Description
Creamy blueberry ice cream whisks summer’s sweetest memories into a delightful frozen dessert. Rich lavender-blue hues and natural berry richness invite refreshment with each smooth, velvety spoonful you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
Stabilizers and Additional Ingredients:
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Combine milk, cream, sugar, honey, and salt in a medium saucepan, warming the mixture over medium heat until it reaches a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar completely.
- Whisk egg yolks and cornstarch in a separate bowl until smooth and pale, creating a creamy base for the custard.
- Gradually pour the hot cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly to prevent curdling and create a smooth custard.
- Return the combined mixture to the saucepan, cooking over low heat and stirring continuously until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and immediately strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to ensure a silky texture.
- Stir in vanilla extract and lemon zest, then cool the custard rapidly by placing the bowl in an ice bath, stirring occasionally.
- Once cooled, cover and refrigerate the custard for at least 2 hours or overnight to develop deep, rich flavors.
- Purée fresh blueberries in a blender until smooth, then fold the blueberry mixture into the chilled custard.
- Pour the blueberry custard into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions, typically 20-25 minutes.
- Transfer the churned ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover surface with plastic wrap, and freeze for 4 hours until firm.
- Let the ice cream soften at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving to achieve the perfect scoopable consistency.
Notes
- Prevent curdling by tempering egg yolks slowly with hot cream mixture, whisking continuously to create smooth, silky custard texture.
- Use ripe, fresh blueberries for maximum flavor intensity and natural sweetness, ensuring vibrant color and rich taste profile.
- For dairy-free alternative, substitute heavy cream and milk with coconut milk or almond milk, maintaining creamy consistency while accommodating dietary restrictions.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding a splash of lavender extract or fresh mint during custard preparation, creating unexpected and delightful taste dimensions.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg