Prepare to embark on a mind-blowing culinary journey that will shatter your dessert expectations forever! Imagine a luxurious ice cream that dances between sweet and salty, where rich caramel meets crispy, candied bacon in a symphony of flavor that will make your taste buds do a happy dance. This isn't just another boring ice cream recipe - this is a gourmet experience that transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dessert that will have everyone begging for your secret recipe.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 1 quart
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1 cup salted caramel sauce
- 1/2 cup candied bacon, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the candied bacon first by preheating the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange bacon strips in a single layer.
- Mix brown sugar and black pepper in a small bowl, then sprinkle evenly over bacon strips. Bake for 15-20 minutes until crisp and caramelized, turning once halfway through.
- Remove bacon from oven, let cool completely, then chop into small pieces. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream, whole milk, half the sugar, and salt. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to simmer, stirring occasionally.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks with remaining sugar until pale and smooth.
- Slowly temper the egg mixture by gradually adding hot cream mixture while continuously whisking to prevent scrambling.
- Return the combined mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until completely chilled.
- Once chilled, stir in 3/4 cup of salted caramel sauce into the custard base.
- Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's instructions, typically 20-25 minutes.
- During the last 5 minutes of churning, gradually add chopped candied bacon.
- Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container, swirl remaining caramel sauce on top, and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
Tips
- Temperature is key: Ensure your custard base is completely chilled before churning to achieve the smoothest texture possible.
- Bacon preparation matters: For extra crispy candied bacon, use thick-cut bacon and watch it closely while baking to prevent burning.
- Tempering technique: When adding hot cream to egg yolks, pour slowly and whisk continuously to prevent scrambling.
- Invest in a good ice cream maker for the best results, but if you don't have one, you can still make this recipe by manually stirring the mixture every hour while freezing.
- For an extra flavor boost, try adding a sprinkle of sea salt or a drizzle of additional caramel sauce just before serving.
- Allow the ice cream to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping for the perfect, creamy consistency.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: mg
