Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

All About Ice Cream

Churned frozen desserts like ice cream, sherbet, and sorbet get their soft, spoonable texture from being stirred with a paddle (known as a dasher) while they are cooled to below the freezing point in an ice-cream maker. The stirring action ensures that the ice crystals remain tiny and introduces enough […]

Desserts

Buttermilk Sherbet

Makes about 1 1/4 quarts (about 8 servings) Corn syrup helps prevent the sugar in this recipe from forming crystals that could give the sherbet a grainy texture. This is especially helpful in a recipe like this one, with virtually none of the butterfat that keeps ice creams smooth and […]

Desserts

Coffee Ice Cream

Makes about 1 1/4 quarts, or 8 servings Freshly ground coffee gives this Philadelphia-style ice cream a bold flavor. Coffee beans are sold by variety or as a blend, and in varying degrees of “roast,” from a light, or American, roast to inky black and shiny espresso roast. Coarsely grinding […]

Desserts

Easy S’mores Ice Cream Bars

Makes 16 bars These bars can be as homemade as you like, from the ice cream to the hot fudge and marshmallow cream. Higher quality ice cream will freeze firmer, making the bars easier to handle, but don’t hesitate to refreeze the bars as many times as needed to make […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Flavoring Homemade Ice Cream

As the summer settles in, there is no greater joy than a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. No matter your favorite flavor, from simple vanilla to the rockiest rocky road, an ice cream cone is the ultimate way to treat yourself. Near our San Antonio campus, where […]

Desserts

French Vanilla Ice Cream

Makes about 1 1/4 quarts, or 8 servings This is your classic vanilla ice cream, with a clean vanilla flavor and those signature flecks from the seeds of a fresh vanilla bean. If you can’t find vanilla beans, vanilla paste is your best substitute.

Desserts

Homemade Chocolate Shell

Makes about 1 cup You can use refined or unrefined (or virgin) coconut oil for this recipe, but refined has a more neutral, and less coconut-y, flavor. For dipping, use the higher quantity of coconut oil for a more fluid finished product.

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

How Ice Cream Ingredients Affect Mouthfeel

If you are a homemade ice cream maker, you already know that a great base is all you need to make just about any flavor. But part of the fun of making things yourself is experimenting with new recipes and flavors, which can sometimes lead to disappointing results. Of course, […]