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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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