Peach Ice Cream is one of my favorite ice cream flavors, so I was super-excited to make it as the book-inspired recipe for The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.
Until I remembered I had to photograph it. *facepalm*
If you’re a food blogger, you feel my pain.
If you’re not, you can go here and read about why photographing ice cream is my least favorite thing to do.
But here’s the good news, Tartlets: you don’t have to photograph it! All you have to do with Peach Ice Cream is make it. And then eat it.
Two of the easiest things in the world!
In The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, James the Vampire always seems to show up at main character Patricia’s house around dessert time. And, the dessert Patricia often serves is a dish of ice cream, which I love.
I figured James must love it, too, despite his predilection for human blood, since he shows up at Ice Cream Time on the regular.
That’s why I decided to go with ice cream for this horror novel.
And, I decided on peach ice cream because, well, have you seen the book cover for The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires? There’s big, beautiful peaches on the front, and Peach Ice Cream is an homage to them.
When I set out to make this dessert, I knew I wanted the peach flavor, but not any frozen peach pieces breaking up the soft, smooth ice cream.
Bleck. Who wants to gnaw their way through hard chunks of fruit?
So I maserated sliced peaches for a bit, then simmered them in the cream so the custard would soak up all the peach nectar.
The result is a creamy, fruity Peach Ice Cream bursting with summertime flavor.
As I’ve stated before, making homemade ice cream is one of the easiest things in the world; once you get the basic steps down, making ice cream is easy.
My obscenely detailed instructions below will guide you through, step-by-step, so you can make the perfect Peach Ice Cream for your next summer gathering.
Blogger’s Note: These photos were taken using the Slate surface and the Weathered Wood surface from Replica Surfaces. I’m a Replica Surfaces Ambassador! Click on http://replicasurfaces.com/awellreadtart (affiliate link) to learn about this favorite brand of mine.
Peach Ice Cream
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS FOR DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- 3 generous cups skinless, sliced peaches (if using frozen, thaw completely before using)
- half a lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 6 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
UTENSILS YOU’LL NEED – DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- one large mixing bowl
- one fine mesh strainer
- one large heatproof bowl with a pouring spout (Batter Bowl #1)
- one medium heatproof bowl with a pouring spout (Batter Bowl #2)
- one large whisk
- one soup ladle
- one large saucepan with handle
- one large bowl to fill with ice and water Batter Bowl #2 should be able to rest inside this bowl without being full immersed in the water
- 12 ice cubes
- 3 potholders or trivets (Potholders #1, #2, and #3)
- one ice cream freezer bowl
UTENSILS YOU’LL NEED – DAY 2 (CHURNING THE ICE CREAM)
- ice cream maker
- one freezer-safe container that can hold 1 qt of ice cream
Instructions
PREP INSTRUCTIONS – DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- Peel and slice peaches (or completely thaw frozen peaches), then toss in a large bowl with 1/2 cup of sugar and lemon juice until peaches are thoroughly coated. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour, until the peaches are soft and have released their juices to create a syrupy liquid.
- Put Potholder #1 on the countertop. Place Batter Bowl #1 on top of Potholder #1.
- Put Potholder #2 on the countertop immediately next to Potholder #1.
- Place the fine mesh strainer near Batter Bowl #1.
- Place mini food processor on worktop.
- Place Batter Bowl #2 on Placeholder #3 a little further away from Potholder #1 and #2.
- Place your ice cubes into the Ice Water Bowl and fill halfway with very cold water. Set aside in a cool place.
- Place your ice cream freezer bowl into the freezer for tomorrow.
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS – DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- In Batter Bowl #1, whisk together the eggs yolks and 6 tbsp of the granulated sugar until thick and slightly foamy, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
- In the large saucepan, whisk together the milk, cream, and salt. The mixture will be slightly thick from the cream.
- Take macerated peaches and smash lightly with a fork or potato masher so pieces are smaller. Pour the peaches and all the syrupy liquid into the saucepan with the milk mixture.
- Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and warm the mixture up until it’s just starting to simmer; this means tiny bubbles should just start appearing around the edges of the saucepan. The mixture will de-thicken right before it begins to simmer. This will take 10-15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and remove the saucepan from stove to Potholder #2, next to Batter Bowl #1 containing the egg yolks.
- Use the soup ladle to carefully scoop out some hot liquid from the saucepan, being careful to avoid the peaches. Whisk the egg yolks to break them up a bit, then slowly stream the hot liquid into the egg yolks, whisking briskly the entire time to prevent the egg yolks from curdling. Once the first scoop is thoroughly whisked in, repeat process two more times, whisking the entire time to prevent the egg yolks from curdling.
- Place the fine mesh strainer over the top of Batter Bowl #1 containing the tempered yolks. Pour the remaining milk mixture through the strainer into Bowl #1, catching the peaches in the strainer.
- Remove strainer and carefully spoon hot peaches into the food processor. Blitz until smooth.
- Place empty strainer on Batter Bowl #2.
- Carefully pour the blended peaches into Batter Bowl #1, whisking to combine with the egg yolk mixture.
- Pour the egg yolk mixture from Bowl #1 back into the saucepan. All ingredients should now be in the saucepan.
- Return the saucepan to the stove on medium heat. While continuously stirring with a rubber spatula, heat the mixture until it thickens and thickly coats the back of the spatula, about 5 minutes. When it’s ready, you should be able to create a clear trail when you run your finger on the back of the spatula.
- Carefully pour the hot liquid through the fine mesh strainer placed over Batter Bowl #2. Let blended peaches sit in the strainer and push them with a spatula to make sure all the liquid strains into Bowl #2. Then discard blended peaches.
- Place Batter Bowl #2 gently into Ice Water Bowl, making sure that the bottom of Batter Bowl #2 touches the ice water but does not allow any ice water to get into the bowl.
- Stir ice cream base in Bowl #2 occasionally until the base has cooled, about 40 minutes.
- Once ice cream base is cooled, cover Bowl #2 with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
PREP INSTRUCTIONS – Day 2 (CHURNING THE ICE CREAM)
- Spread aluminum foil down on your countertop– this makes clean up a lot easier later on!
- Place ice cream maker and hard spatula on countertop
- Pop your freezer-safe ice cream container into the freezer to chill.
CHURNING INSTRUCTIONS – DAY 2 (CHURNING THE ICE CREAM)
- Remove Batter Bowl #2 containing ice cream base from refrigerator.
- Remove freezer bowl from freezer and fit into the base of your ice cream maker.
- Pour the base into the freezer bowl of your ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once ice cream is done churning, use a spatula to guide ice cream into the quart container. Freeze until solid, at least 4 hours.
Peach Ice Cream
Ingredients
INGREDIENTS FOR DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- 3 generous cups skinless, sliced peaches (if using frozen, thaw completely before using)
- half a lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 6 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
UTENSILS YOU’LL NEED – DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- one large mixing bowl
- one fine mesh strainer
- one large heatproof bowl with a pouring spout (Batter Bowl #1)
- one medium heatproof bowl with a pouring spout (Batter Bowl #2)
- one large whisk
- one soup ladle
- one large saucepan with handle
- one large bowl to fill with ice and water Batter Bowl #2 should be able to rest inside this bowl without being full immersed in the water
- 12 ice cubes
- 3 potholders or trivets (Potholders #1, #2, and #3)
- one ice cream freezer bowl
UTENSILS YOU’LL NEED – DAY 2 (CHURNING THE ICE CREAM)
- ice cream maker
- one freezer-safe container that can hold 1 qt of ice cream
Instructions
PREP INSTRUCTIONS – DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- Peel and slice peaches (or completely thaw frozen peaches), then toss in a large bowl with 1/2 cup of sugar and lemon juice until peaches are thoroughly coated. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour, until the peaches are soft and have released their juices to create a syrupy liquid.
- Put Potholder #1 on the countertop. Place Batter Bowl #1 on top of Potholder #1.
- Put Potholder #2 on the countertop immediately next to Potholder #1.
- Place the fine mesh strainer near Batter Bowl #1.
- Place mini food processor on worktop.
- Place Batter Bowl #2 on Placeholder #3 a little further away from Potholder #1 and #2.
- Place your ice cubes into the Ice Water Bowl and fill halfway with very cold water. Set aside in a cool place.
- Place your ice cream freezer bowl into the freezer for tomorrow.
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS – DAY 1 (MAKING THE BASE)
- In Batter Bowl #1, whisk together the eggs yolks and 6 tbsp of the granulated sugar until thick and slightly foamy, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
- In the large saucepan, whisk together the milk, cream, and salt. The mixture will be slightly thick from the cream.
- Take macerated peaches and smash lightly with a fork or potato masher so pieces are smaller. Pour the peaches and all the syrupy liquid into the saucepan with the milk mixture.
- Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and warm the mixture up until it’s just starting to simmer; this means tiny bubbles should just start appearing around the edges of the saucepan. The mixture will de-thicken right before it begins to simmer. This will take 10-15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and remove the saucepan from stove to Potholder #2, next to Batter Bowl #1 containing the egg yolks.
- Use the soup ladle to carefully scoop out some hot liquid from the saucepan, being careful to avoid the peaches. Whisk the egg yolks to break them up a bit, then slowly stream the hot liquid into the egg yolks, whisking briskly the entire time to prevent the egg yolks from curdling. Once the first scoop is thoroughly whisked in, repeat process two more times, whisking the entire time to prevent the egg yolks from curdling.
- Place the fine mesh strainer over the top of Batter Bowl #1 containing the tempered yolks. Pour the remaining milk mixture through the strainer into Bowl #1, catching the peaches in the strainer.
- Remove strainer and carefully spoon hot peaches into the food processor. Blitz until smooth.
- Place empty strainer on Batter Bowl #2.
- Carefully pour the blended peaches into Batter Bowl #1, whisking to combine with the egg yolk mixture.
- Pour the egg yolk mixture from Bowl #1 back into the saucepan. All ingredients should now be in the saucepan.
- Return the saucepan to the stove on medium heat. While continuously stirring with a rubber spatula, heat the mixture until it thickens and thickly coats the back of the spatula, about 5 minutes. When it’s ready, you should be able to create a clear trail when you run your finger on the back of the spatula.
- Carefully pour the hot liquid through the fine mesh strainer placed over Batter Bowl #2. Let blended peaches sit in the strainer and push them with a spatula to make sure all the liquid strains into Bowl #2. Then discard blended peaches.
- Place Batter Bowl #2 gently into Ice Water Bowl, making sure that the bottom of Batter Bowl #2 touches the ice water but does not allow any ice water to get into the bowl.
- Stir ice cream base in Bowl #2 occasionally until the base has cooled, about 40 minutes.
- Once ice cream base is cooled, cover Bowl #2 with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
PREP INSTRUCTIONS – Day 2 (CHURNING THE ICE CREAM)
- Spread aluminum foil down on your countertop– this makes clean up a lot easier later on!
- Place ice cream maker and hard spatula on countertop
- Pop your freezer-safe ice cream container into the freezer to chill.
CHURNING INSTRUCTIONS – DAY 2 (CHURNING THE ICE CREAM)
- Remove Batter Bowl #2 containing ice cream base from refrigerator.
- Remove freezer bowl from freezer and fit into the base of your ice cream maker.
- Pour the base into the freezer bowl of your ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once ice cream is done churning, use a spatula to guide ice cream into the quart container. Freeze until solid, at least 4 hours.
