Brown Sugar Ice Cream With Caramel Fig Swirl Recipes

BROWN SUGAR ICE CREAM WITH A GINGER-CARAMEL SWIRL

Steps:

• Make the base
• 1. In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk the yolks just to break them up, then whisk in half of the brown sugar (1/4 cup). Set aside.
• 2. In a heavy nonreactive saucepan, stir together the cream, milk, salt, and the remaining brown sugar (1/4 cup) and put the pan over medium-high heat. When the mixture approaches a bare simmer, reduce the heat to medium.
• 3. Carefully scoop out about 1/2 cup of the hot cream mixture and, whisking the eggs constantly, add the cream to the bowl with the egg yolks. Repeat, adding another 1/2 cup of the hot cream to the bowl with the yolks. Using a heatproof rubber spatula, stir the cream in the saucepan as you slowly pour the egg-and-cream mixture from the bowl into the pan.
• 4. Cook the mixture carefully over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it is thickened, coats the back of a spatula, and holds a clear path when you run your finger across the spatula, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
• 5. Strain the base through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean container. Set the container into an ice-water bath, wash your spatula, and use it to stir the base occasionally until it is cool. Remove the container from the ice-water bath, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate the base for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• While the ice cream base cools, make the swirl
• 6. Set the cream by the stove so it's at hand when you need it. Put 2 tablespoons of the sugar in a heavy nonreactive saucepan, and put the pan over medium-high heat. When the sugar is melted around the edges and starts turn amber in places (about 2 minutes), stir the mixture gently and add another 2 tablespoons sugar to the pan.
• 7. Continue to add the remaining sugar 2 tablespoons at a time, stirring frequently and allowing most of the sugar to melt before you add more. Watch carefully as the sugar darkens, stirring gently to help it melt evenly.
• Tip: Keep in mind that the flavor of the ice cream hinges on how dark you take the caramel. We take ours to a very dark, almost reddish, stage, which produces our intense signature flavor.
• 8. When the caramel becomes a dark mahogany color, remove the pan from the heat and immediately but slowly pour the cream into the pan. (The mixture will steam and bubble up, so wear oven mitts and be very careful to avoid splatters and steam burns.) When the bubbling subsides, gently stir to completely blend the cream into the caramel. If you have lumps of hardened caramel in your pan, simply put the pan over low heat and stir until the caramel is melted.
• 9. Stir in the ginger paste and salt and let cool. (You can make the swirl up to 2 weeks ahead of time. Keep it refrigerated, but let it come to room temperature before using.)
• Freeze the ice cream
• 10. When the base is completely chilled, freeze in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. While the ice cream is churning, put the container you'll use to store the ice cream into the freezer.
• 11. As you transfer the ice cream to the storage container, drizzle in the caramel after every few scoopfuls, using about 6 tablespoons of the caramel (or more if you like). When all the ice cream is in the container, use a chopstick or butter knife to gently swirl the mixture. Enjoy right away or, for a firmer ice cream, freeze for at least 4 hours.
• Tip: The swirl recipe makes more than you need (the recipe won't work in smaller quantities). You can thin the leftovers with a little cream and use as a sundae topping, or you can enjoy it right off the spoon!

BROWN-SUGAR ICE CREAM WITH CARAMEL FIG SWIRL

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, vanilla bean and scrapings, and pepper. Scald the milk, cover, and remove from heat. Let steep for 30 minutes.
• Combine the egg yolks and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, return the milk to a simmer.
• Remove the vanilla bean. Add half the milk to egg-yolk mixture, and whisk until blended. Stir into remaining milk, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens enough to coat a spoon.
• Remove from heat, and immediately stir in 2 cups cream. Pass mixture through a strainer into a medium bowl set over a large bowl of ice water. Allow to chill.
• Meanwhile, dissolve the granulated sugar in 1 cup of water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Set over high heat, wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush, and cook, without stirring, until an amber caramel forms, 8 to 10 minutes, swirling the pan occasionally. Remove from heat. Carefully stir in the remaining 1/2 cup cream. Add the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and 8 figs. Let stand about 15 minutes while the mixture cools and figs soften.
• Remove from heat, and chill. Puree caramel mixture in a blender or food processor, and set aside.
• Freeze ice cream in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Fold 1 cup of chilled caramel sauce into frozen ice cream, until large swirls of caramel form. Transfer to a plastic container, and freeze for at least 2 hours to harden.
• Cut remaining 16 figs in half lengthwise. Combine remaining caramel sauce and figs in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat just until figs are warm, 3 to 5 minutes, and serve warm over the ice cream.

CARAMEL BALSAMIC SWIRL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Warm half of the cream with the scraped vanilla bean in a small saucepan on medium heat for about 2 minutes. Keep aside.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar in a bowl until the color becomes light and pale, about 2 minutes. Remove the vanilla pod and pour the warm cream over the egg mixture while constantly stirring. Reheat the mixture on low heat stirring constantly until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan on medium heat, reduce by half the balsamic vinegar, about 10 minutes. Let it cool to room temperature.
• Once your custard is cool, whip the remaining cream and fold it in with the custard mixture using a wooden spoon. Add the olive oil and fold in everything together. Drizzle 3/4 of the reduced balsamic vinegar in the cream mixture and use a fork to make swirl patterns. Pour the mixture in a stainless steel container and drizzle the leftover of the balsamic on top.
• Put in the freezer until firm, a minimum of 4 hours
• For the serving: Scoop into nice bowls and serve with fresh berries.

SOUR CREAM ICE CREAM WITH BROWN SUGAR STRAWBERRY SWIRL

Steps:

• In a medium-size heavy saucepan, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with cream and milk. Bring to a simmer; turn off heat.
• Whisk together egg yolks and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Whisking constantly, slowly add about half (a cup or so) of hot cream mixture to yolks. Pour yolk mixture into saucepan with remaining cream. Cook, stirring constantly, over moderately low heat until mixture thickens enough to coat back of a spoon, about 7 minutes: do not let it come to a simmer or it will curdle. Immediately strain custard into a clean bowl. Whisk in sour cream, vanilla and salt. Cover custard tightly with plastic wrap and chill at least 3 hours or up to 3 days.
• About an hour before you want to serve ice cream, combine strawberries and brown sugar in a bowl for 15 minutes. Transfer berries and accumulated juices to a skillet and bring just to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in brandy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer berries to a bowl. Simmer juices in skillet until syrupy, about 5 minutes. Pour syrup over strawberries. Chill mixture in freezer until thoroughly cool but not frozen (15 to 30 minutes).
• Churn custard in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's directions. When ice cream has reached a soft-serve consistency, transfer to a bowl and swirl in the strawberry mixture with a quick folding action (you want to see red and white swirls, not pink). Serve immediately.

CARAMEL SWIRL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring ¾ cup of the sugar and ¼ cup of water to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
• Boil without stirring until the caramel turns a golden amber colour, 5-8 minutes.
• Remove from heat and immediately add ½ cup plus 2 tblsps of the heavy cream - AVOID SPATTERS!
• Stir well, then cook over low heat, stirring, until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, add a dash of salt, and let cool.
• Transfer the caramel to a container, cover and refrigerate until cold, atleast 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• In a large saucepan, bring the milk and remaining 1 ½ cups heavy cream just to a boil over medium heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with ¾ cup of the sugar until smooth.
• Gradually whisk the hot cream into the egg yolks.
• Pour the custard back into the saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon, about 7 minutes.
• DO NOT BOIL.
• Immediately strain the custard into a large heatproof bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring the remaining ½ cup sugar and 3 tblsps water to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Boil with stirring until the caramel turns a deep amber colour, about 7 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add 2 tblsps of cold water - stand back to avoid spatters.
• Stir until smooth.
• Whisk the hot caramel into the warm custard, making sure the caramel doesn't get on the whisk as you pour as it will harden.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Let cool to room temperature, stirring once or twice, then cover and refrigerate until cold, atleast 2 hours or overnight.
• Pour the custard into an ice-cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Transfer the ice cream to a chilled container and freeze until partially set but not hard, about 1 hour.
• Spoon 1/3 of the ice cream into a chilled container.
• Spoon 1/3 of the chilled caramel on top; it does not have to be an even layer.
• Top with a layer of ice cream.
• Continue layering, ending with caramel.
• Stir once; do not overmix as you want a thick caramel swirl running through the ice cream.
• Cover and freeze for atleast 3 hours or up to 2 days.

BROWN SUGAR-BALSAMIC SWIRL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine heavy whipping cream, whole milk, and 1/2 cup sugar in heavy large saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring cream mixture to simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Meanwhile, whisk yolks and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in large bowl until very thick, about 2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolk mixture. Return mixture to saucepan. Stir over medium heat until custard thickens and thermometer inserted into custard registers 180°F, about 3 minutes (do not boil). Strain custard into large bowl set over another bowl of ice and water. Cool custard completely, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Cover and chill overnight.
• Boil balsamic vinegar in heavy small saucepan until reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 6 minutes. Cool syrup in pan.
• Process custard in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. When ice cream is done, spoon in balsamic syrup and churn 3 to 4 seconds longer to swirl. Transfer ice cream to container. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.