The Sweet Escape: Brandied Cherry-and-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream Recipe

Sweet summer memories often dance around this brandied cherry-and-chocolate chunk ice cream that whispers nostalgic tales of indulgence.

Rich chocolate chunks melt against silky, boozy cherry swirls in a dessert that feels like secret decadence.

Chilled spoons catch glimpses of deep burgundy fruit suspended in creamy landscapes.

Dark chocolate pieces peek through smooth cream like hidden treasures waiting to surprise you.

Each bite promises a sophisticated blend of intense flavors that drift between classic comfort and elegant complexity.

Smooth ingredients merge into a luxurious symphony that challenges ordinary dessert expectations.

Grab your favorite scoop and let this extraordinary ice cream transport you to a world of pure culinary bliss.

Why This Cherry-Chocolate Ice Cream Feels So Fancy

• Craft a Gourmet Dessert: Transform ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary homemade ice cream that rivals professional bakery offerings, creating a sophisticated treat that impresses friends and family.
• Minimal Cooking Skills Required: The recipe breaks down complex steps into simple, manageable tasks that even novice home cooks can successfully execute, making gourmet dessert creation accessible and fun.
• Elevate Date Night or Dinner Parties: Serve this luxurious brandied cherry-chocolate ice cream as a show-stopping finale to a special meal, instantly upgrading your culinary presentation and leaving guests delighted by your creative skills.
• Perfect Summer Indulgence: Cool down with a decadent dessert that combines rich chocolate chunks, boozy brandied cherries, and smooth creamy ice cream, offering a perfect balance of flavors and textures for hot weather enjoyment.

What Goes Into This Boozy, Chunky Treat

• Cherries: Fresh, ripe cherries provide sweet and tangy flavor profile with deep color.
• Brandy: Bold liquor adds complexity and prevents ice crystals from forming.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall depth and warm aromatic notes.

• Heavy Cream, Milk: Rich base creating smooth, luxurious ice cream texture.
• Egg Yolks: Provide creamy consistency and help stabilize the ice cream structure.
• Sugar: Sweetens and helps prevent ice crystallization.

• Chocolate Chunks: Dark or semi-sweet chocolate adds rich, decadent bites throughout the dessert.

Steps to Swirl Cherries Into Creamy Bliss

Step 1: Create Boozy Cherry Goodness

• Fresh cherries
• Sugar
• Brandy

Heat everything over medium flame, stirring occasionally until sugar melts and mixture gets slightly syrupy. This takes about 5-7 minutes.

Pull pan off heat, splash in vanilla extract, and let the mixture cool down completely.

Step 2: Whip Up Creamy Ice Cream Base

• Heavy cream
• Milk
• Half the sugar

Warm the mixture until it steams but doesn’t boil.

In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks with remaining sugar until they turn pale and look super creamy.

Slowly pour about half a cup of hot cream into egg yolks, whisking like crazy to prevent scrambling.

Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan, stirring constantly.

Cook on low heat until the mixture thickens and coats a spoon (around 170-175°F).

Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract.

Strain through a fine mesh to catch any egg bits.

Let it cool, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Step 3: Churn Magical Frozen Treat

Pour the chilled custard into an ice cream maker.

Churn according to machine instructions.

• Brandied cherries
• Chocolate chunks

Step 4: Freeze and Devour

Transfer churned ice cream to an airtight container.

Freeze for 2-4 hours until firm.

Scoop, serve, and enjoy your decadent creation!

Tips for Balance and Smooth Texture

• Pit Cherries Perfectly: Use a cherry pitter or paperclip to remove cherry pits quickly and cleanly without crushing the fruit.
• Control Brandy Intensity: Adjust the brandy amount to suit your taste preference, reducing for milder flavor or increasing for a more pronounced boozy kick.
• Prevent Ice Crystallization: Cover the ice cream surface with plastic wrap directly touching the surface to prevent freezer burn and icy texture.
• Temper Eggs Carefully: Stream hot cream slowly into egg yolks while whisking continuously to create a smooth, silky custard base without scrambling.
• Enhance Chocolate Variation: Experiment with different chocolate types like dark, milk, or white chocolate chunks to customize the ice cream's richness and flavor profile.

Storing Homemade Ice Cream the Smart Way

• Seal the homemade brandied cherry-chocolate chunk ice cream in an airtight container to maintain its creamy texture.
• Store directly in the coldest part of your freezer, keeping it away from the door to prevent temperature fluctuations.
• Consume within 1-2 weeks for the best flavor and smooth consistency.
• Cover the surface with plastic wrap before closing the lid to minimize ice crystal formation and preserve the ice cream's rich, velvety quality.

Perfect Pairings for Cherry-Chocolate Flavor

• Boost Chocolate Harmony: Pair this decadent brandied cherry-chocolate ice cream with a rich, full-bodied red wine like cabernet sauvignon, which complements the deep chocolate notes and enhances the brandy's warmth.
• Elevate Dessert Experience: Serve alongside a classic almond biscotti or dark chocolate shortbread cookies, creating a delightful textural contrast and amplifying the dessert's complex flavor profile.
• Create Flavor Contrast: Accompany the ice cream with a small glass of aged cognac or armagnac, matching the brandy undertones and providing a sophisticated counterpoint to the sweet, creamy dessert.
• Refresh with Beverage Match: Consider a strong espresso or cappuccino, which cuts through the richness and allows the brandied cherry and chocolate flavors to shine more brightly.

Creative Ways to Switch It Up

• Cherry Liqueur Chocolate Swirl: Replace brandy with cherry liqueur for an intensified fruity flavor, adding depth to the cherries and creating a more robust alcohol-infused dessert.
• Dark Chocolate Amaretto Version: Swap brandy with amaretto liqueur and use dark chocolate chunks for a rich, nutty alternative that brings complex almond undertones to the ice cream.
• Bourbon Vanilla Bean Rendition: Substitute brandy with bourbon, incorporate scraped vanilla bean seeds into the base, and mix in toasted pecans for a southern-inspired creamy treat.
• Kirsch Cherry Chocolate Fusion: Use kirsch (cherry brandy) instead of regular brandy, fold in white chocolate chunks, and sprinkle with crushed amaretti cookies for a sophisticated European-style dessert.

Brandied Ice Cream Questions Answered

• What makes brandied cherries special in this ice cream?

Brandied cherries add a luxurious, boozy twist that elevates the traditional chocolate chunk ice cream. The brandy intensifies the cherry flavor, creating a rich, complex taste that’s both sophisticated and delightful.

• Can I use a different type of alcohol if I don't have brandy?

Absolutely! Kirsch, rum, or even bourbon can work wonderfully. Each alcohol brings its own unique flavor profile, so feel free to experiment and find your favorite combination.

• How important is tempering the egg yolks in this recipe?

Tempering is crucial to prevent scrambling the eggs and ensures a smooth, creamy custard base. By slowly adding hot cream to the egg yolks while whisking, you gradually raise their temperature, creating a silky texture that’s key to perfect ice cream.

• What type of chocolate works best for the chunks?

Dark chocolate is ideal for this recipe, as its bittersweet flavor complements the sweet cherries and brandy. Choose a high-quality chocolate with at least 60% cocoa solids for the most intense, rich chocolate experience.

Brandied Cherry-And-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream Recipe

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4.7 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 6-8 hours
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Creamy brandied cherry-and-chocolate chunk ice cream blends luxurious flavors from European dessert traditions. Sweet, boozy cherries and rich chocolate create a sophisticated dessert experience you’ll savor with pure delight.

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Ingredients

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Ice Cream Base:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 4 large egg yolks
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Fruit Components:

• 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted and halved
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup brandy

Chocolate Addition:

• ½ cup dark chocolate chunks or chips

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Instructions

1. Craft the brandied cherries by simmering them with granulated sugar and brandy in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow the mixture to reduce and thicken, stirring intermittently for 5-7 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves completely, remove from heat and incorporate vanilla extract. Set aside to cool thoroughly.
2. Prepare the rich custard base by gently warming heavy cream, milk, and half the sugar until it reaches a steaming point. Simultaneously, whisk egg yolks with remaining sugar until the mixture transforms into a pale, silky texture.
3. Gradually introduce the heated dairy mixture into the egg yolks, whisking continuously to prevent curdling. Return the tempered mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the custard thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
4. Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve to eliminate any potential egg remnants. Incorporate vanilla extract and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight to develop deep, complex flavors.
5. Activate your ice cream maker and churn the chilled custard according to manufacturer’s instructions. During the final moments of churning, fold in the brandied cherries with their aromatic syrup and decadent chocolate chunks.
6. Transfer the freshly churned ice cream to an airtight container, carefully distributing the cherries and chocolate throughout. Freeze for 2-4 hours until the desired firmness is achieved.
7. Scoop and serve this luxurious dessert, celebrating the harmonious blend of brandy-infused cherries and rich chocolate chunks.

Notes

• Perfectly pit fresh cherries by using a cherry pitter or carefully pushing pits out with a paperclip to maintain cherry integrity.
• Select high-quality brandy like Cognac or kirsch for deeper, more complex flavor profiles in the brandied cherries.
• Consider using dark chocolate chunks with 70% cocoa content to create a rich, sophisticated taste that complements the sweet-tart cherries.
• Prevent ice crystallization by pressing plastic wrap directly onto the ice cream’s surface before freezing, ensuring a smooth, creamy texture.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 2-4 hours
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 33 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 41 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg