Banana-Caramel Ice Cream

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ice-cream-banana-caramel-mld108857.jpg
Photo: Jonathan Lovekin
Prep Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
5 hrs 20 mins
Yield:
Makes about 1 1/2 quarts

The secret to the intense banana flavor of this banana-caramel ice creamis starting with very overripe fruit.

Ingredients

  • 4 large egg yolks

  • 1 ⅔ cups sugar, divided

  • 1 ⅔ cups whole milk

  • 1 ⅔ cups plus ½ cup heavy cream, divided

  • 3 to 4 very overripe bananas (skin should be more brown than yellow), mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided

  • ¼ cup water

  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup

  • ½ stick cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

  1. Vigorously whisk together egg yolks and 2/3 cup sugar in a medium bowl until pale yellow and slightly fluffy, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, bring milk and 2/3 cup cream to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, and gradually whisk into egg mixture. Pour mixture into pan, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium, and cook until thick enough to coat the spatula, about 1 minute (do not let boil). Pour custard into a bowl set in a larger bowl of ice water, and let cool, stirring occasionally. Puree bananas with half the custard in a blender until smooth, and transfer to bowl with remaining custard. Stir in vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup cream until combined, and pour through a fine sieve into another bowl. Refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.

  2. Place water, corn syrup, and remaining sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, swirling pan occasionally (do not stir). Raise heat to high, and continue to cook in same manner until mixture turns deep amber, about 9 minutes more. Remove from heat, and slowly pour in remaining cream. Add remaining salt, and simmer caramel 1 minute. Place pan in a bowl of ice water, and let cool until warm but not hot. Remove from ice bath, and whisk in butter, a few pieces at a time, until fully incorporated.

  3. Place a 5-by-10-inch loaf pan (9 cups) in freezer at least 10 minutes. Freeze custard in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Spread one-third of ice cream in pan, and drizzle with one-third of caramel (it should be fluid but just barely warm; reheat slightly if necessary). Swirl caramel into ice cream with a wooden skewer. Repeat 2 more times until all the ice cream and caramel have been used. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.

Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, August 2012
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