Bourbon Ice Cream With Bourbon-Caramel Swirl

(3)

For those nights you can't decide which after-dinner treat you want.

Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream in a bowl to serve
Photo:

Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
9 hrs
Servings:
8

You definitely will not find bourbon ice cream at your neighborhood ice cream truck. Our Test Kitchen calls this boozy scoop "the ultimate ice cream for adults." Get ready for our Bourbon Ice Cream With Bourbon-Caramel Swirl to knock your socks off.

Which Type of Ice Cream Is This?

If you've never made your own ice cream before, let this recipe serve as your introduction. There are two types of ice cream you can make at home: There is no-churn ice cream, which often relies on a base of sweetened condensed milk and whipped cream and does not require an ice cream machine. Then there's classic, churned ice cream, which uses a crème anglaise base and requires an ice cream machine. This recipe falls into the latter category.

Ingredients for Bourbon Ice Cream

This recipe for bourbon ice cream starts with a booze-infused ice cream base—whipping cream, whole milk, kosher salt, egg yolks, and vanilla bean paste. In the crème anglaise, we swap granulated sugar for brown sugar, lending a warm depth to the ice cream. Plus, brown sugar and bourbon are already best friends in our book. The only thing that could take this ice cream flavor over the top?

A swirl of decadent bourbon caramel, which is made from sugar, water, whipping cream, kosher salt, and a splash of the celebrated spirit.

Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream Ingredients

Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

How To Serve Bourbon Ice Cream With Bourbon-Caramel Swirl

Rich and creamy, this ice cream would pair particularly well with a chocolatey dessert, but it also tastes great all on its own.

This scoop would also make a delicious boozy milkshake. You can even top it with a bourbon-infused whipped cream to go full meta. 

How To Store Bourbon Ice Cream

This may seem self-explanatory, but ice cream belongs in the freezer. Store it in an air-tight container, and it should be safe to eat (and sans freezer burn!) for up to two weeks.

Editorial contributions by Joey Skladany.

Ingredients

Bourbon Ice Cream Base

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 6 large egg yolks

  • 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) bourbon

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

Bourbon Caramel Swirl

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, warmed

  • 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) bourbon

  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

  1. Prepare the Bourbon Ice Cream Base:

    Cook whipping cream, milk, brown sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture is steaming, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream simmering the cream for the ice cream base

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    Whisk egg yolks in a small bowl until pale, about 1 minute.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream whisking the eggs until pale

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    Slowly pour or ladle 1 cup hot cream mixture into yolks, whisking constantly.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream starting to temper in the egg yolks

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    Whisk warm yolk mixture back into remaining cream mixture in saucepan.

  2. Cook ice cream base:

    Cook mixture over low, stirring constantly, until thickened and a thermometer registers 175°F, about 5 to 7 minutes.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream cooking the egg and cream mixture until thickened

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    Remove from heat, and stir in bourbon and vanilla bean paste.

    Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl, discarding solids.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream straining the ice cream base

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    Cover surface of cream mixture with plastic wrap, pressing plastic wrap directly on surface, and refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 4 hours or up to overnight (12 hours).

  3. Prepare the Bourbon-Caramel Swirl:

    Cook granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan over medium, swirling occasionally (but do not stir), until sugar has dissolved and caramel reaches a golden amber color, about 10 minutes.

    Southern LIving Bourbon Ice Cream simmering the sugar mixture until it reaches an amber color

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    Remove from heat, and carefully whisk in warmed whipping cream. Whisk in bourbon and salt. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream finishing the caramel mixture and letting it cool

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

  4. Finish the ice cream:

    Meanwhile, pour chilled Bourbon Ice Cream Base into the bowl of an electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream freezing the ice cream base in the machine

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    When Bourbon Ice Cream Base reaches a soft-serve consistency, spoon about 1 cup ice cream into a 9-x 5-inch metal loaf pan. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons cooled Bourbon-Caramel Swirl over ice cream.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream layering the ice cream and caramel into a loaf pan to freeze

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

    Repeat ice cream and caramel layers 3 more times; reserve any leftover Bourbon-Caramel Swirl for serving or another use, and store in an airtight container or jar in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Smooth top, and cover with plastic wrap or parchment paper, pressing plastic wrap or parchment directly onto surface. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

    Southern Living Bourbon Ice Cream finished in the loaf pan to freeze

    Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely   

Additional reporting by
Joey Skladany
Courtesy of Joey Skladany

Joey is a writer, editor, TV/radio personality, lifestyle expert, former entertainment publicist, and author of Basic Bitchen. His work has appeared in People, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Allrecipes, Food52, Apartment Therapy, and more. 

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