Espresso Ice Cream
I know, I know. February isn’t over, the Snowpocalypse aftermath has yet to totally melt, and here I am posting ice cream. No, i didn’t lose track of my calendar. I know the middle of winter isn’t the most popular time of year to be perusing ice cream recipes, but let’s be honest. There’s always a birthday cake that needs an ice cream accompaniment. There’s always a best friend that needs some cheering up. And there’s never a bad excuse to cozy up with a pint of your favorite flavor, put on your favorite movie and enjoy some me time. Ice cream knows no seasonal boundaries and it’s just as acceptable to enjoy a bowl in January as it is in June. And bonus – it won’t melt as fast!
This recipe was actually inspired by a Valentine’s Day gift and a breakfast trip. My Chief Culinary Consultant loves espresso and so for the holiday, I got him a hand-press espresso maker and all the other goodies needed to make some great espresso. It so happened that the next morning we went out to breakfast and on the table there was an ad for one of the restaurant’s newer desserts – espresso ice cream. I don’t remember now what it was paired with but we noticed it and my CCC mentioned how it would be great to have espresso ice cream with freshly brewed espresso poured over it. Never afraid of caffeine overload, I set out to make the ice cream.
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You may call me weird (again), but I really love the flavor of coffee but rarely enjoy actually drinking it. Occasionally I will have a cup after dinner with something sweet, but more often than not I will pass when offered a cup. However, I absolutely love the flavor! Mocha frappuccino’s, espresso cheesecakes,cappuccino cinnamon squares, and now espresso ice cream… I love them all and anything else I can find coffee-flavored. How weird is it that I don’t actually drink coffee? I can’t figure it out. In any case, if you like coffee in any form, you will absolutely love this ice cream. Eat it plain, eat it in a cone, eat it drenched in espresso, or eat it atop a fudgy brownie and drizzle it with caramel. Enjoy! :)
Don’t forget! If you’re dying to make homemade ice cream and cursing yourself for not having an ice cream maker, head straight to this tutorial on how to make homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker!
Espresso Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1½ cups (366 ml) whole milk
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1½ cups (105 g) whole bold-roast coffee beans
- Pinch of salt
- 1½ cups (357 ml) heavy cream
- 5 large egg yolks
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) finely ground espresso
Instructions
- 1. Warm the milk, sugar, whole coffee beans, salt, and ½ cup of the cream in a medium saucepan. Once the mixture is warm, cover, remove from the heat, and let steep at room temperature for 1 hour.
- 2. Rewarm the coffee-infused milk mixture. Pour the remaining 1 cup cream into a large bowl and set a mesh strainer on top. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Slowly pour the warm coffee mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrape the warmed egg yolks back into the saucepan.
- 3. Stir the mixture constantly over medium heat with a heatproof spatula, scraping the bottom as you stir, until the mixture thickens and coats the spatula (and registers 170 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer). Pour the custard through the strainer and stir it into the cream. Press on the coffee beans in the strainer to extract as much of the coffee flavor as possible, then discard the beans. Mix in the vanilla and the finely ground espresso and stir until cool over an ice bath.
- 4. Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Me too! Love coffee-flavored desserts and drinks (especially with chocolate!), but can’t stand the stuff straight up. Your ice cream looks great!
Looks great! I enjoyed reading the post!
I’m in espresso/gelato land (Sicily for a couple of months and it is actually warm enough to stroll along the plaza, without a sweater and enjoy a coffee gelato – unlike Vermont where I usually can be found.
I can enjoy ice cream any time of year. So comforting.
Great pic! i love coffee ice cream and i sometimes even enjoy when there are little flecks of espresso bean throughout. Perfect Scoop is definitely the best go to ice cream recipe guide!
I just baked a batch of pumpkin slice with a coffee drizzle and I cannot get the scent of coffee out of my head. Your espresso icecream is making me this much closer to stealing the office’s coffee machine!!!
i too LOVE coffee flavorings but almost never drink coffee. wow if only i had an ice cream maker i would make this in a heartbeat! February or not (then again I live in California, so it never really dips below 50 :-p)
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that I love your blog! It’s fabulous, and the pictures are amazing. When your blog hopping visit me if you get a chance . . . we share something in common.
I haven’t ever made my own ice cream because I don’t have an ice cream maker – but I think you and the rest of the blog world has convinced me I need to get one!
I’m so addicted to coffee ice cream, it’s not even funny. And the pics on this post are giving me a serious craving. Caffeinated Bliss!
I love espresso ice cream.
This looks so amazing!! I can’t wait to make this for the family. I really like the idea of eating it on a fudge browine because that is my favorite dessert.
Gorgeous pictures… and this recipe looks so divine!!
I need that. Need it. I don’t care what the temp is outside!
Definitely not weird. I go for chai tea every time I’m at Starbucks, but I do love coffee flavor in other things!
Wow, that looks just divine! With spring right around the corner, this is a definite must-try! Looking forward to seeing more from you :)
Fabulous! We actually just received an espresso machine so I’ve been living on lattes for the last few weeks. How could the possibility of Espresso Ice Cream possibly have escaped my mind? Thank you for reminding me!
You have a beautiful blog. I just started and hope to learn more soon. I am always open for advice. I love espresso ice cream and will have to try this recipe.
My husband would LOVE this! :) Well, I would too, actually!
I love ice cream all year round! I had some neapolitan last night (reminded me of childhood) and yes, it was good. Coffee flavored desserts are BEST! I need an ice cream maker!!
wow…this sounds incredible! i think i might need to go buy an ice-cream maker now…
First of all, I’m the same way (I just posted this on facebook), I like coffee ice cream but do not like coffee. I love the smell of flavored coffees though. Your blog and photographs are inspirational for a new food blogger like me. :) BTW, if I hadn’t seen your tweet last night about this photograph, I wouldn’t have thought that and it doesn’t look like one! LOL!
I think icecream makes me a better person. Truly I do. It’s goodness can put me in the best of moods.
Yum! I love ice cream even in the middle of the winter! Its just always a nice snack after dinner :)
I’m similar to you – love the flavor of coffee/espresso but don’t often drink drink it. I think ice cream is great all year long!
yummmz. i loveeee coffee so this should be the bomb!
just great for my side of the world, too crazily hot all year around. ice cream keeps everyone a little more sane(:
it’s hot here all year round in sg so im up for any icecream recipes! especially one that looks and sounds as tantalising as yours :D now if only i can get an icecream maker…
I love coffee flavored ice cream – never thought about making it myself. Mmmmmm.
Wow, anything that tastes good can be made into ice cream.
Yummy! I just made the Coffee Ice Cream from this book. It was fantastic! I’ll be posting it soon… :)