Hey hey!
I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is coffee ice cream. Coffee ice cream is the unsung hero of Holiday desserts. It’s a best friend to any non-fruit pies (we’re talking Pecan, Chess, Shoo-fly, Chocolate, Buttermilk, dare I say Pumpkin?). It’s fancy enough to serve on it’s own. It’s different enough to be interesting, but not so different as to be challenging. It’s somehow both plain and luxurious at the same time. And its got caffeine in it, which is so necessary at this time of year. I love it, you guys.
I’ve called this recipe Cafe Au Lait ice cream, because it’s a step up from your usual coffee varieties. I like my coffee ice cream the opposite of how I drink my coffee, you see. Every morning I drink a cup of strong coffee, black and barely sweetened. But when it’s time for a coffee ice cream, I want it to be rich, smooth and super creamy. Ice cream with a velvety texture and a strong, rich coffee taste. Which is where the secret ingredient comes in: evaporated milk. Just 1/2 a cup of evaporated milk takes this from a plain old coffee with a dash of skim, to a full on cafe au lait topped with whipped cream. Hubba hubba.
So if you’re looking for something a little different to serve alongside your holiday desserts this year (it’s also great with Christmas Pudding!), then YOU MUST try this coffee ice cream. The recipe is based on Jeni’s technique, with some tweaking from me, and it won’t let you down. If you’re a real tiger you could even make an affogato with this, but don’t blame me if you’re too wired to sleep.
And did I mention this is crying out for waffles and maple syrup? Because it is. Screaming out.
xx Sarah.
Cafe Au Lait Ice Cream Recipe
Recipe by Sarah Coates for The Sugar Hit, based on Jeni’s technique.
Makes 1 litre of ice cream.
INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp cream cheese, at room temperature
pinch of salt
2 cups milk
3 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup cream
1/2 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tbsp instant espresso powder, or to taste
First, place the canister of your ice cream machine in the freezer to chill, most models need at least 12 hours. Next, place the cream cheese and salt in a large mixing bowl and beat together until smooth; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and 3 tbsp of the milk and stir until combined with no lumps; set aside.
In a large saucepan place the remaining milk, cream, evaporated milk and sugar and bring to the boil. Boil for four minutes and then turn off the heat and whisk in 2 tbsp of the espresso powder. Taste and add more to suit your palate, remembering that when the ice cream is frozen, the flavours will be slightly dulled.
Place the pan back on the heat, and whisk in the cornstarch mixture, and then continue to heat, stirring, until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from the heat and slowly incorporate the coffee base into the cream cheese mixture with a whisk. Place the combined ice cream base into the fridge until it is completely chilled (at least two hours) and then churn in your ice cream machine, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. YUM!
I could eat coffee ice cream every day. It looks phenomenal! I just discovered jeni’s ice creams and they’re so amazing. must try this one soon!
I LOVE coffee ice cream. In fact it is the only ice cream I do really like…I even ate it on my wedding day.
That said, I don’t own an ice cream maker so I am wondering if I can adapt this somehow. I like that it has cream cheese and evap in it too.
Absolutely love your photos in this post. Well done that girl.
Thanks Claire! Your photos are AMAZING, so that means a lot!
Oh my, this looks so delicious! Coffee ice cream was my gateway into coffee drinking. I’ve been a “regular” coffee drinker for only a handful of years, but I am just now finally learning to appreciate/tolerate [heh] coffee without all the milk and sugar. Baby steps! :)
Coffee Ice Cream sounds like the kind of sugar rush i need for thanksgiving.
That looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing :)
The ice cream sounds delicious, and the dessert completely decadent!
WAFFLE ICE CREAM SANDWICH!!! I, er, I mean, that sounds very nice. :) I definitely need to try out Jeni’s cream cheese ice cream technique!
i love coffee ice cream too! like you, it has to be rich and creamy. i don’t drink coffee but adore coffee ice cream and this looks fabulous! and i can well imagine it on christmas pudding – genius!
Omigosh Sarah, I want some of this ice cream with pecan pie right now! Or I’ll eat it on waffles, in a plane, on a train, pretty much anywhere haha. First I need to get an ice cream machine…
You really do!
oh Sarah… the last photo is making me want to forage my freezer and have some ice-cream now!!! and its not even 11.30 am yet :)
You’re amazing. I want this. On everything. Amen.
This sounds heavenly! I wouldn’t have thought to put coffee ice cream with waffles and maple syrup, but it totally makes sense. I love the photos with all the different bowls!
did you know coffee ice cream is my favorite of ALL TIME? well, now you do. And the addition of evaporated milk is GENIUS.
Stop with that waffle picture. STOP. Now I want waffles AND ice cream, and my brain is confused and my stomach is hungry. I’m not a coffee drinker at all, but I am so on board the coffee ice cream train. Love this light and creamy version!
Hubba Hubba is so right!! That’s just gorgeousness. And that last shot with the waffles. Oh man…