Cocoa nibs steeped in milk help to create the most unique chocolate ice cream recipe. It's not super dark and rich, but it has the pure essence of chocolate. It's the perfect homemade ice cream recipe for your ice cream maker!
Course Dessert
Keyword Chocolate, Cocoa Nibs, Ice Cream
Prep Time 15 minutesminutes
Cook Time 20 minutesminutes
Cooling/Hardening Time 12 hourshours
Servings 4
Ingredients
1cupmilk
⅓cupcocoa nibs
1cupheavy cream
½cupbrown sugarlight or dark is fine
2egg yolks
1tspvanilla extract
¼cupcocoa nibs or mini chocolate chipsto mix in
Instructions
Add the milk and cocoa nibs to a medium pot and turn the heat onto medium. Bring up to a light simmer. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until the mixture takes on a tan color and starts to smell like brownie batter.
Add the heavy cream to the pot along with the sugar. Simmer for a few minutes until the sugar totally dissolves in the warm milk mixture. Turn the burner to low and whisk in the egg yolks one at a time; whisk well between additions. Be quick about this step so the yolks mix into the milk mixture and don't curdle. Once the egg yolks are well whisked into the mixture, turn the heat to medium whisking constantly. Cook until the mixture has thickened and will coat the back of a spoon. It will look like melted ice cream (because that's what this is!)
Move the mixture into an airtight container and refrigerate for 6-24 hours. The mixture should be completely cool to the touch before churning.
Once the mixture has cooled, strain into a large measuring cup or medium bowl using a fine meshed sieve. Gently push down on the cocoa nibs to pass the custard through the sieve leaving the spent nibs behind.
Once strained, churn your ice cream according to the instructions for your ice cream maker. Churn until you hit thick soft serve consistency. Mix in your cocoa nibs or mini chocolate chips, if using.Move to an airtight container and allow to harden in the freezer for several hours, at least.
Notes
The mix-ins are optional but each adds a different vibe. The cocoa nibs add a crunchy texture and bitter chocolate taste to the creamy, sweet ice cream. If you like to eat cocoa nibs straight from the package, this mix-in is for you. The mini chocolate chips add a bit more milk chocolate flavor and sweetness to the ice cream. I like each of them on their own merits.