July 30, 2012

Lavender-honey frozen custard

Serving bowl of lavendar honey frozen custard.

It's possible I am getting a little obsessed with making ice cream this summer.... But, really - who can blame me? I mean, it has been so hot and I have been enjoying trying out new flavor combinations that you aren't likely to find in your grocery store's freezer section. 

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There's also something so satisfying about knowing that you've made your own ice cream from real, whole ingredients with no fillers or artificial colors/flavors. 

This recipe is inspired by the movie It's Complicated where Meryl Streep's character makes a honey and lavender ice cream. Ever since seeing that movie, I've wanted to try it. So, when I went to my mother-in-law's and saw all her lavender in bloom, I knew it was time.

For this recipe, I just read some basic vanilla ice cream/custard recipes and used that base as a start. I used honey as the only sweetener and infused the ice cream base with fresh lavender blossoms. 

I tasted the base and thought that it was too much like perfume and wasn't sure I would like the end product. But, after the ice cream froze the lavender really mellowed. It was a subtle flavor that highlighted the wildflower honey. It was delicious! 

I call this a frozen custard versus ice cream because of the addition of egg yolks, but it seems that these terms are being used pretty interchangeably when I read recipes. It will make about 1 quart.

Scoops of lavendar honey frozen custard topped with lavendar flowers.

Lavender-honey frozen custard
2 cups whole milk
2 cups cream
1/2 cup wildflower honey
pinch of sea salt
about 3 tablespoons fresh lavender blossoms 
4 eggs yolks

In a large saucepan, heat the milk, cream, and honey until hot, but not boiling. Stir in the salt and the lavender. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks. Slowly pour about 1 cup of milk mixture into the eggs while whisking to temper the eggs. Then add the rest of the mixture continuing to whisk until combined. Return the mixture to the pan and cook over medium heat stirring often. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture is slightly thickened, coating the spoon.

Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a metal bowl. Cover and refrigerate until very cold, about 4-6 hours. Then churn and freeze in your ice cream maker according to directions. Place the ice cream in a freezer container and freeze for about 2 hours, or until your desired consistency. 

 Spoon scooping lavendar honey frozen custard.

27 comments:

  1. Hi Amy ,

    Custard Looks AAawesome !!1

    Mouth watering:)

    Do collect your Sunshine Blogger Award at

    www.southindiafoodrecipes.blogspot.in

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  2. I NEED AN ICE CREAM MAKER. I am on the search for a good one because all these ice cream recipes are making me super sad that I don't have one of my own.

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  3. ha, you're killing me. i have a honey-lavender-mascarpone ice cream in my drafts folder that i haven't quite perfected yet ;) will have to try again once i unpack my ice cream maker!!

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    1. Ha, too funny! We must be on the save wavelength lately.

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  4. This looks so heavenly & with wildflower honey too! YUM! :)

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  5. This sounds wonderful, I love the flavor combination!

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  6. this is lovely! i really want to try this!

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  7. I love lavender and honey and ice-cream so this sounds just lovely to me. I have infused my jellies with lavender before and it just gives a subtle flowery flavor that makes it delicious!

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  8. oh, this sounds just delightful! we grow our own lavender in our garden, but i've yet to use it in cooking - might have to give this a try!

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  9. I've made lavender ice cream before, but not with honey. Honey sounds like the perfect complement to the lavender!

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  10. Oh now this just sounds and looks so delicious!!

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  11. Your ice cream looks delicious with this lovely lavender honey combination. I need some space now to grow some lavender flowers :D

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  12. Can I just say that I'm so happy you made custard - it's my favorite kind of ice cream and I never see it on food blogs. Looks sooo good!

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  13. Love the dainty look of the lavender seeds!

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  14. I love honey in ice cream! I never had lavender in ice cream but I bet it paired perfectly with the honey! I think they were meant for each other.

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  15. Hi Amy! Me too, I've been making ice cream/frozen yogurt/sorbet non stop! I haven't started on Popsicle yet though. Your honey ice cream with lavender looks so gooooood! Lavender fragrance must be so nice when you have this ice cream!

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  16. oh what a fun and creative use of flavors!

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  17. You know, I have never made anything with flowers. Although I went to this ice cream place with SO many flavors, and tried Hibiscus ice cream and liked it a lot. This looks great! I think I need to buy an ice cream maker!

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  18. With temps reaching the 90's for most of the past month, I'm pretty addicted to ice cream this summer too! This frozen custard sounds so gourmet and decadent :)

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  19. Your frozen custard looks terrific. You're right - making it yourself promises the best flavors and the purest ingredients.

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  20. Another reason why I should buy an ice cream maker soon...Looks like a refreshing summer ice cream. And since it is made with lavender and honey, this reminds me of my summer in Provence a long time ago...

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  21. I've seen a lot of creative ice cream recipes this summer and this is definitely one them! Love the richness of this and the flavors of the honey and lavender sound delicious together! Fabulous recipe!

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  22. Oh Amy! This looks and sounds superb! Now I want ice cream and you are totally at fault. :)

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  23. Love this flavor, what a great idea.

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  24. Oh my gosh. I've been obsessed with making ice cream since I got a maker about a month ago. Just last night my husband picked a honey lavender ice cream recipe for me to try next!! I am so excited. This looks incredibly delightful.

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  25. The frozen custard looks so creamy and delicious. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday!

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