Salted Caramel Sea Salt Ice Cream
A creamy and decadent salted caramel ice cream that blends the rich flavors of caramel and sea salt, perfect for any ice cream lover.
Ingredients
For the Ice Cream Base
- 2 cups heavy cream For a rich, creamy texture.
- 1 cup whole milk To balance the creaminess.
- 4 large egg yolks For thickening the ice cream base.
- 1 cup sugar Half used for caramel and half for the base.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Essential for flavor.
- 1 teaspoon sea salt Enhances the sweet and salty flavor.
- 1 cup flaky sea salt (for topping) To sprinkle on top before serving.
For the Caramel
- 1 cup sugar For making the caramel.
- 1 cup heavy cream To mix with the caramel.
Instructions
Making the Caramel
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat the sugar over medium heat, swirling the pot as it melts.
- Once the sugar turns to amber in color, remove it from the heat and slowly whisk in the heavy cream, being cautious of hissing.
- Stir in the sea salt until fully combined and let the caramel cool.
Preparing the Ice Cream Base
- In another pot, combine heavy cream, whole milk, and half of the sugar. Heat over medium until warm.
- In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the remaining sugar until well combined and slightly thickened.
- Temper the egg mixture by gradually whisking in some of the warm milk mixture.
- Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the pot with the milk and cream, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and caramel until fully incorporated.
Chilling and Churning
- Cool the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before churning.
- Once chilled, churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Serving
- Transfer the ice cream to a container and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.
- Serve with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top.
Notes
For variations, consider adding mix-ins like crushed pretzels, roasted pecans, or chunks of dark chocolate. To make it vegan, you can substitute heavy cream with coconut milk.