Prepare to embark on a culinary journey that will tantalize your taste buds and redefine your dessert expectations! This isn't just another ice cream recipe - it's a decadent symphony of rich dark chocolate, warm cinnamon, and a surprising sea salt twist that will make your palate dance with delight. Imagine a creamy, luxurious treat that balances sweet, rich, and slightly salty notes in every single spoonful - a gourmet dessert that looks like it came straight from a professional pastry chef's kitchen, but can be easily crafted in your own home.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 4 hrs
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream, whole milk, and granulated sugar. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until sugar completely dissolves and mixture is smooth.
- Add chopped dark chocolate to the warm cream mixture, stirring continuously until chocolate melts completely and integrates smoothly into the liquid.
- Remove pan from heat and whisk in ground cinnamon, sea salt, and vanilla extract. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined and mixture is uniform in color and texture.
- Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent skin from forming on the surface.
- Once cooled, cover the mixture with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface to prevent air exposure.
- Refrigerate the mixture for at least 2-3 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow flavors to fully develop and mixture to become thoroughly chilled.
- Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's instructions, typically 20-25 minutes, until mixture reaches a soft-serve consistency.
- Transfer churned ice cream to a freezer-safe container, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle additional sea salt flakes on top for extra flavor and garnish if desired.
- Freeze for 1-2 hours until firm before serving. Allow to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping for easier serving.
Tips
- Use high-quality dark chocolate for the most intense flavor profile.
- Ensure your mixture is completely cool before churning to achieve the smoothest texture.
- Press plastic wrap directly onto the mixture's surface to prevent ice crystals from forming during chilling.
- For extra richness, use a chocolate with 70% cocoa content or higher.
- If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can still make this recipe by freezing and stirring the mixture every 30 minutes to break up ice crystals.
- Let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving to achieve the perfect scoopable consistency.
- Experiment with different sea salt varieties like Maldon or Fleur de Sel for unique flavor variations.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 450kcal
Carbohydrates: 35g
Protein: 4g
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 20g
Cholesterol: 110mg
