The substance derived from vanilla beans is so heady and richly aromatic that it seems ironic that in the dictionary, the word vanilla is also defined as something plain, ordinary or lacking any special features. The irony becomes even more pronounced when we consider how highly prized vanilla beans are.
Yet, from another context, the definition makes sense especially when we talk of vanilla ice cream which is plain both in color and in texture. I’m not very fond of vanilla ice cream unless it is merely the base for a dessert or an accompaniment to something super rich like deep dark chocolate brownies. So when I made vanilla ice cream last Saturday, I dressed it up with coffee, milk, whipped cream and corn flakes before serving.
Ingredients
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3 cups cream chilled
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon good quality vanilla extract use vanilla beans if you can find and afford them — I couldn’t, not for this experiment anyway
Instructions
- Make a custard. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar. In a pan, scald the milk. Pour half of the milk, by tablespoonful, into the egg yolks, beating as you pour to temper the egg yolks. Pour the egg yolk into the pan with the other half of the cream and heat gently, stirring, until thickened and the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Turn off the heat, transfer the mixture to a container, cool, cover and chill for several hours.
- When the custard is well chilled, fold with the cream. Pour into the ice cream mixer and process per manufacturer’s directions. Add the vanilla extract during the last five minutes of processing.
- Serve the ice cream immediately or transfer to a freezer proof container and freeze for a couple of hours for a firmer ice cream.
If you cooked this dish (or made this drink) and you want to share your masterpiece, please use your own photos and write the cooking steps in your own words.
- 1 cup very strong coffee
- 1 cup milk
- vanilla ice cream
- whipped cream
- corn flakes
- Stir the coffee and milk together.
- Place two scoops of vanilla ice cream in two dessert glasses.
- Divide the coffee mixture between the two glasses. Just pour it in.
- Top the ice cream with whipped cream. Sprinkle some corn flakes on top.
- Serve and enjoy.
Hello and welcome! I'm a retired lawyer and columnist, wife for 28 years, mom of two, and a passionate cook. What is this blog about? Recipes for dishes 
Cinnamon rolls with peanuts and raisins
a scoop or more of homemade vanilla ice cream on top of a self saucing chocolate pudding still piping hot from the oven is my current favorite dessert. yum.
Ooh, that sounds good!
That looks so good. I totally want ice cream now.
Hi connie. Sorry for this delayed question. My aunt gave us an ice cream maker and I would like to try it out using this recipe. May i ask if you used heavy cream or all-purpose cream for the ice cream? Thank you.
Preferably, heavy cream.
All-purpose cream can become ice cream too but it melts fast and is not as creamy.
Ok. Thank you for your quick response! Will update once we’ve tried the recipe out. Thanks again. :)