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Crème Fraîche Ice Cream Sundaes





Yields
Serves 6 (makes 1 qt.)



Hands-on Time
1 hr 30 mins



Freeze Time
3 hrs



Total Time
4 hrs 30 mins

Though the ice cream is fantastic on its own, chef and cookbook author John McReynolds of Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyard and Winery in Sonoma, California, turns it into a sophisticated dessert with the addition of caramelized walnuts and a drizzle of saba--ripe wine-grape juice cooked down to a fruity syrup. He makes his own saba each autumn, but you can buy saba at gourmet grocery stores (or substitute good-quality balsamic vinegar).

su-Crème Fraîche Ice Cream Sundaes Image




Photo: Erin Kunkel

  ICE CREAM
 1 vanilla bean
 1 1/3 cups whole milk
 1/2 cup sugar
  Pinch kosher salt
 6 large egg yolks
 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
 3/4 cup crème fraîche
  WALNUTS AND SERVING
 1/4 cup sugar
 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel sea salt
 1 cup mixed walnut halves and pieces
 6 teaspoons saba* or cask-aged balsamic vinegar
Step 1
1

Make ice cream: Split vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out seeds. Put seeds in a small saucepan with milk, sugar, and salt. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring often, until small bubbles form around edge, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 30 minutes.

Step 2
2

Whisk egg yolks in a medium bowl. Slowly pour in milk mixture, whisking constantly. Pour mixture back into saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until custard coats a metal spoon and a finger pulled across custard on spoon leaves a path, 5 to 8 minutes.

Step 3
3

Remove from heat and whisk in cream and crème fraîche. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl. Set bowl in a bowl of ice and a little water until cold.

Step 4
4

Freeze mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm enough to scoop, at least 3 hours.

Step 5
5

Make walnuts: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add sugar, butter, salt, and walnuts and reduce heat to medium-low. Stir constantly as sugar melts, turns golden brown, and coats each nut evenly, about 10 minutes. Pour nuts onto lined baking sheet. Let cool, then roughly chop.

Step 6
6

Scoop ice cream into bowls. Drizzle with saba and sprinkle with nuts.

Step 7
7

*Find at gourmet grocery stores and online.

Step 8
8

Make ahead: The ice cream, up to 3 days, frozen; and nuts up to 1 day, stored airtight.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 0

Amount Per Serving
Calories 552Calories from Fat 71
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 43g67%

Saturated Fat 19g95%
Cholesterol 297mg99%
Sodium 187mg8%
Total Carbohydrate 34g12%

Dietary Fiber 1.3g6%
Protein 9.1g19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.