2000s Recipes + Menus

Grandpa Roy's Caramel Ice Cream

Makes 1 1/2 Pints
  • Active time:30 min
  • Start to finish:6 1/2 hr
MATTHEW LONDON
July 2006
The deep caramel flavor in this ice cream will hypnotize you. And the optional garnish is actually a must; the combination of salty and sweet is too intriguing to pass up.
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • Special equipment:

    an instant-read thermometer; an ice cream maker
  • Garnish:

    flaky sea salt (optional)
  • Cook sugar and salt in a dry 4– to 5–quart heavy pot over moderate heat, undisturbed, until it begins to melt. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally with a long–handled wooden spoon, until sugar is melted into a deep golden caramel, 10 to 12 minutes.
  • Carefully pour in cream (caramel will harden and steam vigorously). Simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramel is dissolved. Whisk in milk and return just to a boil, then remove from heat.
  • Whisk together yolks and corn syrup in a large bowl until smooth, then add half of hot caramel cream in a slow stream, whisking until combined well. Add yolk mixture in a slow stream to caramel cream in pot, whisking, then cook over low heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture is thickened and thermometer registers 170 to 175ºF, about 3 minutes.
  • Immediately pour caramel custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
  • Remove custard from ice bath and chill, covered, until cold, about 1 hour. Freeze in an ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden, at least 4 hours.
  • Sprinkle scoops of ice cream with sea salt if desired.
Cooks’ Notes:
  • Custard can be chilled up to 1 day.
  • Ice cream keeps 1 week.
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