A Sweet End For A Special Occasion: Vodka and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
If you’re an ice cream connoisseur or just a home cook who wants to try out new dishes in the kitchen, why not try this vodka and vanilla ice cream? The combination sounds intriguing but delicious, doesn’t it? In this blog, we’ll take you through the steps of making homemade vodka infused vanilla ice cream, and even share tips on how to make your own vanilla extract at home. This ice cream flavour is a delicious way to end any special occasion dinner. Impress your friends, family, or your partner!
How to make your own vanilla extract
Ingredients
High quality vanilla beans
Smirnoff Red vodka
Method
Choose only high-quality beans for this to get a robust flavour.
Using a sharp knife, split each vanilla bean lengthwise.
Place them in a sterilised glass jar or bottle.
Pour enough vodka over the beans to completely submerge them.
Seal the jar or bottle tightly and gently give it a shake.
Store in a cool, dark place for about 6 to 8 weeks. Do remember to shake the jar to agitate the mixture.
After this, strain this mixture and transfer to another clean and sterilised container.
How to make vanilla bean ice cream
Ingredients
1 cup of heavy cream
2 cups of whole milk
3/4 cup of granulated sugar
3 tsp of your homemade vanilla extract
60 ml of Smirnoff vodka
2 tbsp cornstarch
Method
Keep the vodka and heavy cream chilled in your fridge before you begin.
In a small bowl, make a cornstarch slurry in milk.
In a saucepan, add milk and sugar. Ensure that all of the sugar dissolves.
Once the milk begins to simmer, gradually kick in the cornstarch slurry.
Keep cooking and stirring till this thickens. Once it’s slightly cool, add the vodka and vanilla extract.
Cool it in the fridge for half an hour.
Whip the chilled whipping cream till you get soft peaks.
Fold in the vanilla custard into this.
Cover the bowl with cling film and aluminium foil and freeze.
Mix it every few hours, then leave it to completely solidify before serving.
Additional tips
Use coconut cream or cashew cream in the base mixture along with heavy cream for a richer texture. To veg wise this recipe, use full-fat coconut or any other plant-based milk you like.
Experiment with different flavourings such as adding almond extract or coffee liqueur.
You can also add mix-ins like chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or crumbled biscuits.
Instead of regular sugar, you can always use agave nectar, maple syrup, honey or coconut sugar.
Serve these in chic martini glasses for an elegant presentation. Decorate with some edible glitter if you want.
Drizzle chocolate or caramel sauce and sprinkle some sea salt for a sweet and salty contrast.
You can also pair this ice cream with warm desserts like brownies, and even cookies.
Make an ice cream sundae with different flavours, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and sprinkles.
You can also add a scoop of the vodka vanilla ice cream in some soda for an ice cream float.
