice cream from the paddle into a suitable freezer proof, airtight container. Then, using a silicone spatula, decant the rest of the ice cream into the container. Wipe away any splashes, clip on the lid, label and finally place the container into the freezer to finish freezing.

To serve, remove the ice cream from the freezer and scoop straight away. Since the ice cream contains a good slug of alcohol, which freezes at a much lower temperature, it is ready to serve immediately.

Affogato Italian Dessert. — Affogato, using Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream. One scoop or two?

To create an Amaretto Affogato, simply scoop one or two balls of ice cream into a heatproof glass. Immediately pour over a steaming, hot shot of espresso and serve.

Please make sure any dinner guests who are driving have an alternative. My Very Vanilla Ice Cream works very well in an Affogato. Likewise if you want the almond flavour, without the alcohol, you could add 2 teaspoons of good quality almond extract, instead of the Amaretto. The ice cream will need to sit for 20 minutes once removed from the freezer to soften.

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream you may also like these:

Chocolate Orange Ice Cream

FF Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream — Chocolate Orange Ice Cream

Dark Chocolate Chip Vanilla Ice Cream

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Investing in an ice cream machine, need not only be for the warmer summer months. Cold ice cream melting over a warm Chocolate Fudge Brownie is my idea of comfort food heaven. I love the taste sensation of hot and cold together.

So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Camp Coffee Ice Cream

Camp Coffee Ice Cream with crunchy chocolate coffee beans.

It is mid September and here in the south of the U.K. the weather is still relatively warm. Not that you need it to be warm outside to enjoy my Camp Coffee Ice Cream.

Yes, ice cream is great to have during the hot, Summer months, but I happily eat it all year round. This particular ice cream with its inviting coffee flavour (without the caffeine) would be so good scooped on top of a warm chocolate brownie.

FF Camp Coffee Ice Cream — **Camp Coffee Ice Cream** great all year round.

Chocolate and coffee are a classic combination, which is why I decided to add a good measure of chocolate coffee beans to this ice cream.

The delicious chocolate/coffee crunch against the smooth, silky, coffee flavoured ice cream, keeps this interesting on the palette.

Camp Coffee Ice Cream with chocolate coffee beans.

Making your own ice cream at home gives you complete control over the intensity of flavours. This Camp Coffee Ice Cream is how I’d drink my coffee, medium strength. You, however, can put as much, or as little Camp coffee as you like!

Churning this ice cream, in an ice cream maker, ensures it is silky smooth. If you like your ice cream just like that, leave out the chocolate coffee beans. Again, what you add is completely in your control.

So let’s show you how to make this delicious dessert, or fun treat.

Recipe: Makes 750ml Camp Coffee Ice Cream

300ml/ 1/2pt Double Cream

300ml/ 1/2pt Milk – Whole or Semi Skimmed

2tsp Camp Coffee – widely available in stores and online

4 Large Free Range Egg Yolks – the whites can be frozen for a month

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

1tsp Corn Flour – I use Doves Farm as it is certified gluten free

5tbsp Caster Sugar

100g/4oz Chocolate Coffee Beans – mine were from Waitrose

Method: Ensure the ‘Frozen’ container part of your ice cream maker has been in the freezer for 8 hours, overnight, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Note: For a step by step guide, with photographs, on making ice cream please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream.

Making the ice cream base

Pour the cream and milk into a large, heavy bottomed saucepan and place over a medium heat.
Heat the liquid until scalding point is reached – a rim of small bubbles will appear around the outside edge of the liquid – remove from the heat.
Whilst the liquid is heating place the egg yolks, corn flour, sugar and vanilla extract into a large, heatproof bowl. Whisk until the eggs are pale and have increased in volume.
With the whisk still running on low, slowly add the scalded cream mixture to the eggs, continually whisking.
Whisk thoroughly until all the ingredients are combined.
Tip the custard ice cream base back into the saucepan and place back over a medium heat, stirring constantly.
Before putting the pan back on the heat I quickly wash and dry the original bowl used.
When the custard has thickened and coats the back of a spoon remove from the heat.
Pour the custard through a wire sieve into the large heatproof bowl.
Add the Camp coffee and stir thoroughly.
Place cling film directly on top of the ice cream base, to prevent a skin from forming.
Allow the custard to cool slightly before placing in the fridge to chill thoroughly.

Churning the ice cream

Once chilled, set up your ice cream maker according to its manufacturer’s instructions.
Remove the cling film, stir the ice cream base and taste. If you wish to have a stronger coffee flavour add more Camp coffee, stirring and tasting until the desired strength is reached.
With the ice cream machine switched on and churning, pour the ice cream base through the opening into the bowl.
Churn for 15-20 minutes until the ice cream is thick, but not frozen solid.
Switch off the machine and remove the top and the paddle.

Scrape as much ice cream as possible from the paddle (and then lick the rest off 😉).
Using a deep silicone spatula transfer the rest of the ice cream to a freezer proof tub.
Add the chocolate coffee beans and swirl through the ice cream using the handle of a wooden spoon.

Clip on a tight fitting lid and place the Camp Coffee Ice Cream into the freezer for at least 4 hours, longer if it is very hot weather, so that the ice cream completely freezes.

To serve, remove the ice cream from the freezer 15-20 minutes before scooping. As your ice cream is homemade and therefore does not contain any artificial softeners, preservatives or additives, it will take a little while to soften.

I like to serve Camp Coffee Ice Cream in a pretty bowl for dessert, or in a cone if we are eating in the garden and enjoying the sun. It’s not unheard of to be handing cones full of ice cream, over the fence to our neighbours either!

It’s definitely more fun to share.

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Camp Coffee Ice Cream you may also like these:

Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Chocolate Orange Ice Cream

Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream

I have a thing for hot and cold food together. So my Vanilla Fudge Chocolate Brownies with a scoop or two of Camp Coffee Ice Cream and hot custard poured over, would be my idea of pudding heaven!

That is exactly why I enjoy cooking and baking so much at home. The flavours and combinations are limitless, plus it’s usually a lot cheaper to make it yourself and tastes a lot better. Why? Because you can make it exactly how you want it to taste.

Whatever to are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun creating you feast. Also if you have the means to share some of your bakes, it is so rewarding. Seeing someone smile as you hand them a slice of cake, knowing they have not been forgotten about, simply because the can’t get out and about. We live in communities. Let’s make someone’s day with a surprise treat?

Sammie xx

Camp Coffee Club provided me with the Camp coffee to make this recipe. All opinions, views, content and photography are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

I have come across very few people who do not like ice cream. Perhaps they are restricted due to dietary reasons, and yet they still love it. And the most popular flavour, by far, is chocolate. So why not indulge yourself with my dreamy, creamy Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream?

So, if you are a lover chocolate ice cream, then this is THE one for you!

Rich, smooth chocolate ice cream with delicious chunks of white, milk and dark chocolate in every mouthful. What more could a chocolate lover ask for!

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen our three teenage children so excited about an ice cream. They absolutely couldn’t wait for the photo shoot of this Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream to be over so that they could start eating their laden cones.

Quite a cute picture, especially as the tallest is holding the bottom ice cream!

A Divine Recipe

Divine Chocolate sent me some of their chocolate to use in baking. And so I couldn’t resist making an ice cream. Not just any ice cream though, a really good chocolate ice cream, with whole pieces of chocolate throughout, making each bite utterly delicious.

While I have made no churn ice cream before, which did turn out spectacularly well, following attempts have been too sweet for my palette. Although our children have enjoyed my experiments, I couldn’t honestly put the recipes on here. Because, my standards are high and overly sweet doesn’t cut it with me.

While it may be seen as more convenient making a no churn ice cream, the preparation time is the same, although churning adds an extra 15-20 minutes. Although churned ice cream is already three quarters frozen when it goes into the freezer. So there’s less time to wait until it’s ready to scoop!

Anyhow this Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream is beautiful when churned, with a silky, smoothness that tempts the tastebuds.

Recipe: Make 750ml Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

300ml/ 1/2 pint Double Cream

300ml/ 1/2 pint Milk – Whole or Semi Skimmed

4 Large Free Range Egg Yolks – the whites can be frozen for up to 1 month

1tsp Corn Flour

5 tablespoons Caster Sugar

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen Massey

200g/7oz Dark Chocolate

100g/4oz Milk Chocolate

100g/4oz White Chocolate

Method: Ensure the frozen compartment of your ice cream maker has been in the freezer for 12 hours or according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Making The Ice Cream Base

Note: For step by step instructions with accompanying photographs please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream.

Pour the cream and milk into a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat over a medium heat, until scalding point is reached, a rim of small bubbles will appear appear around the outside liquid, at the saucepan’s edge, this is called the scalding point, just before the liquid is about to boil. As soon as the scalding point has been reached remove the pan from the heat.
Into a large, heatproof bowl add the egg yolks, sugar, corn flour and vanilla extract.
Whisk the egg yolks until they are pale and thickened, with the whisk running slowly gently pour the scalded liquid on to the eggs. Whisk until thoroughly incorporated.
Tranfer the contents of the bowl back to the saucepan, (I quickly wash up the original bowl, once the custard base has been poured into the pan and before I put the pan back on to the heat). Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir until the custard base has thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
Break up 150g of the dark chocolate and place it into the freshly washed bowl.
Pour the custard base, through a sieve, into the bowl, over the top of the broken chocolate.
Stir until the chocolate has completely melted into the hot custard base. Incidentally, this is also how to make chocolate custard!
Place cling film directly on to the top of the chocolate custard, to stop a skin forming and leave to cool on the worktop until warm, then place in the fridge to completely chill.

Churning The Ice Cream

Set up your ice cream maker as per the manufacturer’s instructions, mine has to be churning as I pour the ice cream base in.
Remove the cling film from the top of the ice cream base and give it a good mix. If you find it easier transfer the liquid to a jug.
Pour the chocolate ice cream base into the churning bowl via the opening.
Churn for 15-20 minutes until the ice cream is thickly frozen.

Preparing The Ice Cream To Freeze

Once churned to a thick consistency, turn off the machine and remove the top and paddle. Scrape off as much ice cream from the paddle as you can. And then, over the sink lick off the rest!!
Using a deep silicone spatula, transfer the thick chocolate ice cream to a freezer proof container that has a tight fitting lid.
Roughly chop the remaining dark, milk and white chocolate.

FF Triple Chocolate Chip Ice Cream — White, milk and dark chocolate chunks.

Sprinkle the chocolate chunks on top of the thick chocolate ice cream in the freezer tub.

Swirl the triple chocolate chunks evenly through the ice cream. I use the handle of a wooden spoon, swirling the chunks through the ice cream. Then snap on the tight fitting lid and place in the freezer for 6-8 hours, or overnight to finish freezing.

How good does that tub look?

Exactly! You cannot buy this kind of deliciousness.

To serve, remove from the freezer 15-20 minutes prior to serving. As there are no artificial softeners or artificial anything in this Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream, it needs a little time to warm before being scoop-able!

Scoop into cones, bowls, chocolate dipped cups, or even my Toffee Cookie Cups – whatever your heart desires.

Then tuck in. Savour the supreme creaminess of this delightful ice cream.

Just a little tip, make a double batch of this ice cream, it disappeared in one night between 5 of us – just sayin’.

If you love this recipe for Triple Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream why not take a look at these:

Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream

Ice cream is fun. Since it brings back childhood memories for many people and why shouldn’t we still enjoy food from our memories.

During my summer ice cream making journey, all who have tried the various flavours I have made, including the ones that didn’t make the cut, have agreed that homemade tastes best.

So as we edge into Autumn and proper pudding season begins, don’t banish your ice cream maker to the back of the cupboard, languishing lonely for another year. And yes in our house ice cream makers have feelings. Join me as I pair new ice cream flavours with puddings and desserts through the colder months.

Not got an ice cream maker? I highly recommend the Which Best Buy ice cream maker from Andrew James . It has been thoroughly tested throughout the summer, keep your eyes open for the review coming up shortly.

Have fun, feasting, sharing and enjoying good company, remembering that food always tastes better when it’s shared!

Sammie xx

Divine Chocolate provided me with the chocolate for this recipe. All view, opinions, content and photography are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream

Today I have a visually beautiful treat to share with you. It tastes as good as it looks and so I present my Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream. This dessert definitely has a grown up feel about it. Smooth blueberry flavour, layered with subtle, floral flavours that come from the addition of Bloom Gin. Also, as with most of the ice cream recipes on this blog, this dessert is gluten free. Resulting in more people, with restricted diets, being able to enjoy thisdelightful dessert.

Scoops of frozen fruit dessert served in a martini glass. — Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream.

Gently cooking the blueberries with a little sugar results in them keeping both their distinct flavour and colour. And a dash a of Bloom Gin adds floral notes to the delightful, fruity ice cream flavour, while also complimenting the sweetness of the blueberries. Creating an elegant and delightful dessert.

When freezing food the flavour naturally becomes duller. So foods to be eaten while very cold usually need to have a stronger flavour base. Yet here, the vivid purple Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream comes alive on the palette. Because the cooked blueberries are left whole, the ice cream has a texture, not dissimilar to rum and raisin, which I absolutely adore. Resulting in the blueberries providing interest against the smooth, silky ice cream.

A tub of purple frozen fruit dessert with a martini glass to the side containing scoops of the dessert. — Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream

Since using an ice cream maker results in a much creamier ice cream than other methods, it is my preferred choice. Because the churning action stops a large volume of fruit from creating large ice crystals. Similar to champagne, where the smaller the bubbles, the creamier the champagne tastes, in ice cream making, the smaller the ice crystals the smoother the finished ice cream.

Recipe: Makes 1L Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream

300ml/ 1/2pt Double Cream

300ml/ 1/2pt Milk – Whole or Semi Skimmed

1/2tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

4 Large Free Range Egg – freeze the whites for up to 1 month

1tsp Corn Flour – I use Doves Farm

as they are certified gluten free

5tbsp Caster Sugar

300g Fresh Blueberries

1tbsp Caster Sugar

1tbsp Tap Water

2tbsp Bloom Gin – optional. Alternatively leave the gin out and you still have a delicious blueberry ice cream.

Method: Ensure the freezing compartment/bowl of your ice cream maker has been in the freezer overnight, or according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Note: For step by step instructions with photographs, on how to make the ice cream base please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream.

Preparing The Blueberries

First of all, place the blueberries in a small saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon of both sugar and water. Place over a medium heat and cook until the blueberries just start to burst, giving up their precious juice. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the contents to a bowl. Allow to cool and then add 2 tablespoons of Bloom Gin if using and set to one side.

Cooked fruit in a bowl with a bottle of gin to the side. — Cooked and cooled blueberries with a dash of gin.

Making The Ice Cream Base

Into a large heavy bottomed saucepan add both the milk and cream. Place over a medium heat and cook until scalding point is reached – this is the point before the liquid boils. Small bubbles will appear around the edge of the cream mixture, once scalding point is reached remove the pan from the heat.
In a large, heatproof bowl, add the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract and corn flour.
Whisk the eggs until they are pale and creamy.
With the whisk still running on slow gently pour the hot cream mixture into the whipped eggs. Whisk until well combined.
Tip the ice cream base back into the saucepan and cook over a medium heat, stirring until the custard has thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Pour the hot custard through a sieve into a heatproof bowl – I usually quickly wash up and dry the original bowl I’ve used.
Most importantly, place the cling film directly on top of the custard as this will stop a skin from forming.
Allow the custard to cool a little on the worktop and then transfer both it and the prepared blueberries to the fridge to chill.
When both are chilled assemble your ice cream maker, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Churning The Blueberry Bloom Gin Ice Cream

Pour the blueberry mixture into the cold custard ice cream base and stir.
Tranfer the Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream mixture to a large jug.
With the ice cream maker switched on (in my case) pour the ice cream mixture into the churning ice cream maker.
Churn until the ice cream is softly frozen – about 20 minutes.
Switch of the machine, remove the paddle and scoop the softly frozen ice cream into a freezer proof tub.

A tub of churned semi frozen fruit dessert — Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream ready for the freezer.

Clip on a tight fitting lid and place in the freezer to firm up. Ideally it should be left for 6 hours or overnight, depending on the ambient temperature.

To serve, remove the Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream from the freezer 15 minutes prior to scooping. Doing so allows the ice cream to soften slightly making it easier to scoop. Although there is a small addition of alcohol it is not enough to affect the freezing of this ice cream.

Scoops of Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream in a martini glass. — Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream

This stunning looking ice cream looks elegant scooped into martini glasses.

Why not serve with a glass of Bloom Gin, tonic water and lightly crushed blueberries, over ice?

Unusual, unique and utterly delicious, this delightful ice cream needs to be tasted to be truly appreciated.

Blueberry Bloom Gin Ice Cream scoops in a martini glass with a bottle of Bloom gin to one side. — Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Blueberry Bloom Ice Cream you may also like these:

Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream

Scoops of almond liqueur frozen dairy dessert topped with flaked almonds in a glass bowl with a bottle of Amaretto to one side. — Amaretto Creamy Ice Cream

Strawberry Rose Ice Cream

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Scoops of Lemon Ripple frozen dairy dessert served in a pretty glass dessert bow. — Lemon Ripple Ice Bream

There are lots of other iced recipes here on my blog, including my Refreshing Tropical Fruit Sorbet . When you put your mind to it there are endless flavour combinations availed to you if you own an ice cream maker. I prefer not to be limited by what’s available in store. It is important to remember that each make of gin has their own unique mix of botanicals. So for the fragrant floral notes unique to this recipe I highly recommend using Bloom gin.

Whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

I was gifted a bottle of Bloom Gin for the purposes of a review. All opinions, views, content and photography are my own. No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream

Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream. Silky, chocolate ice cream packed full of chocolate/caramel Rolos.

The idea for this recipe came from my friend and amazing fellow blogger Jane from Jane’s Patisserie. While creating the most wonderful recipes, she also has just got a new puppy called Rolo. So you see I had to create something to celebrate the new puppy Rolo coming home. Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream seemed the perfect solution.

This Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream recipe is so versatile. Once you have made the chocolate ice cream base you can add whatever you like. I rather like the idea of a Mars Bar version, with big chunks swirled through the ice cream.

I am loving my Andrew James Which Best Buy Ice Cream Maker. In fact I now have a second bowl, which I can pop in the freezer. This means I can either make one big double batch of the same ice cream or split it into two different flavours.

Making ice cream at home is easy, inexpensive, you have control over what goes in AND you are only limited by your imagination as to how many flavours you come up with! Someone asked me today why they’d never had Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream before, my answer was I’d only just invented it!!

Recipe: Makes 750ml Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream

300ml Double Cream

300ml Whole or Semi Skimmed Milk

4 Large Free Range Egg Yolks – freeze the whites in a bag for up to one month

1tsp Vanilla Bean Paste/Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

1tsp Corn Flour – I use Doves Farm as it is certified gluten free

5tbsp Caster Sugar

100g Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa

4 Packets of Rolos

Method: Ensure the frozen bowl part of the ice cream maker has been in the freezer for at least 8 hours, or according to manufacturers instructions.

Note – for step by step photographs of how to make the custard base please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream

Making The Chocolate Ice Cream Base

Pour the milk and cream into a heavy based saucepan over a medium heat.
Heat until the milk is scalded – little bubbles will appear around the rim of the liquid just before it boils. Once it has reached this point remove from the heat.
In a large heat proof bowl add the egg yolks, vanilla paste, corn flour and sugar.
Whisk until pale and creamy.
With the whisk still running on low, slowly pour the hot cream mixture into the bowl – this creates the custard base.
Pour the custard base back into the saucepan, over a low-medium heat, stirring continuously.
When the custard has thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon remove the pan from the heat.
Chop up the dark chocolate and place into a clean bowl – I quickly rinse out the original bowl used.
Place a sieve over the bowl and pour the hot custard through the sieve on to the chocolate.
Stir the custard with a wooden spoon and the chocolate will melt into it.

FF Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream — Chocolate melting into the custard ice cream base.

Cover the chocolate custard base with cling film, so the film lays directly on the surface of the custard. This will stop a skin from forming.
Once cooled to warm on the work top place the bowl in the fridge to chill.
As soon as the base is chilled it is ready to be churned.

Churning The Ice Cream

Set up your ice cream maker as per the manufacturers instructions.
Mine has to be churning, prior to adding any liquid.
Pour the chocolate custard into the churning machine through the opening and leave to churn until frozen – for me that is when the ice cream is turning as one clump with the beater.
Switch the machine off and remove the top part of the ice cream maker.

Remove the beater, scraping off as much of the ice cream as you can. Then lick off the rest of the ice cream 😉
Decant the chocolate ice cream into a freezer proof tub.
Unwrap 3 packets of Rolos and cut each one in half.
Add to the ice cream and swirl through using the handle of a wooden spoon.
Unwrap the fourth packet and place the Rolos directly on top of the ice cream.

Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream ready for the freezer.

Pop on a tight fitting lid and place the Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream into the freezer for at least 4 hours, or until fully frozen.
To serve, remove the ice cream from the freezer 15-20 before scooping. As our delicious Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream doesn’t have any artificial softener, preservatives or additives added to it, it’ll need a few minutes to soften up.

Serve in cones, bowls or these fun cups I found.

Why not have a go at making your own ice cream at home. It really is so much fun.

If you have enjoyed this Chocolate Rolo Ice Cream Recipe here are a few more you may like:

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Chocolate Honeycomb Ice Cream

Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

I hope these recipes have inspired you to make your own ice cream at home? It tastes so much better than most of the ice creams you can buy and you can create your own ice cream sundaes like my Raspberry Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae.

Whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens this very warm weekend, here in the South East of England, have fun feasting with family and friends.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream, this is THE ice cream I have wanted to make throughout my entire life. Creamy with tart lemon curd rippled through. If you love lemon, like I do, then trust me when I say you need to make this luscious ice cream.

This luscious Lemon Ripple Ice Cream really is a dream come true for me. I adore lemons. Also, I heard Jamie Oliver once say that if there weren’t lemons in his kitchen he’d give up cooking. I doubt he meant it quite to that extreme, but I do understand his passion for them.

Happily I use them in savoury recipes such as my Tangy Lemon Potato Salad and sweet recipes such as this delightful Lemony Strawberry Pavlova. Their flavour is so transferable between both sweet and savoury dishes.

FF Lemon Ripple Ice Cream — Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

Here, in this Lemon Ripple Ice Cream, there is a wonderful soft, creamy lemon background flavour, with bursts of tart, intense citrus lemon. The combination of both the subtle and vibrant creates a tastebud sensation that draws you into a dreamy world of lemony loveliness.

The Benefit Of Homemade Ice Cream

While you absolutely could eat this ice cream in a cone, for me, I wanted nothing to interrupt the pure creamy sensation of eating it with just a spoon. I wasn’t disappointed!

This Lemon Ripple Ice Cream is deceptively yummy. I feared whilst churning it yesterday in my new Andrew James Ice Cream Maker, that none would actually make it to the freezer. Happily I restrained myself. I am so glad that I did. Tasting it today, frozen, yet softened enough to scoop, was reward for my patience and restraint!

Just a quick note on ingredients; if you don’t have lemon extract, which is available online and in good supermarkets, don’t worry, the lemon curd added during the churning process will still provide a great lemon flavour. As for the lemon curd, use a good quality tart one, without bits. I love lemon curd with real peel in it, but this is not the place to use it.

Recipe: Makes 750ml Lemon Ripple Ice Cream

300ml Double Cream

300ml Whole or Semi Skimmed Milk

4 Large Free Range Egg Yolks

1tsp Corn Flour

1/8 tsp Salt – I use Maldon

6tbsp Caster Sugar

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen Massey

1tsp Lemon Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

300g Best Quality Lemon Curd – I used Waitrose new waitrose 1 lemon curd, it is beautifully tart

Method: Ensure the frozen ‘bowl’ of your ice cream maker has been in the freezer for 24 hours or according to the manufacturers instructions.

Note – For step by step photos of the custard base cooking process please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream

Making The Ice Cream Base

First of all pour the cream and milk into a large saucepan on a medium heat.
Heat until just before the liquid boils, you will see little bubbles form around the outside rim – this is known as the scalding point, once reached remove from the heat.
In a large bowl whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, extracts and corn flour until pale and thickened.
With the whisk still running on low, slowly pour the hot cream into the egg mixture.
Tip the entire mixture back into the saucepan, place over a medium/low heat stirring constantly until it thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
Remove from the heat.
Pour the hot custard through a sieve into a large bowl.
Place cling film directly on to the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming.

Leave to cool and then chill in the fridge. Once chilled transfer to a jug.

Churning The Ice Cream Base And Adding The Lemon Ripple

Set up your ice cream maker and if it is like mine, it will need to be switched on and churning before pouring in the custard.
Pour in the custard through the shoot and leave to churn until softly frozen.
Add half of the lemon curd, I use a teaspoon and added it one teaspoon at a time, through the hole, so that it slowly becomes incorporated within the ice cream.
When the ice cream is soft but can hold its shape stop the ice cream maker.
Transfer the ice cream to a freezer proof tub.
Spoon the remaining lemon curd on to the ice cream.

Use a spoon to gently ripple the lemon curd through the ice cream.

Resist the urge to just dive in with a spoon, as this really tastes better once it is properly frozen.
Pop the lid on and place in the freezer for 12 hours or ideally overnight. Why ideally? Because then you’ll be asleep and not thinking about the ice cream.
To serve, remove the tub from the freezer 15 minutes before scooping to allow it to soften.

Serving And Enjoying Homemade Ice Cream

Serve scooped into elegant dessert bowls or enjoy in an ice cream cone. Either way prepare yourself to fall completely, head over heels in love, with a new flavour of ice cream – Lemon Ripple Ice Cream.

Lemon Ripple Ice Cream is very much a dreamily, creamy ice cream, not in any way a sorbet – which by the way I love and am working on a recipe.

This ice cream would make the perfect dessert after a spicy, hot meal. Refreshing, creamy and palette cleansing, yet you still feel like you’ve had dessert.

However and whenever you eat this delicious ice cream, be sure to enjoy it with others. Listen to the oohs and aahs of your loved ones enjoying something really, really good. It will make you smile 😀

If you have enjoyed this Lemon Ripple Ice Cream recipe here are some others that you may also want to try:

Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream

Chocolate Orange Ice Cream

Strawberry Rose Ice Cream

I love being able to create my own ice cream flavours at home. Having an ice cream maker makes it so easy. Preparing the custard takes 15 minutes, then the custard is left to cool. Churning takes about 20 minutes and you can eat the ice cream scooped from the ice cream maker, if you want a soft set ice cream. Otherwise overnight in the freezer and you have any flavour ice cream you like!

That can never be a bad thing eh???

Thank you for your comments, photos on social media, I absolutely love seeing your makes and bakes. It still thrills me every time someone uses one of my recipes.

Have fun feasting, sharing and making people smile.

Sammie xx

Andrew James provided me with an ice cream maker to review. All views, opinions, content, recipes and photographs are my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream

I love ice cream. In fact I love it so much that I really enjoy making my own. There are endless flavour possibilities and combinations AND it’s made with real cream. Also no extra additives are needed. Today I bring you Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream.

Dreamy, creamy strawberry ice cream, with an intense strawberry syrup rippled through. This isn’t any ordinary ice cream, this is THE best Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream you could ever imagine.

And you too can make it at home. Because it’s so easy!

You make a vanilla custard, make a strawberry coulis, mix, freeze and that’s when the magic happens!

Ok so there’s a tiny little bit more to it than that, but preparation time for this delicious ice cream is about 15 minutes.

Loving My Ice Cream Maker

I love properly churned ice cream, by that I mean ice cream that is mixed whilst it freezes. It allows the ice crystals to stay really small and results in the creamy texture we all associate with ice cream.

As our old ice cream maker is literally on it’s last legs, I have a new one from Andrew James it can be found here and has won a coveted Which Best Buy Award. While I’ve said before that any new piece of kitchen kit needs to earn it’s place in my kitchen, I’d say if you love ice cream, it definitely worth buying an ice cream maker. Since they are fairly small appliances and I keep the ‘frozen’ bowl part permenantly in the freezer, whilst the other parts stay in the box.

Because the ice cream custard base pretty much stays the same and then you can add whatever flavours. The flavour combinations are limitless! Therefore, having an ice cream maker in our kitchen for me, is essential.

Easy Gluten Free Dessert

For those of you on a gluten free diet, ensure the corn flour that you use is certified gluten free, then you can happily make these delicious, dreamy treats. should be able to enjoy ice cream, so for those of you with lactose/dairy/egg intolerance I will be working on some extra recipes so that you too can enjoy this delightful, cooling treat during the summer.

Supporting British And Local Farmers

There is one thing that I do feel passionately about and that is good quality, seasonal produce. And if you grow your own fruit even better! Using British frozen fruit, which I do often during the colder months is a great alternative, as is using tinned fruit. I use tinned peaches to make my Peach and Banana Smoothie in the winter and it tastes utterly delicious. That doesn’t mean I don’t eat some imported produce, but here in the UK we have incredible ‘Pick Your Own’ farms, farmers markets and even some supermarkets that stock local produce.

I guess what I’m saying is, life is about balance. If we can support our Britsh farmers and even grow some of our own fruit and veg (watch out or an exciting new gardening diary, coming soon on this blog) we are not only getting the freshest produce, picked at it’s peak, but also supporting our farmers and local producers too.

Recipe: Makes 1 litre Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream

400g British Strawberries

2tbsp Framboise – raspberry liquer – substitute with apple juice if preferred

1tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

8tbsp Caster Sugar

300ml Double Cream

300ml Milk – whole or semi-skimmed

1tsp Corn Flour (also known as corn starch) – I use Dove Farm

4 Large Free Range Egg Yolks – the egg whites can be frozen for up to one month (perfect for making Lemony Strawberry Pavlova)

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

Method: Ensure the ‘frozen’ part of your ice cream maker has been in the freezer for at least 24 hours – or according to manufacturers instructions.

Making the Ice Cream Custard Base:

For step by step photographs of how to make the ice ceram custard base please see here

First of all pour the milk and cream into a heavy based saucepan over a medium heat.
In a heatproof bowl add the egg yolks, 6 tablespoons of caster sugar, vanilla extract and corn flour. Whisk until pale and frothy.
As soon as the cream/milk in the pan has reached scalding point, small bubbles appear around the edge of the milky liquid, remove the pan from the heat.
With the whisk on slow speed gently pour the hot milky liquid into the bowl with the whisked egg yolks.
Once combined tip the whole mixture back into the saucepan and cook over a low heat until the custard thickens and covers the back of a wooden spoon.
Pour the hot custard into a heatproof bowl, through a fine sieve
Place cling film directly on top of the custard to stop a skin from forming.
Allow the custard to cool slightly before placing the bowl in the fridge to chill.

Making the Strawberry Coulis and Sauce:

Wash the strawberries and pat dry with a clean tea towel.
Remove all of the green stems (hull) and place the strawberries into a blender.
Add 1 tablespoon of caster sugar, the framboise (or apple juice) and lemon juice.
Pulse and then blend on a high speed until you have a very smooth purée.

FF Strawberru Ripple Ice Cream — Fresh strawberry coulis.

Pour half of the strawberry coulis into a small saucepan and add 1 tablespoon of caster sugar.
Cover the other half with cling film and place in the fridge.
Gently bring the strawberry coulis in the saucepan up to a boil and continue to let it bubble until reduced by half. You will be left with an intensely strawberry, jam like syrup. Pour into a bowl to cool.

Churning the Strawberry Ice Cream

First of all, set your ice cream maker up as per the instruction manual.
Pour the non concentrated strawberry coulis into the custard base and stir.
The pour the strawberry ice cream base into the machine maker and churn until you have a thick, but not solid, ice cream. Mine took approximately 20 minutes to curn to a thick, yet still soft, ice cream.
Stop the ice cream maker and remove the lid.

Remove the plastic churning paddle ~~and lick off all the soft ice cream to ensure it tastes good!~~
Using a silicone spatula transfer the ice cream to a suitable, freezer proof, ice cream tub.
Pour over the concentrated strawberry syrup and using a wooden spoon handle, ripple the intense strawberry syrup through the ice cream.

Finally clip on a lid and place the Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream into the freezer to completely firm up, 4-8 hours.
To serve, remove the ice cream from the freezer 10 minutes before serving. The small amount of alcohol added, stops this ice cream from setting completely solid.
Scoop into a waffle cone or bowl and enjoy!

Keeping My Summer Cool With Fruity Ice Cream

Ice Cream has to be right up, at the top, on my list of summer comfort foods. Whether it’s a sweltering hot day and I just want to cool down, or Wimbledon is on telly and I’m dragging out dinner, because the match is too good to miss. A cooling scoop of ice cream, in a cone, hits the spot.

If you haven’t tried making ice cream before, yet love it as much as I do, why not get an ice cream maker? You can play around with flavours, textures and make whatever combination you like!’

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Strawberry Ripple Ice Cream you may also like these:

Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Raspberry Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae

Very Vanilla Ice Cream

Ice Cream is such a great dessert option for summer barbecues, where people have feasted on deliciously cooked fish and meat. It is portable in cones, and brings out the kid in everyone. As a result it is the perfect dessert for sharing with friends and family. Especially as I have yet to find someone who dislikes ice cream!

Whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

Andrew James UK Ltd provided me with this ice cream maker, for the purposes of review. All opinions, views, content and photography are my own. I was not paid to write this post. Please see my Disclosure Policy

Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Today was so beautifully warm and sunny, I simply had to make this Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream.

Made with frozen blackberries from last year, this ice cream delivers massively on taste.

To quote Jennifer Aniston “Here’s the science bit”, when eating very cold food, such as ice cream, the flavours are dulled, due to the cold temperature. If you think of strawberries eaten straight from the fridge, they will never taste as good as those that have been left out to warm up a bit, or better, plucked straight from a sun warmed plant.

Likewise, when making ice cream, even a simple Very Vanilla Ice Cream, the flavours need to be more pronounced so that you taste them.

With this creamy, sharp, sweet and tangy Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream, you taste every bit of the beautiful blackberries. Sousing them in sugar and lemon juice encourages each berry to release it’s maximum, ripe berry flavour. On it’s own the blitzed, blackberry sauce would be too tart and the berry flavour would be overwhelming, yet mixed into a delicate vanilla ice cream custard and churned until it becomes ice cream, the flavours mellow and meld together, creating one of the most exciting flavoured ice creams ever.

Studded with chunks of deep, dark, chocolate that lend not only a slight bitter flavour but added texture this Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream becomes complete. Elegant enough to be served in pretty bowls at the end of a meal with nothing else to accompany it.

One thing is certain, this ice cream is certainly one of the best ice creams I have ever tried!

Recipe: Makes approx 1 litre Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

300ml Double Cream

300ml Whole/Semi Skimmed Milk

4 Large Egg Yolks – I always use free range eggs

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen Massey

7tbsp Caster Sugar

Scant pinch of salt – less than 1/4tsp

1tsp Cornflour – I use Doves Farm as it is guaranteed gluten free

Juice of 1 Lemon

300g Blackberries – I used frozen but use fresh in season

100g/4oz Good Quality Dark Chocolate minimum 65% Cocoa solids

Method: Ensure that the freezing part of the ice cream maker has been in the freezer for at least 24 hours.

Please see Very Vanilla Ice Cream for step by step photographs, showing how to make the ice cream custard.

Making The Blackberry Ice Cream Base

Place the cream, milk and vanilla extract into a saucepan over medium heat.
Add the egg yolks, sugar, salt and cornflour to a large heatproof bowl. Whisk until pale and creamy.
The milk/cream needs to reach scalding point. This is when little bubbles appear around the edge of the liquid.
When the milk/cream has reached scalding point remove the pan from the heat.
Whilst whisking the egg mixture, pour the hot milk/cream into the bowl – do not stop whisking.
Once combined tip the custard mixture back into the same saucepan, cooking over a low heat and constantly stirring, until the custard has thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
Place a sieve over a clean, heatproof bowl and pour the custard into the bowl, through the sieve.
Place cling film directly over the top of the custard so that is touches it. This will prevent a skin from forming.
Allow to cool and then place into the fridge to chill.
Place the blackberries into a bowl and add the juice of one lemon and one tablespoon of caster sugar. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.
Place the blackberry mixture into a blender and pulse until you have a smooth purée.
Pass the blackberry purée through a sieve to remove any seeds.
As soon as the ice cream base has chilled remove the cling film and add the blackberry purée.

This ice cream really does have the most beautiful colour.

Mix briefly, don’t worry too much as it will be well mixed in the ice cream maker.
Transfer the custard mixture to a jug.

Churning Using An Ice Cream Maker

Pour the blackberry custard into the ice cream maker (for mine it has to already be churning – check your instructions).
Whilst the ice cream is churning chop the dark chocolate into 1cm-ish sized chunks.
Churn the Blackberry Ice Cream until it is a thickened, yet soft ice cream.

Beautifully soft whipped Blackberry Ice Cream.

Using a soft rubber spatula decant the softly whipped ice cream into a suitable, freezer safe, plastic tub.

Adding The Dark Chocolate Chunks

Add the dark chocolate chunks to the blackberry ice cream once it is in the freezer container.

Blackberry Chocolate a Chunk Ice Cream such a delicious combination. — **Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream** such a delicious combination.

Stir the dark chocolate chunks through the ice cream so that they are evenly distributed.

FF Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream — **Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream** ready for the freezer.

Clip on the lid, label and place the Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream into the freezer to finish freezing.
To serve, remove this ice cream from the freezer a full 30 minutes before serving – unless it really is an extremely hot day, then 20 minutes should suffice.

I honestly cannot explain just how good this Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream is. Whilst it may look a little more like a sorbet it is in fact delightfully creamy, with a deep berry flavour to match its beautiful colour and studded with dark chocolate crunch that adds another heavenly level of flavour and texture. It cleanses the palette and refreshes, whilst ensuring that you know you have eaten dessert.

In essence it is truly sublime. A million miles away from mass produced, sweet gloopy ice cream, this is the dessert to serve those you truly want to spoil. Not that it is expensive to make, simply that it is an ice cream worth lingering over and savouring.

If you have enjoyed this Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream recipe, here are a few others you may enjoy:

Lemon Drizzle Ice Cream

Very Vanilla Ice Cream

Strawberry Rose Ice Cream

Having an ice cream maker definitely makes the process of creating ice cream easier. It results in a much creamier, less icy, softer on the palate, cooling treat.

Unfortunaley whilst making the Blackberry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream another little piece of the plastic on our ice cream maker broke off – it really is on its last legs. Fortunately however, I will be reviewing a brand new model by Andrew James over the coming few months, so expect lots of chilled recipes through the summer months.

It really gives me such a thrill reading your comments and I appreciate you taking the time to leave them. Likewise seeing my recipes being baked on Twitter and Instagram literally makes my day. Sharing is the heart of this blog and seeing you share your bakes with me always gives me a boost. Thank you.

Whatever you are making and baking in your kitchens, have fun and enjoy every feast that you create.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

Very Vanilla Ice Cream

Standing in the garden yesterday, face lifted up to the sky, the sun warming me through, gave me hope. Finally, Winter has passed Spring is here and warm, sunshine filled days will be more frequent and very welcomed. When the sun starts to really warm me, there is one thing I am inspired to make. Welcome to my Very Vanilla Ice Cream.

Summer Time And The Living Is Easy

As soon as the tinkling sounds of the ice cream van fill the air, I know it is time to make one of the Summer’s greatest pleasures, ice cream.

There is absolutely a place for ice cream vans, 99’s and ice cream vendors on the beach. Gosh, on a hot day where would we be without them?

Homemade ice cream is a wonderfully indulgent pleasure. I have made very many flavours over the years, seeing as this is the first ice cream recipe to be posted here, I decided to show you how to make the best Very Vanilla Ice Cream which also happens to be gluten free, as are all of the ice cream recipes here on Feasting is Fun.

FF Very Vanilla Ice Cream — **Very Vanilla Ice Cream** how do you like yours?

So simple to make, with only a little forward planning required. There are plenty of no churn ice cream recipes on the Internet – Pinterest is a great place to look. Whilst some of them are reasonably good, buying an ice cream maker and churning your own ice cream results in a far smoother, silkier ice cream. Having just had a quick look on Amazon they have a good selection of ice cream makers for under £30.

How about an ice cream maker as a present for Dad on Father’s Day?

I have tried making ice cream by hand, where you take it out of the freezer every so often and mix it with a fork. No matter how well I followed the recipe instructions my ice cream always ended up with large water crystals and wasn’t ever smooth or creamy.

Sweet Memories

Since being given an ice cream maker a few years ago, making ice cream is no longer a chore but a pleasure.

Many years ago, when I was in my early 20’s, a friend and I went Inter Railing across Europe. Aside from the beautiful sights and unique experiences we shared, I have one very prominent memory. Of ice cream!!

Not any ice cream, a beautiful hazelnut ice cream eaten in Germany. For years and years I longed to taste that delighful ice cream again. Then when I started making my own ice cream I found a way to make it and it tastes just how I remember. More on that in an upcoming post.

That’s the beauty of making your own ice cream, playing with flavours and textures, creating your own little ice cream parlor!

Recipe: Makes approx 750ml Very Vanilla Ice Cream

300ml Double Cream

300ml Whole Milk

6 tbsp Caster Sugar

4 Free Range Egg Yolks

2 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste – I use Nielsen-Massey

1 tsp Corn Flour – I use Doves Farm as it is gluten free

Scant pinch of salt (less than 1/4 tsp)

Method: Ensure the freezing part of the ice cream maker has been in the freezer for at least 24 hours.

Making The Ice Cream Base

Place the cream, milk and vanilla bean paste into a saucepan over medium heat.
Add the egg yolks, sugar, salt and cornflour to a large heatproof bowl. Whisk until pale and creamy.

The milk/cream needs to reach scalding point. This is when little bubbles appear around the edge of the liquid.

When the milk/cream has reached scalding point remove the pan from the heat.
Whilst whisking the egg mixture, pour the hot milk/cream into the bowl – do not stop whisking.
Once combined tip the custard mixture back into the same saucepan, cooking over a low heat and constantly stirring, until the custard has thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon.

Place a sieve over a clean, heatproof bowl and pour the custard into the bowl, through the sieve.

Place cling film directly over the top of the custard so that is touches it. This will prevent a skin from forming.
Allow to cool and then place into the fridge to chill.

Churning The Ice Cream

Set your ice cream maker up according to the manufacturers instructions.
Remove the cling film, stir the custard and pour into a jug.
Pour the custard into the ice cream maker (for mine it has to already be churning – check your instructions).
Churn the Very Vanilla Ice Cream until it is a thickened yet soft ice cream.

Stop the ice cream maker and scoop out the Very Vanilla Ice Cream into a freezer-proof plastic tub.
Place the tub into the freezer and leave until solid.
As this ice cream has no artificial softening additives, to serve it is best left out of the freezer for 15 minutes. Then scoop away!!!

Continue reading Very Vanilla Ice Cream