Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream Food

CHERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Melt chocolate and coconut oil together over a double boiler or in the microwave. Transfer to a small baking pan and freeze at least 1 hour. Use the tip of a knife to crack and remove from pan. Chop into 1/4-inch chunks (you should have 1 cup); set aside.
• In a blender, puree thawed cherries with lemon juice and salt. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve. Measure 1 1/4 cups (reserve the rest for another use). Combine milk, cream, corn syrup, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Strain into a bowl set in an ice-water bath. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until cold, about 5 minutes. Stir in cherry puree. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Freeze mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. When the ice cream is the texture of soft serve, fold in chocolate chunks and Luxardo cherries. Transfer to a loaf pan and freeze, wrapped in plastic, up to 1 week. Let soften at room temperature 10 minutes before serving.

VANILLA CHERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine the cream, milk, and sugar in a bowl. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Add the cherries. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

CHERRY VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the eggs until it is pale yellow. Beat in the flour and salt and set aside.
• Bring the milk to a simmer in a heavy saucepan. Slowly beat hot milk into the eggs and sugar mixture. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Do not let the mixture boil.
• Remove from heat. Strain the custard into a clean bowl. Cool slightly then refrigerate until cold or overnight.
• Stir the custard. Turn machine on and freeze according to your machine's instructions.
• Add the maraschino cherries when the ice cream is semi-frozen and allow the machine to mix the fruit inches.
• The ice cream will be soft and ready to eat. If you like firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer container and freeze for at least 2 hours.

HOMEMADE CHERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine cherries, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon juice, and balsamic vinegar in a bowl and mix well. Set aside for 2 hours. Drain, reserving juice.
• Mash 1/2 the cherries with a fork or puree in a blender.
• Combine milk and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until sugar has dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes. Add reserved cherry juice, cream, pureed cherries, vanilla extract; mix to combine.
• Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions, about 20 minutes. Add remaining quartered cherries and freeze for an additional 5 minutes. Ice cream should be nice and creamy. If you prefer it harder, transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, about 4 hours. Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving.

CHERRY-VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM WITH CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Combine cherries and sugar in heavy large saucepan; toss to coat. Let stand until juices form, about 2 hours. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid thickens slightly, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; mix in brandy. Transfer 1 cup cherry mixture to small bowl; reserve for use in ice cream. Mix preserves into remaining cherry mixture in saucepan; reserve for sauce. Chill both cherry mixtures separately at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Make ice cream:
• Pour half and half into heavy medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to boil. Remove from heat; steep 30 minutes. Whisk sugar and yolks in medium bowl to blend well. Bring half and half to simmer. Gradually whisk hot half and half into yolk mixture. Return mixture to same saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 4 minutes (do not boil). Remove from heat. Mix in whipping cream and vanilla. Refrigerate until cold, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours.
• Using ice cream maker, process custard until almost firm, following manufacturer's instructions; add reserved 1 cup cherry mixture. Process until ice cream firms, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to container; cover and freeze. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep frozen.)
• Scoop ice cream into bowls. Top with reserved sauce and serve.