white chocolate coconut praline ice cream




after reading the ingredients listed on most ice cream packaging, i continue to make our own ice cream.  here are just a few ingredients that i see frequently on some of the popular brands:  food starch, locust bean gum, citric acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, corn syrup, whey, mono and diglycerides, xanthum and cellulose gum, and polysorbate 80.  why are these added?  they must affect the taste, because my ice cream tastes so much better!

i can make my own ice cream in less than 30 minutes, and the flavors can't compare to anything in the store, including any of the fancier brands.  this week, i made white chocolate coconut praline. i use half and half for part of the recipe to decrease the caloric count as well. i have found that by using milk with less fat, the ice cream may not freeze as well, so some fat is required to have a better consistency.

using my cuisinart ice cream maker, here is the recipe taking from the william sonoma ice cream cookbook:
in a bowl, combine 2 cups heavy cream with one cup half and half.  add in 3/4 cup sugar and a pinch of salt. mix well.  add flavors as desired.  some of my favorites have been:  coconut, almond, vanilla, peanut butter, rum, and maple.

pour into the cuisinart ice cream maker while it is turned on.  mix for 20-25 minutes.  then, add in desired ingredients.  for strawberry ice cream, add in 2 cups mashed strawberries.  Other ideas include any nuts, butterfinger chips, chopped chocolate mint squares, heath toffee bits, or chopped chocolate bits.

some favorite flavors are:  coconut almond, chocolate pecan, blueberry, chocolate chip almond, maple pecan, and coconut with fresh coconut flakes.  i store the mixture in a stainless steel pan, which allows me to scoop the ice cream very easily.  summer ice cream never tasted so good.

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