One taste of our smooth, milky-white vanilla ice cream will reveal the luscious texture and complex vanilla flavor that makes this classic dessert so beloved.
Ingredients
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2 vanilla beans
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2 cups milk
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6 large egg yolks
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¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
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2 cups very cold heavy cream
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1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
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Split vanilla beans lengthwise with a sharp paring knife. Gently scrape out all the seeds.
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Place vanilla-bean scrapings and pods in a medium saucepan with milk. Scald the mixture, cover, and remove from heat. Let steep for 30 minutes.
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Combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat at medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes. Alternatively, whisk together in a medium bowl.
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Return milk to stove, and bring just to a simmer. Using a measuring cup or ladle, slowly pour about 1/2 cup of the hot-milk mixture into the egg-yolk mixture, whisking constantly on low speed until blended. Keep adding milk mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time, until it has all been added. Whisk until combined.
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Pour mixture back into saucepan, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. The custard should retain a line drawn across the back of the spoon with your finger.
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Fill a large bowl with ice and water. Remove pan from heat, and immediately stir in chilled cream to stop the custard from cooking. Pour through a mesh sieve into a medium bowl set in the ice bath, and stir occasionally until cooled. (Discard vanilla-bean pod and strained seeds.) Stir vanilla extract into cooled custard. Cover bowl, and transfer to refrigerator until chilled, at least 30 minutes or overnight.
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Pour custard into an ice-cream maker, following the manufacturer's instructions. Churn until the ice cream is just set, but not hard.
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Transfer soft ice cream to an airtight plastic container; freeze at least 4 hours and up to 1 week.
Cook's Notes
Read instructions completely -- chilling times vary depending on the ice-cream maker.