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Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream Recipe:
2 cups (480 ml/grams) half-and-half (can also use 1 cup (240 ml/grams) each of whole milk and light cream)
pinch salt
5 large (90 grams) egg yolks
2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons (6 grams) pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
1/2 cup (120 ml/grams) raspberry sauce (See recipe below)
Raspberry Sauce:
1 - 10 ounce bag (300 grams) frozen unsweetened raspberries (can use fresh raspberries)
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
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Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream: In a saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring the half-and-half and salt to the scalding point (the milk just begins to foam up).
Meanwhile, in a stainless steel (or heatproof) bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy. You can do this with a wire whisk or a hand mixer. Gradually pour the scalding half-and-half into the egg yolk mixture, making sure you keep whisking constantly so the eggs don't curdle. If any lumps do form, strain the mixture first before heating.
Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, cook until the custard thickens enough that it coats the back of a spoon (170 degrees F) (77 degrees C). The term 'coat a spoon' is a technique used mainly as a way to test when an egg-based custard or sauce is done. A spoon, usually wooden, is placed in the custard and, when the spoon is raised, the film of custard on the back of the spoon will stay in place even when you draw a line with your finger through the middle of the custard.
Immediately remove the custard from the heat and continue to stir the custard for a few minutes so it does not over cook. Stir in the vanilla extract. Cover and let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate the custard until it is completely cold (several hours but preferably overnight).
Raspberry Sauce: Thaw the unsweetened frozen raspberries in a fine meshed strainer placed over a large bowl. (This will take a few hours at room temperature or you can defrost the berries in the microwave.) Once the berries have completely thawed, force the juice from the berries by gently pressing the berries with the back of a spoon or spatula. (All that should remain in the strainer is the raspberry seeds.) Throw away the seeds and, to the strained juice, stir in the granulated white sugar and the lemon juice. Taste and add more sugar if needed. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill. Can be covered and stored in the refrigerator up to a week, or it can be frozen for about six months.
Transfer the cold custard to the chilled container of your ice cream machine and process according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once the ice cream is made, to create the swirled pattern, place about one third of the ice cream in the bottom of a chilled loaf pan, and then pour about one half of the raspberry sauce on top of it. Top the sauce with another one third of ice cream and then the rest of the raspberry sauce. End with the remaining ice cream. Using a skewer or knife swirl the ice cream. Press plastic wrap on the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Place in the freezer for several hours or until firm. If the ice cream becomes too hard, to soften, place in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before serving.
Makes about 3 cups. Preparation time 45 minutes.
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The beauty of homemade ice cream is that you can make your own flavor combinations. Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream is a great example of this and it is one of my favorites. It combines a smooth and creamy vanilla flavored ice cream with ruby red swirls of a tart and tangy homemade raspberry sauce.
The vanilla ice cream is made with a custard base. The four main ingredients in a custard are cream, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. The cream gives the ice cream its rich and creamy taste. Sugar gives the ice cream its smoothness. Eggs provide color and are also necessary for smoothness. Vanilla is for flavoring. Making the custard the day before it is churned allows time for it chill sufficiently which improves the flavor and texture, and allows the custard to freeze before the churn gets too warm. The custard should only fill your ice cream machine about halfway. This is so the custard has enough room to expand while it freezes so you end up with an ice cream that has a smooth and light texture.
Once the vanilla ice cream is made, it is layered in your container with the homemade raspberry sauce. Place about one third of the ice cream in the bottom of your container and then pour in about half the raspberry sauce. Repeat the layers, ending with the ice cream. Then press plastic wrap onto the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Cover and freeze for several hours or until firm. (The homemade raspberry sauce is simply a mixture of raspberries and sugar. I like to use frozen raspberries as they're available year round and their flavor is always excellent. You will need to thaw the raspberries and then strain to remove their seeds.)