Quickie Caramel Ice Cream Recipes

CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Caramel: In a small, heavy saucepan combine the sugar and the water. Be sure all sugar granules are washed down from pot sides (you can use a pastry brush dipped in water to brush down the sides). Cook over moderate heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until color is golden brown and the mixture smells like caramel. This will take about 10 to 15 minutes. When it is a deep golden color, plunge the bottom of the pot into cold water to immediately stop the cooking (otherwise the heat of the caramel will keep it cooking long after you remove it from the heat, and it could burn). Immediately and with great care, pour the hot caramel onto a large sheet of greased parchment paper on top of a baking sheet. Set aside until cool, then crack into 1/2inch pieces.
• Ice cream: Combine cream and half-and-half in a medium, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil.
• In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale yellow. Pour in the boiling liquid and stir until combined. Stir in the vanilla. Strain into a large container and refrigerate until cold, or place in a bowl nested in a larger bowl of iced water and stir occasionally until cold. Stir in the Crema. Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturers instructions. When ice cream is done, fold in the reserved caramel pieces. Store in freezer 1 to 2 days.
• In large bowl whisk together cream and buttermilk. Cover and set in a warm place (a gas oven with just the heat from the pilot light for example) for 8 hours. Place in refrigerator. Can be kept for up to a week.

CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, heat sugar over medium heat until sugar begins to melt. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved and becomes deep golden brown to amber in color. Remove from heat; gradually stir in 1 cup of the whipping cream (mixture will boil and splatter at first). Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until any hardened sugar bits dissolve; remove from heat.
• With whisk, stir in remaining 1 cup whipping cream, the milk, egg yolks, salt and vanilla until well mixed. Cook over medium heat just until mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly (do not allow mixture to continue to boil or it will curdle). Immediately remove from heat.
• Pour milk mixture into chilled bowl. Refrigerate uncovered 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until room temperature. At this point, mixture can be refrigerated up to 24 hours before completing recipe if desired.
• Pour into 1-quart ice-cream freezer and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.

CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Place 3/4 cup of the sugar in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently, moving the sugar around constantly. It will become pebbly and turn golden. Continue cooking, stirring gently, until the sugar starts melting, then stop stirring and gently swirl the sugar until it melts and turns a rich amber color. It has caramelized enough when it starts to come to a simmer.
• Immediately stir in about 1/2 cup of the half-and-half, pouring it slowly and standing back because the mixture may spatter. Stir in the remaining half-and-half. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
• Beat the remaining sugar with the egg yolks in a separate bowl until blended but not frothy. Beat in a little caramel, then pour the egg-yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the caramel. Cook, stirring, over medium-low heat until the mixture reaches 175 degrees on a candy thermometer. Do not allow to boil.
• Strain the mixture into a metal bowl, cover and refrigerate or place the bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice and water to chill it. Stir the caramel occasionally as it chills. When the mixture is cold, freeze it in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's directions.

CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Place turbinado sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add 1/4 cup water and stir to combine. Place over high heat and cook, until sugar is dissolved and mixture becomes a very dark caramel color, about 10 minutes.
• Slowly whisk in milk, taking care as caramel may bubble and splatter. Place over medium-high heat and cook, whisking, until mixture is well combined. Remove from heat; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and granulated sugar until well combined. Add half of the caramel mixture to the egg yolk mixture; whisk to combine. Return egg mixture to saucepan and whisk to combine. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture is thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, set a medium bowl in an ice-water bath; set a fine-mesh sieve over bowl. When ice cream mixture has thickened, strain and let cool completely.
• When mixture is cooled, transfer to an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and keep frozen up to 1 week.

QUICKER CARAMEL FLAN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Spoon 1 teaspoon caramel topping into each of six ungreased 6-oz. custard cups., Place cups in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Pour egg mixture into each cup (cups will be full). Fill baking dish with 1 in of hot water., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until centers are almost set (mixture will jiggle). Remove custard cups from water to a wire rack; cool for 30 minutes. , Refrigerate for 3 hours or until thoroughly chilled. Invert and unmold onto rimmed dessert dishes.

SALTED CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium pot over medium heat, melt 3/4 cup sugar with 3 tablespoons water, swirling skillet frequently, until sugar turns mahogany brown in color (it should be almost but not quite black).
• Add heavy cream, milk, remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the salt; simmer mixture until caramel melts and cream mixture is completely smooth. Remove pot from heat. In a separate bowl, whisk yolks. Whisking constantly, slowly whisk about a third of the hot cream into the yolks, then whisk the yolk mixture back into the pot with the cream.
• Return pot to medium-low heat and gently cook until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer).
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cool mixture to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Churn in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions. Sprinkle flaky sea salt into base during the last 2 minutes of churning. Serve directly from the machine for soft serve, or store in freezer until needed.