Blackberry Ice Cream
Ingredients
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- 16 ounces blackberries (~90.5 n/a blackberries)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Toss the blackberries with 0.5 cup of the granulated sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl; lightly mash and let stand until juicy, about 20 minutes.
2. Puree the macerated berries with their juices until smooth, then press through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds; discard seeds.
3. Simmer the strained puree over medium heat, stirring, until slightly thickened and reduced by about one-third, 5–8 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold.
4. In a medium saucepan, heat the whole milk, remaining sugar, and the kosher salt over medium heat until steaming with small bubbles at the edges, 3–5 minutes; do not boil.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Slowly ladle in about 1 cup of the hot milk mixture while whisking constantly to temper.
6. Return the tempered yolk mixture to the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a spatula, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spatula (170–175°F), 3–5 minutes.
7. Strain the hot custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Stir in the heavy cream and the vanilla extract. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly cold, at least 4 hours or overnight.
8. When both the custard and blackberry puree are cold, whisk the puree into the custard until evenly blended.
9. Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions until softly set and the dasher leaves ridges, 20–25 minutes.
10. Transfer to a chilled container, press parchment or plastic wrap directly on the surface, and freeze until firm enough to scoop, 2–4 hours.
Blackberry ice cream marries lush dairy richness with the bright, winey depth of ripe blackberries. The result is a scoop with a velvety custard body, balanced sweetness, and a clean, berry-forward finish. Straining the fruit removes grit from seeds while a touch of lemon sharpens the flavor and preserves a vivid hue, making each spoonful both luxurious and refreshing.
Ice cream has roots tracing back to frozen dairy desserts enjoyed across Europe before flourishing in America, where churned custards became a staple. Blackberry versions are especially beloved in regions where brambles grow wild, from British hedgerows to American summer farmstands. Over time, cooks developed techniques to showcase the fruit’s character in ice cream, refining methods like straining, brief reduction, and slow chilling to achieve smooth texture and concentrated flavor.