Double Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Food

CHERRY-CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put the cherries, 2 tablespoons sugar and the rum in a medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until syrupy, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool, then refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan over medium-low heat, whisking to dissolve the sugar. Whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl. Gradually whisk about 1/2 cup of the warm milk mixture into the eggs, then whisk the egg mixture into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats a spoon and registers 168 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat; add the semisweet and unsweetened chocolate and the butter and set aside until the chocolate melts, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the chocolate mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into a large bowl and stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Churn the chilled chocolate mixture in an ice cream maker. Strain the cherry mixture, reserving the syrup. When the ice cream is very thick, add the cherries and continue churning until incorporated. Transfer to a freezer-safe container. Drizzle in the reserved cherry syrup and swirl with a spoon. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put the chocolate chips and buttery spread in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir until chocolate chips are completely melted. If not melted, microwave in 15 second increments stirring in between, until melted. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, use a your mixer on medium speed to beat together the coconut milk, cream cheese alternative, agave nectar and vanilla extract until fluffy.
• Whisk one third cream cheese mixture into cooled chocolate mixture. Fold the chocolate mixture into the remaining cream cheese mixture. Stir in the dried cherries and chopped chocolate or mini-chocolate chips.
• Churn the mixture in your ice cream maker as directed by manufacturer.
• Pack the ice cream in a freezer-safe container and freeze for a few hours, or until solid. Let defrost for a few minutes before scooping.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BLACK CHERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• 1. Spread cherries out on a wax paper lined cookie sheet and freeze until solid. I left them in freezer over night and until I was ready to use them the next day.
• 2. Set a medium size bowl into a larger bowl filled with ice water. This will be used to cool your ice cream mixture before refrigerating it.
• 3. In a medium sauce pan over a medium heat, milk, cream, 3/4 cup sugar and salt until steam appears and liquid is hot but not boiling (175 degrees); stir often. NOTE: I used a candy themometer.
• 4. In a seperate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth.
• 5. Once the liquid mixture is hot, slowly whisk 1 cup of the hot liquid into the egg mixture to temper the egg yolks. Slowly whisk the tempered egg mixture back into the hot milk mixture. Continue cooking over a medium heat until hot but not simmering (185 degrees). Remove from heat and add white chocolate and stir until melted. Pour custard into bowl set in ice water and allow to cool for 10 minutues; stir occassionally. Once cool, cover bowl and refrigerate at least 6 hours or over night.
• 6. Right before you start freezing your ice cream, melt chocolate in a double boiler over water that is hot but not boiling; heat until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in oil and tranfer to a ziploc bag.
• 7. Pour ice cream mixture into canster (1 1/2 quart) and freeze according to manufacturers instructions until mixture resembles a thick whipped cream and then add the frozen cherries. Snip the corner of the ziploc back containing the chocolate and slowing drizzle chocolate into ice cream mixture while the machine is still running. Continue to freeze you ice cream until it shuts off or resembles a thick soft serve ice cream. Transfer ice cream to an air tight container and freeze until firm (2 to 3 hours).

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and flour 2 x 9" round pan.
• Combine sour cream, cocoa and water, blend well (set aside).
• Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into bowl (set aside).
• In a large bowl beat butter and sugar on medium high speed for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
• Lower speed and add vanilla and almond extracts, add eggs one at a time, blend well.
• Add flour 3 times to butter mixture, alternating 2 times with milk mixture-- starting and ending with flour.
• Mix well.
• Pour batter evenly into both pans and bake in a 350 degree oven for 20- 25 minutes.
• Cool on racks for 20 minutes before removing pans.
• Cool completely before frosting.
• Beat whipping cream with icing sugar until stiff but not dry.
• Place one cake on platter, frost with 1 cup whipped cream to 1/2" from edge of cake, sprinkle white chocolate chips on top of whipped cream and top with the chopped and drained cherries.
• Put 2nd cake overtop of first cake and frost the top and sides with the remaining whipped cream.
• You can add chocolate curls or marashino cherries to decorate if desired.