Asian-Inspired Ice Cream

Going to the ice cream store is always fun, but if you want to take on a new challenge, you can try making the delicious frozen treat at home. While making ice cream may seem like an impractical task, it can be an exciting way to get busy in the kitchen and experiment with flavors.

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Most ice cream recipes call for a ratio of the following ingredients:

• Heavy cream

• Milk

• Egg Yolks

• Sugar

• Salt

You can also find dairy-free and vegan ice cream recipes that substitute out some of these ingredients. 

To make the ice cream, you follow a recipe to mix, boil, whip, freeze, and fold the ingredients before pouring them into an ice cream maker. You can browse the internet to find someone else’s recipe to try, or make your own recipe by trying out different ratios on your own.

People who make ice cream at home typically use an ice cream maker. Although there are no-churn recipes, ice cream makers are the easiest way to simultaneously freeze and aerate your mixture. You can find them in stores or online for around $50.

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If you don't add anything to the classic ingredients used to make ice cream, the result will be a traditional sweet cream flavor. While this is delicious, once you get the hang of the ice cream-making process, it is fun to experiment with flavors. 

There are lots of ways to spice up your ice cream, and tons of combinations you can try. Some of the most common ways to flavor ice cream include:

• Extracts – vanilla, almond, mint extract

• Powders – espresso, cocoa, or matcha powder

• Mix-ins – crushed cookies, chopped up candy, chocolate-covered fruit or nuts

• Purees – make your own fruit syrup with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, and more

You can also make ice cream inspired by your favorite cultural flavors. For example, the women in the video made their love for Asian-inspired ice cream into a business! What made their business special is their unique flavor combinations rooted in Asian flavors – Ginger Black Sesame, Earl Grey Strawberry Cheesecake, and Pineapple Cookie were some of their most popular flavors. 

You can also use your ice cream to make other tasty treats – like ice cream sandwiches. Simply scoop some of your ice cream and place it between two cookies, and freeze!  

For a full rundown on flavors, equipment, mix-ins, recipes, and more, check out Food52's ultimate guide to homemade ice cream.