Chestnut Espresso Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Food

NO-CHURN COFFEE-CARAMEL CRUNCH ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Whisk the condensed milk, espresso powder, 1 tablespoon heavy cream and the salt in a large bowl until smooth. (The espresso powder may look speckled.)
• Beat the remaining 1 1/2 cups heavy cream in a separate large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Fold about half of the whipped cream into the condensed milk mixture with a rubber spatula until combined, then fold in the remaining whipped cream until no white streaks remain.
• Dot the mixture with the dulce de leche and sprinkle with all but a few teaspoons of the toffee bits; drag a rubber spatula through the mixture to lightly swirl.
• Spoon the mixture into a freezer-safe 9-by-5-inch loaf pan or 2-quart baking dish. Dot with more dulce de leche and sprinkle with the remaining toffee bits; drag a rubber spatula through the top to lightly swirl. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm and scoopable, at least 6 hours or overnight.

COFFEE CARAMEL SWIRL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Make caramel swirl:
• In a 3-quart heavy saucepan boil sugar, corn syrup, water, and a pinch salt over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Boil mixture, without stirring, gently swirling pan, until a deep golden caramel. Remove pan from heat and carefully pour cream and vanilla down side of pan (mixture will vigorously steam and caramel will harden). Simmer mixture, stirring, until caramel is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and cool caramel. Caramel swirl may be made 1 week ahead and chilled, covered. Bring caramel swirl to room temperature before using. (If caramel swirl is too stiff to pour, heat slightly.)
• Make custard:
• In a dry 5-quart heavy kettle cook sugar over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork (to help sugar melt evenly), until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel, without stirring, gently swirling kettle, until deep golden. Remove kettle from heat and carefully pour cream and milk down side of kettle (mixture will vigorously steam and caramel will harden). Simmer mixture, stirring, until caramel is dissolved.
• In a large bowl lightly beat eggs. Add hot cream mixture in a slow stream, whisking, and pour into kettle. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until a thermometer registers 170°F. (Do not let boil.) Whisk in espresso powder and vanilla until espresso powder is dissolved. Pour custard through a fine sieve into another large bowl and cool. Chill custard, its surface covered with wax paper, until cold, at least 3 hours, and up to 2 days.
• Freeze custard in an ice-cream maker, in 2 batches if necessary. Transfer one third ice cream to a 2-quart airtight container and drizzle one third caramel swirl over it. Repeat layering with remaining ice cream and caramel swirl. Freeze ice cream until hard, at least 8 hours, and up to 1 week.

CARAMEL SAUCE FOR BROWNIE SUNDAES

Steps:

• Cook sugar, salt and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar is a medium amber color, about 7 minutes; wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Remove from heat. Stir in heavy cream; add butter, and stir until combined. Let cool to room temperature; stir in vanilla. Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks. Reheat gently; serve at room temperature.

CREME CARAMEL

Steps:

• Make the caramel: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Divide sugar evenly between two 4-cup charlotte molds; add 2 tablespoons water to each and swirl to combine (do not stir). Place molds over low heat; cover, and cook until sugar has dissolved.
• Uncover molds and increase heat to high; cook, swirling, until sugar mixture begins to caramelize. Remove from heat and immediately plunge molds into ice-water baths to stop cooking, about 30 seconds. Swirl caramel to evenly cover bottom of molds; set aside.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Make the custard: Place cream, milk, and vanilla bean and seeds or extract in a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk sugar with eggs and egg yolks until light and fluffy. Remove vanilla bean from milk mixture; whisking constantly, gradually add milk mixture to egg mixture. Strain and divide custard evenly between both charlotte molds.
• Place charlotte molds in a roasting pan. Add enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the molds. Transfer pan to oven and bake until custard is firm, about 45 minutes. Remove custards from pan and let cool; transfer to refrigerator until chilled.
• To unmold, run a sharp knife or offset spatula around the edge of the custard; dip mold into hot water to help remove if necessary. Quickly invert onto serving dish. Pour any remaining caramel around the custard; serve.

CARAMEL SWIRL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring ¾ cup of the sugar and ¼ cup of water to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
• Boil without stirring until the caramel turns a golden amber colour, 5-8 minutes.
• Remove from heat and immediately add ½ cup plus 2 tblsps of the heavy cream - AVOID SPATTERS!
• Stir well, then cook over low heat, stirring, until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, add a dash of salt, and let cool.
• Transfer the caramel to a container, cover and refrigerate until cold, atleast 1 hour and up to 2 days.
• In a large saucepan, bring the milk and remaining 1 ½ cups heavy cream just to a boil over medium heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with ¾ cup of the sugar until smooth.
• Gradually whisk the hot cream into the egg yolks.
• Pour the custard back into the saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon, about 7 minutes.
• DO NOT BOIL.
• Immediately strain the custard into a large heatproof bowl and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, bring the remaining ½ cup sugar and 3 tblsps water to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• Boil with stirring until the caramel turns a deep amber colour, about 7 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add 2 tblsps of cold water - stand back to avoid spatters.
• Stir until smooth.
• Whisk the hot caramel into the warm custard, making sure the caramel doesn't get on the whisk as you pour as it will harden.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Let cool to room temperature, stirring once or twice, then cover and refrigerate until cold, atleast 2 hours or overnight.
• Pour the custard into an ice-cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Transfer the ice cream to a chilled container and freeze until partially set but not hard, about 1 hour.
• Spoon 1/3 of the ice cream into a chilled container.
• Spoon 1/3 of the chilled caramel on top; it does not have to be an even layer.
• Top with a layer of ice cream.
• Continue layering, ending with caramel.
• Stir once; do not overmix as you want a thick caramel swirl running through the ice cream.
• Cover and freeze for atleast 3 hours or up to 2 days.