Vanilla Custard Ice Cream
Description
This classic Vanilla Custard Ice Cream is the epitome of comfort dessert. Made with a rich base of heavy cream, whole milk, and egg yolks, it yields a luxuriously smooth and dense texture that melts perfectly on the tongue. The star ingredient is a real vanilla bean, which provides a deep, aromatic flavor profile far superior to artificial extracts, along with beautiful black speckles throughout the cream. This recipe is perfect for summer gatherings, romantic dinners, or simply treating yourself on a quiet evening. While it requires some patience for the custard to cook and the mixture to churn, the result is a timeless favorite that pairs beautifully with fresh berries, warm chocolate sauce, or crisp waffles.Ingredients
Directions
-
In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, milk, half of the sugar, the scraped vanilla bean seeds, and the vanilla bean pod.
-
Heat the mixture over medium heat until it just begins to simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
-
Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes to infuse the vanilla flavor.
-
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and remaining sugar until pale and thick.
-
Remove the vanilla pod from the cream. Slowly pour about one cup of the hot cream into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
-
Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining cream.
-
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon (about 170-175&# 194;°F).
-
Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any cooked egg bits.
-
Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight until completely cold.
-
Pour the chilled custard into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.
-
Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours to firm up before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 1
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 72.0kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 0.2g1%
- Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
- Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
- Sodium 2.0mg1%
- Total Carbohydrate 15.8g6%
- Dietary Fiber 8.2g33%
- Sugars 3.0g
- Protein 3.0g6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
For best results, ensure the custard is completely cold before churning to achieve a smoother texture.
If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can freeze the mixture in a shallow metal pan, stirring vigorously every 30 minutes to break up ice crystals.
Substitute vanilla bean paste or high-quality vanilla extract if a whole bean is unavailable, but adjust the amount to taste.
Store in the freezer for up to one month. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before scooping for easier serving.