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Scoops of brown sugar ice cream in a silver footed bowl.

Brown Sugar and Bourbon Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Heather Smoke
Homemade vanilla bean ice cream, made with brown sugar and bourbon. This is an egg-based frozen custard that's been slowly churned for a rich and creamy texture.

All recipes on Curly Girl Kitchen are developed for high altitude at 5,280 feet. See FAQs for adjusting to higher or lower elevations.

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Freeze Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings2 quarts

Equipment

  • Ice Cream Maker
  • Electric Mixer (Stand or Hand-Held)

Ingredients
 

  • 5 (100g) large egg yolks
  • ¾ cup (120g) dark brown sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (or 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste)
  • tsp coarse Kosher salt (if using table salt, use half the amount)
  • 1 cup (269ml) whole milk
  • 2 cups (490ml) cold heavy whipping cream, divided
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) good-quality bourbon or whiskey

Instructions
 

  • In a large saucepan, whisk together the egg yolks and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the vanilla bean seeds, salt, milk and 1 cup of the cream.
  • Over medium heat, cook the custard while stirring constantly with a spatula, until the custard is steaming and just starting to bubble around the edges, but don't let it come to a boil.
  • Remove from the heat, and pour the custard through a mesh strainer to remove any bits of cooked egg. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, preferably overnight to really let the flavors intensify.
  • Use an electric mixer to whip the remaining 1 cup of cream until soft peaks form. Whisk the whipped cream into the chilled custard.
  • Churn the custard in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions, adding the bourbon during the last minute of churning. Transfer to a lidded ice cream container and freeze until firm, about 8-10 hours.

Notes

  • The bourbon is optional, but helps to promote a smooth, creamy texture.
  • Homemade ice cream is best eaten within about 2 weeks.
Keyword bourbon, Ice Cream, Vanilla Bean
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