Very Berry Ice Cream Floats Recipes

SIMPLE VANILLA CREME BRULEE WITH BERRY COULIS

Steps:

• For the creme brulee: Arrange an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Place four 6-ounce ramekins in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a kettle or saucepan with water to a boil.
• Bring the heavy cream to a light simmer over medium heat in a small saucepan. Whisk the sugar, salt and egg yolks in a large bowl or measuring cup. Slowly pour the hot cream into the yolk mixture, whisking constantly until it thickens. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Pour or ladle the custard evenly into the ramekins. Carefully pour enough boiling water into the baking dish to come two-thirds of the way up the ramekins, making sure to keep the water out of the ramekins. Bake until the custard is set and firm when shaken, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the custards and let cool to room temperature on a rack, then chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• For the berry coulis: Add the berries, sugar, lemon zest and juice and mint to a food processor and puree until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
• When ready to serve, sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of sugar over a custard. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar by keeping the flame close to the sugar but moving it constantly to get an even color. Repeat with the remaining custards. Alternatively, sprinkle sugar over all the custards and place on a baking sheet under the broiler for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on your broiler.
• Serve immediately with the berry coulis, a few fresh berries and a sprig of mint on top!

BERRIES AND CREAM FLOATS

Steps:

• Make the vanilla whipped cream: Whisk the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla bean paste in a large bowl until stiff peaks form.
• Alternate the berries and 2 scoops ice cream in each of 4 glasses. Pour in the soda, then top each glass with a large dollop of vanilla whipped cream.

PIMM AND PROPER ICE CREAM FLOATS

Steps:

• Make the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the strawberries, sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes. Strain, return to the saucepan and reduce for 10 more minutes, or until the syrup is thick enough to coat a spoon. Chill until ready to serve.
• Make the floats: Mix 1 tablespoon strawberry syrup with 2 tablespoons gin in each glass; add 2 scoops ice cream, top with the soda and garnish with a strawberry.

VERY BERRY ICE CREAM FLOATS

Steps:

• For each float, place 2 scoops of Ice Cream into a float glass. Top with the desired amount of soda. Garnish each with whipped cream and a cherry. Serve immediately.
• Heat the heavy cream and half-and-half in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until bubbles form around the edges, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Meanwhile, beat the sugar, honey and egg yolks in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until pale yellow. While whisking, gradually add a little of the hot cream mixture to the egg mixture until combined. Gradually add the remaining cream until all is incorporated, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and stir in the freeze-dried strawberry powder. Cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat until the mixture is thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in a few drops of red food coloring, if desired. Cool completely over an ice water bath, then process in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, 3 to 4 hours.

SUMMER BERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a bowl, mash berries with a fork or potato masher until just slightly chunky.
• In a saucepan over medium-low heat, bring cream to a simmer with 1/3 cup sugar and the salt. Taste berries and if they are very tart, add 2 tablespoons sugar to saucepan. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Transfer to a bowl, stir in vodka and place in refrigerator or in an ice bath to chill.
• When cold, pour mixture into ice cream machine. Add berries and churn according to manufacturer's directions. Transfer to a container and freeze until solid, at least 2 hours. Let sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, or in refrigerator for 15 to 30.