Spiked, Homemade Ice Cream--Yum! And Whiskey Caramel Sauce Recipe

[Heidi Sue Roth]

 

Title: Ice Cream Happy Hour

Author: Valerie Lum, Jenise Addison

Publisher: Ulysses Press

Publisher’s Address: PO Box 3449, Berkeley, CA 94704

ISBN (13): 978-1-56975-931-8

List Price US: $14.95

 

Decadence just might be defined as combining homemade, premium-style ice cream base with your favorite type of alcohol. If you agree with that definition, the “Ice Cream Happy Hour” cookbook will make you very, very happy. With 50 amazing recipes combining fabulous flavors such as Guinness, Sake, and many more there is something for everyone who wants to try a spiked, frozen treat.

 

One of the nice things about this cookbook is the authors share with you both their process for reaching the final recipes and teach you how to make your own. If you haven’t made ice cream before, don’t sweat it. The book starts with everything you need to know. You will not only be able to get it right, you’ll be able to make it great.

 

Although we’ve tried a number of the recipes from this book, I know we’re no where close to being finished with all the recipes we want to taste. The consistent response was “So good it’s evil” and similar comments. They are so good you won’t want to wait until summer to start making the best “happy” ice cream around. The Guinness ice cream on page 82 was the first test. I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to wait before making another batch. Thanks to great little counter-top ice cream maker models, the potential is nearly unlimited.

 

Rather than give away any spoilers on recipes or risk someone failing for lack of instructions at the beginning of the book for important techniques, I’m going to share one of the recipes you can use tonight. Although putting this on ice cream purchased from the store borders on sacrilegious, it’s not a big enough offense to justify more than a small bit of penance.

 

Whisky Caramel Sauce

Makes a little more than 2 cups

 

1. Place 1 ½ cups sugar in a medium saucepan and add ½ cup water. Make sure the sides of the pan are clean. Stir slowly over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. As the sugar cooks, the caramel will thicken and become rich in color. Resist the urge to stir. Once it reaches the desired caramel color, turn off the heat.

 

2. Scald 1 cup heavy cream with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Gradually stream the hot cream into caramel while whisking. The caramel sauce will immediately bubble over, so carefully stir until all the heavy cream is added.

 

3. Pour the caramel sauce into a container and refrigerate until cold, about 5 hours, then stir in 2 ounces Irish whiskey, or to taste.

 

This sauce is used in the “Irish Shot in an Irish Beer Sundae” recipe. Getting this cookbook just to make this sundae is worth every penny, the time and the effort. If you like chocolate and Bailey’s, this recipe will put you under the table in sheer bliss. So don’t get intimidated over making ice cream at home. With “Ice Cream Happy Hour” you’ll succeed and enjoy every bite of the results. 

 

Enjoy!

Heidi