After my last Date Night Dinner post, I started to think what would be the best dessert to end that delicious meal with? Of course I had to go with my husband's favorite, ice cream. My husband would eat ice cream every single day if he could. For his birthday, the kids and I bought him an ice cream maker so we could make all his favorite treats. Chocolate and cherry is actually one of my favorite combinations, so what better way to combine the two things we love the most than into this incredibly creamy dessert!
Ingredients:
For the chocolate ice cream
454g (2 cups) heavy cream
21g (¼ cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
341g (1 ½ cups) half and half
150g (¾ cup) white sugar
pinch of salt
3 large egg yolks beaten
½ tsp vanilla extract
For the cherry preserves
8oz frozen cherries
50g (1/4 cup) white sugar
juice of 1 lemon
Method:
In a medium pot heat the cream and the coco powder together till hot. Then pour the cream over the chocolate chips and whisk together. Place in the freezer to cool while you make the custard.
Using the same pot, pour the half and half, sugar, salt, and vanilla place it on the stove over medium high heat. Do not let it boil at this point. Once the half and half is warm add a ladle full to the the egg yokes and whisk together to temper them. Add another ladle full to the yokes and whisk again. Now, add the yoke mixture back to the pot and whisk together. Stirring constantly, let the custard come a to simmer until it becomes thick enough to coat the back on a spoon.
Strain the custard into the chocolate ganache and mix the two together. Place in the freezer or fridge until it's cold. I put mine in the freezer and waited about one hour. Once it's cold, pour it into the ice cream maker.
While the chocolate ice cream is in the machine, make the cherry preserves. Add all the ingredients to a small pot and bring to a simmer. Use a stick blender or a fork to blend the cherries. Simmer until the cherries thicken and set aside to cool.
Once the ice cream is done, scoop half into the container then add about 1/4 cup of the cherry preserves. Add the last of the chocolate ice cream and another 1/4 cup of the cherry preserves over the top. Allow the ice cream to freeze for at least four hours.
Two ways to serve. For the kids, I just added some adorable heart sprinkles and for myself, I poured over two ounces of expresso.
This chocolate cherry ice cream is super creamy! If you have never had home made ice cream before, this may be the prefect one to try first.
I sure hope you give this chocolate cherry ice cream a try this Valentine's Day! If you want a full Valentine's Day menu check out my Date Night Dinner post! to stay in the loop and never miss another blog post, subscribe to my blog here.
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