Berry Ice Cream Pie with Coconut Whipped Cream

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split in 1/2 lengthwise
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1 1/4 cups strawberries, thinly sliced and hulled
• 1 1/4 cups blueberries
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• Chocolate Crust, recipe follows
• Coconut Whipped Cream, recipe follows

Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine the cream, milk, and 3/4 cup sugar. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the pan and add the vanilla bean halves. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg yolks until thickened. Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream into the egg yolks. Whisking, gradually add the egg mixture in a slow, steady stream into the hot cream.

Return to the heat and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to keep a skin from forming. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours.

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of the strawberries, 1 cup of the blueberries, the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and the lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture starts to thicken, about 10 minutes.

Combine the chilled strawberries and the chilled cream mixture. Pour the mixture into the bowl of an ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Spoon 1/2 of the churned soft ice cream into the prepared crust. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer the remaining pint of ice cream to an airtight container and freeze until ready to serve.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup of strawberries, 1/4 cup blueberries, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Toss gently to combine.

Remove the frozen pie from the freezer and slice with a sharp knife dipped in hot water.

Place on dessert plates and top each serving with a dollop of coconut whipped cream and tablespoonful of the berries.

Chocolate Crust :

1 3/4 cups finely ground chocolate wafers, or other plain chocolate cookies

1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) melted unsalted butter

2 tablespoons sugar

1 large egg white, beaten

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl, combine the cookie crumbs, butter and sugar in a bowl and blend with a mixer or by hand. Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan and press into the bottom and up the sides with your fingers. Place another 9-inch pie pan on top of the crust and press firmly to smooth and pack the crust. (Some of the crust may spill over the edges of the pan.) Brush the crust with the egg white. Bake until golden, 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool. Refrigerate, tightly covered, for 1 hour before using.

Coconut Whipped Cream :

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream

4 teaspoons confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup coconut milk

In a bowl, whip the cream until soft peaks start to form. Add the sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. Whip in the coconut milk. (The whipped cream will loose some of its volume with the addition of coconut milk; do not be alarmed. This is meant to be a loose whipped cream.)