Creme Brulee Ice Cream

from ButterYum

serves 6

2 cups cold heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

10 egg yolks

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract (see note below to use a vanilla bean instead)

pinch of salt

1/4 cup Turbinado sugar (aka sugar in the raw)

To make the ice cream base:

In a medium bowl whisk egg yolks and granulated sugar together. In a 4-quart non-stick pan on medium - heat the milk until it starts to bubble around the edges of the pan. Remove from heat and whisk about 1/4 cup of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture; repeat with another 1/4 cup hot milk. Stir the now warm egg yolk mixture into the pan containing the remaining hot milk; return to the heat and cook - stirring constantly - until it reaches a temperature of 170-180F. Remove from heat and strain through a sieve into a large bowl. Stir in cold heavy cream and vanilla extract. Chill ice cream base for at least 4 hours but overnight is best (the colder - the better).

To churn the ice cream:

Process in ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Divvy ice cream into ramekins - leaving about 1/4-inch of space at the top. Freeze solid (this can be done several days in advance - just cover ramekins with plastic wrap). When your ready to serve - use torch to heat the surface of the ice cream just enough so that a layer of Turbinado sugar will stick to it; then caramelize the sugar with the torch. I like a thicker layer or caramelized sugar so I repeat this step by sprinkling on another layer of Turbinado and caramelizing with the torch again. Serve immediately.

Note - a split and scraped vanilla bean can be steeped with the warm milk instead of using vanilla extract.

recipe adapted from Cafe Johnsonia