As much as we love ice cream I seldom make it during the winter. The ice cream freezer moves to the cupboard in the garage in October and doesn’t surface until the days turn warm and fresh fruit starts showing up at the farmers’ market. Our berry season is finally here and yesterday, when I went to the farmers’ market, I had quite the variety to choose from. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, marionberries, blackcaps and blueberries were available along with apricots, peaches, nectarines and cherries. It wasn’t easy making a decision.
Blackberries were the ultimate choice because they were so juicy and sweet. Their season is short so I decided to go for it before they disappeared from the market. This vanilla custard base is rich and creamy and is the starting point for many of my ice cream recipes. The berries can be left practically whole or mashed down to smaller chunks before they are added the ice cream. You can even strain out the seeds if you don’t like them. You will see in the recipe that vodka is added to the berries to keep them from forming ice crystal while the ice cream is freezing. Don’t worry…it doesn’t add any flavor to the ice cream…it’s completely a texture thing. I added a tablespoon of King Arthur Flour’s Instant Clearjel Powder to the mashed berries to slightly thicken the mixture…no cooking required. That also reduces the possibility of frozen ice crystals in the finished ice cream.
I use a Cuisinart ice cream maker and I’m very happy with it. I found it at Costco several years ago and it came with 2 freezer containers so I can make 2 different flavors at the same time…for instance, vanilla and orange sherbet…and swirl them together to make creamsicle ice cream. This recipe fills the container about half way and when it is frozen to the right consistency it fills the bowl to the top.
Scoop the ice cream into a freezer container and spoon the berry topping over the ice cream as you go. Don’t mix the two together. If you do you will quickly have a container full of pink ice cream. Cover the surface of the ice cream with plastic wrap and seal with a tight fitting lid. Freeze several hours or overnight.
Several weeks ago I received an email from SINGING DOG VANILLA, an Oregon company based in Eugene, that requested permission to use my recipe for VANILLA BEAN MADELEINES on their website. I’m always happy to share my recipes so quickly agreed. They sent me a sampling of their products to try and I used their vanilla bean paste in this ice cream recipe. I am so impressed with this product that it will have a place in my cupboard from now on. I LOVE IT! It has the consistency of honey with intense aroma and flavor and is used in place of vanilla beans in fine baking. I told the company how much I liked their products and they generously offered to send these same items to one of my readers if I would like to host a giveaway. Well…of course I would! This is an easy giveaway…just leave a comment that includes a way to contact you and you will be included. A winner will be chosen at the end of the month and you can increase your chances of winning if you leave comments on additional posts until then.
- 1 cup whole milk
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
- 5 egg yolks
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1-2 tablespoons vodka (optional) See note below
- 1 cup fresh blackberries (or any other berry you prefer)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon King Arthur Flour Instant Clearjel Powder
- To make the custard: Combine milk, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar melts.
- Whisk the egg yolks together in a medium bowl. Slowly pour the milk mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then scrap the mixture back into the saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir the mixture constantly with a rubber spatula until the custard thickens and coats the back of the spatula (it should be between 170 and 175 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer).
- Pour the custard through a strainer into a medium sized bowl. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla bean paste until combined well. Place the bowl in an ice bath and stir occasionally until the mixture is cool. Cover and chillin the refrigerator at least 8 hours or overnight.
- To make the berry swirl: An hour before you are ready to churn the ice cream combine the berries, sugar and vodka in a small bowl and mash with a fork until the juices are released but large chunks still remain. Stir in the Instant Clearjel Powder if you are using it. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill until needed.
- To churn the ice cream: Freeze the ice cream custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. In my Cuisinart it took 23 minutes. As you remove the ice cream and place in a freezer-safe container layer it with spoonfuls of the berry swirl mixture. Place a layer of plastic film over the top of the ice cream, cover with a tight fitting lid and freeze for 4-6 hours or overnight.
I love love love Vanilla in any form I can get it at all, lost your blog address just found it, missed it a lot, would love to win this contest..I like to put vanilla into most anything!!! We live in Washington state not tooo far from where the company you are mentioning is based..wow whee, never knew of it will look for it locally..keep cool, the sun has finally arrived, yippee kiyaah! mary s. from [email protected]
This looks so delicious. When I see blackberries I always think of my Dad. When we were children he would take us blackberry picking. We would come home with purple fingers and full of chiggers and just enough for Mom to make a cobbler.
Madonna from makeminelemon(dot)com
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon recently posted..Apricot Coffee Cake
Thanks for the giveaway! The ice cream looks delicious!
I’d love to try the vanilla bean paste. Thanks.
I’d love to use these vanilla products to make frozen yogurt, cookies, muffins, and more. I love the fragrance of vanilla in the kitchen, and it’s my favorite candle scent too. There’s something comforting about it.
What gorgeous ice cream, silky and voluptuous. I can just imagine the interplay of the berries, vanilla and vodka. This is a perfect summertime dessert.
Adri recently posted..On Sunday, occasionally – No. 1
I didn’t know that adding vodka to berry ice cream would keep the berry portion from getting icy and frozen hard. What a great tip!
Would love to win the vanilla products. Thanks so much for the chance.
Your ice cream sounds totally delicious. Last week I made peach and vanilla. This vanilla company was demonstrating at New Seasons by me on Saturday. I was in a hurry, so didn’t stop; but I was curious.
Marilyn recently posted..Step through the Rabbit Hole
Hi Marilyn. I’m happy to know that New Season carries these wonderful products. Hope you are enjoying our hot weather.
Cathy recently posted..Vanilla Bean Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream and a Vanilla Giveaway
Yummo! What beautiful pictues! Your photos make me crave ice cream & it is only 7:30 am here on the east coast, Cathy!
How NICE that the Singing Dog Vanilla Co. ASKED for permission to use your recipe instead of just stealing the photo like that other company, who shall remain nameless, but we know who they are. BRAVO for Singing Dog having scruples!
I was not aware of King Arthur Flour’s Instant Clearjel Powder & need to check it out for other uses as well.
I hope you have a lovely week ahead. It is going to be wicked hot here & no rain in sight. Guess that is what I get for complaining about it last week. LOL
Hugs,
Rett
Rettabug recently posted..Blue Cheese Spread
OK, not fair. I am just waking up and seeing this gorgeous treat and want it for breakfast.
ciaochowlinda recently posted..Agretti
This is EXACTLY what I need right now!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..High Protein Banana Rye Bread with Applesauce and Peanuts
Looks good, our blackberries are done now. I do have some in the freezer.
Vanilla paste sounds like something I would like to try! [email protected]
I’ve always wanted to try vanilla bean paste!
I love vanilla extract!! This is a great giveaway!
Cathy, this looks like all the deliciousness of summer – in a bowl! I’ve never heard of the Instant Clearjel Powder but I can imagine many ways to use it, thanks for that tip!
The Café Sucre Farine recently posted..Grill-Roasted Summer Veggie & Farro Salad w/ Garlicky Lemon Vinaigrette
It’s a great products, Chris. It’s the best thickener for fruit pies. I used several tablespoons in the blackberry pie that is in my oven right now. No starchy taste or gooey juices.
Cathy recently posted..Vanilla Bean Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream and a Vanilla Giveaway
Thanks for the very delicious giveaway! I’d love to try all of these products. My email is included with the submission.
I’m intrigued with the vanilla paste. I always add vodka to my fruit swirl ice creams – delicious!! I’ve made this with red raspberries – to die for!!
My local market has been selling fresh pints of berries for $1 a pint the last several weeks, I’ve been freezing and bagging them for the winter – I’m trying this fruit swirl ice cream recipe this weekend! Looks wonderful. My suggestion for the Singing Dog vanilla bean paste – add some to your fresh peaches as well as almond extract for your peach pie, peach cobbler, peach cake filling, it’s one more layer of flavor to make it over the top!
Your Vanilla Bean Blackberry Swirl Ice cream looks delicious! I Love anything Vanilla! Thank you for the chance to win!
keshakeke(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the giveaway!
Vanilla bean paste, never heard of it but it sounds like it would be a very intense flavor. I love vanilla.
[email protected]
I always have a quart of homemade ice cream in the freezer during the summer. I love my Cuisinart but unfortunately only have one freezer bowl
. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for another one. This ice cream looks delicious. I have a weakness for blackberries.
Karen Harris recently posted..Something From Nothing #14: The Perfect Two Egg Omelet
I’ve always wanted to try vanilla paste.
What a gorgeous ice cream. Wish I could just reach in and grab a spoonful. Lucky you, I love vanilla bean paste.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes recently posted..How To Slice Peaches
Almost all the ice creams I make are custard based. They are incredible. And yes, I love my Cuisinart maker also. I’ve had a couple and it’s been the best. I’ve never had vanilla bean paste. I’m sure I’d love it since I love everything vanilla. Your ice cream is beautiful Cathy. I have an “Oregon Berries for Dummies” question. When I was there, I never knew whether I was eating Blackberries or Marion Berries. How do you tell the difference?
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) recently posted..Lemony Greek Stuffed Bell Peppers for SRC Reveal
Hi Lea Ann – Good question. The marionberry is the queen of blackberries with a complex and rich earthy flavor. Many tasters find a similarity between marionberries and the rich juiciness of Cabernet grapes. It is sweeter and juicier than the Evergreen blackberries found in wild brambles up and down the West Coast. It is a medium-sized blackberry that ranges in color from very dark red to true black. It is grown exclusively in Oregon, where it is prized above other blackberries. In Oregon, marionberries are always labelled as marionberries or their more formal name, marion blackberries. The marionberry was developed at Oregon State University in 1945 by crossing a Chehalem blackberry (a berry with native blackberry, Loganberry, and raspberry in its background) with a Olallieberry (itself a blackberry cross) and named after Marion county in Oregon. They were first brought to market in 1956.
Cathy recently posted..Vanilla Bean Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream and a Vanilla Giveaway
I am very intrigued by the “vanilla paste”. How awesome would that be?!?!
Mmm this looks gorgeous and so delicious! I love blackberries. The ice cream is perfect and I would love to taste it. But it would be great in the winter, too!
Jamie recently posted..Visual Feast V – When No One is Looking
No olallieberries? LOL! I worked with Singing Dog Vanilla a few years ago, and have become a convert of theirs ever since. I love their vanilla bean paste (I can find it at Whole Foods). I have to admit that I love making ice cream year-round. I have plenty of frozen olallies, and I think this would be a lovely rendition of this recipe. Looks fab!
Foodiewife recently posted..Ranch Style Beans
Love vanilla and I am now thinking of some blackberry-vanilla jam concoction. I think I can still pick some at the local farm.
Awesome looking ice cream. Bet it was delicious.
Debra recently posted..Freezing Blackberries
That looks so good. Thanks for the giveaway.
Would love a bowl of your blackberry ice cream! Next … blackberry pie served with a dollop of blackberry ice cream! Mmmm! Fabulous giveaway! Could I be so lucky?
Hi Sandie – I’m so happy to see your comment! You definitely would like this ice cream. Thanks for visiting.
Cathy recently posted..Vanilla Bean Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream and a Vanilla Giveaway
I would love to win this giveaway and make this fabulous recipe for my grand babies. Thank You so much for the opportunity!
I love love Vanilla !!! I use vanilla powder in the fruit dips that I make. If I can use vanilla in any recipe that I make. I have never used this brand but with this posting about the ice cream, which looks fantastic and is making me really hungry !!! I will be going onto their site to look at all their products. Would love to win anything vanilla ! I swear that I am an addict…lol…hello my name is tracey and I am a vanilla addict…. [email protected]
I LOVE vanilla!! Thanks for the giveaway!! [email protected]
I have recently discovered singing dog vanilla .Great stuff .Their paste has many uses .
This ice cream looks fantastic. I had a blackberry bush out by the house we lived at in WV ( now 20 years ago) , that I made so many yummy foods with back then …but never made ice cream .
I recently started buying better varieties of vanilla and my baked goods are amazingly better. Would like to try the Singing Dog!
myfoxypup(at)gmail(dot)com
Good vanilla is my favorite perfume and yours is among the best! I would so love to win this vanilla paste.
Wow, this looks like absolute perfection !
And the give-away is so lovely.
A way to contact me is by mail: [email protected]
The Sketched Chef recently posted..Rooibos Tea Flavored Breakfast Cookies
I still haven’t gotten my ice cream maker out of the closet but it’s HOT here this week and a good time to try a new flavor. Your fruity ice cream looks so delicious. I love vanilla bean paste too and congrats on your madeleine recipe being featured!
Susan recently posted..Almond Cake with Fresh Berries
Cathy, we were able to tour Singing Dog Vanilla in Eugene
and purchased several of their products
locally. What a great company and I am looking forward
to using their products. I will be posting about this visit soon.
Those pictures make my mouth water. What a great ice cream!
I am a vanilla afficianado and blackberries, good ones, are my absolute favorite berry. So this recipe is so me. It sounds and looks delicious. So glad I found this site.
This post really makes me want to get an ice cream maker…
What a great Giveaway. I love vanilla. This is one Giveaway I would love to win.
Ann
Thibeault’s Table (Ann) recently posted..Cream Cheese Danish
What a great giveaway – thanks for the chance!
susanelester[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi Susan – You are the lucky winner of the Singing Dog Vanilla Products. Please send me your address and I will pass it along to the company. Thanks for visiting. Congratulations.
Cathy recently posted..Braided Brioche
Oh my heck, your ice cream looks wonderful! And wheat a great giveaway! =o)
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Slimy Slug Candy
Oops, that was supposed to be “what”, not “wheat”. Crud.
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Baked Zucchini with Cheese {Secret Recipe Club}
Vanilla bean paste sounds like an intriguing product to try in many recipes, Cathy. I love the taste of vanilla–it is my favorite ice cream flavor! I will have to look into this companies products–they sound like a baker’s dream!
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