Serious Vanilla Ice Cream

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Show: Good EatsEpisode: Churn Baby Churn

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (48)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(48)

Cook Time:
1 hr 0 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
1 quart

Times:

Prep: 10 hr 0 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 0 min
Total:: 11 hr 0 min

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Ingredients

2 cups half-and-half
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup minus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons peach preserves (not jelly)
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

Directions

Combine all ingredients (including the bean and its pulp) in a large saucepan and place over medium heat. Attach a frying or candy thermometer to inside of pan. (see note below) Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture to 170 degrees F. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Remove the hull of the vanilla bean, pour mixture into lidded container and refrigerate mixture overnight to mellow flavors and texture.

Freeze mixture in ice cream freezer according to unit's instructions. The mixture will not freeze hard in the machine. Once the volume has increased by 1/2 to 3/4 times, and reached a soft serve consistency, spoon the mixture back into a lidded container and harden in the freezer at least 1 hour before serving.

NOTE: If you do not have a thermometer, bring the mixture just barely to a simmer. As soon as you see a bubble hit the surface, remove it from the heat. Do not let it boil.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Serious Vanilla Ice Cream
Sinead Washington, DC 08-30-2009
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Mint Option
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Love this recipe. I tried making a mint version and it turned out great. Added a handful of fresh mint sprigs to the mixture... during the stovetop heating (in a metal strainer so the leaves stayed contained). Removed that mint and added a fresh handful of mint for the overnight chill. Removed this mint before mixing and added chocolate chips. The mint taste infused the ice cream and came out very fresh and yummy.Read more
recipe Serious Vanilla Ice Cream
Steve Seattle, WA 07-31-2009
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Very simple and very good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The first time I made this, the taste reminded me of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Then when I was back in... Atlanta for Thanksgiving last year, I realized what it was...it tastes like the soft-serve ice cream at Chick-fil-A (we don't have 'the Chick' out in Seattle, unfortunately). That's a good thing, though, as I always loved it there. I will agree with some of the comments that some might find it a little too sweet and little too vanilla-ey, so next time I think I'm gonna try it with a little less sugar (which also might make it harder) and maybe half a bean and see how it turns out. BTW, I agree with AB about good ice cream not being 'light' ice cream...I love it when he's totally upfront about things like that. It's a shame more of Food Network's cooks/chefs don't seem to watch his show as I still see several of them often giving bad information (e.g. "searing meat seals in juices").Read more
recipe Serious Vanilla Ice Cream
Ashley Atlanta, GA 07-26-2009
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Alton is the best!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Another perfect recipe - made this without the peach preserves and it is not only the best homemade Ice Cream I've ever... prepared but is also the easiest! Read more
recipe Serious Vanilla Ice Cream
Denise Gilbert, AZ 07-12-2009
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BRILLIANT!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

After watching the dvd on this episode I had to try it. I am going through culinary school for baking/pastry and custards... was one of our chapters. We all used egg yolks in our custards. Unfortunately not everyone tempered correctly. No tempering necessary here and everything goes into the pot at once....QUICK!!! I am also a personal trainer looking for a cleaner version of everything. I used fructose and a low sugar preserve with fresh sliced and frozen strawberries. Everything set up as stated. It was even around 80 degrees in the house when I used my machine. This formula is all you need for all the fruity or vanilla flavors your heart desires. I started making my own after I checked the frozen yogurt shops ingredient list and found high fructose corn syrup was one of the top ingredients and 3 oz of frozen yogurt will run you a little over 100 calories...who in their right mind only has 3 oz? Churn Baby Churn!!!Read more
recipe Serious Vanilla Ice Cream
James Fernandina Beach, FL 04-25-2009
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Alton Fan
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have used several of Alton's recipes to feed my family of five and enjoy learning not only his techninques, but why we use... them. He is very entertaining while educating. I was looking for a good Vanilla Ice Cream recipe and am here checking with Alton first. I always scan the reviews as well as the recipe to get an overall feel of how popular a recipe is with those who tried it. The one question is why so many of the reviewers called this a 'low-sugar' ice cream recipe? How is One Cup of sugar for a quart of ice cream 'LOW-sugar'??? I'm not complaining. If I were trying to stay away from sugar, I wouldn't be looking at ice cream recipes. I just didn't see the connection. I will be mixing this up to churn tomorrow.Read more
recipe Serious Vanilla Ice Cream
Richie Sun Valley, CA 04-23-2009
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Very good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This has good texture and taste. Next time I think I would use less sugar. Also I think adding broken up Oreo cookies or... chocolate chips would put this over the edge. Super easy to make. As others say order your vanilla beans online and you will save $$$.Read more