Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream

Mexican chocolate, usually described on the package as "Mexican chocolate drink mix," is a spiced chocolate bar that's commonly melted for hot chocolate. It gives the ice cream a pudding-like texture.

Prep and Cook Time: 1 hour, plus at least 6 hours of chilling and freezing time.

Notes: Look for Mexican chocolate (sold in boxes of five or six disk-shaped bars) at Latin markets or in the Latin foods aisle of large supermarkets. You'll need an ice cream maker with a 2-qt. capacity.

Yield: MAKES 1 1/2 qts.; 12 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)

Ingredients

• 1/2  vanilla bean
• 2  cups  heavy cream
• 2  cups  whole milk
• 9  ounces  Mexican chocolate (such as Ibarra; see Notes), coarsely chopped
• 2  ounces  unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2  cinnamon sticks
• 5  egg yolks
• 1/2  cup  sugar
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt

Preparation

1. Split vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out seeds. In a 4-qt. saucepan over medium heat, bring cream, milk, Mexican chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla seeds and pod to a simmer.

2. Remove cream mixture from heat and let steep 20 minutes. Meanwhile, put egg yolks, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a standing mixer and whisk at medium-high speed until egg mixture is thick and pale yellow, 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Return cream mixture to medium heat and bring just to a simmer. Remove from heat and pour through a strainer into a clean bowl; discard cinnamon sticks and vanilla pod. With mixer running on medium speed, pour 1/2 cup cream mixture into egg mixture. Slowly drizzle in remaining cream mixture, continuing to mix as you go.

4. Pour this custard into saucepan. Return to stove and cook over low to medium-low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until custard thickens a bit and reaches 170° on a thermometer.

5. Pour custard into a bowl and set in an ice bath (a larger bowl of ice and cold water). Let cool, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.

6. Freeze custard in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight plastic container and freeze until hardened, at least 5 hours.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

346 (62% from fat)

Protein:

3.8g

Fat:

24g (sat 13)

Carbohydrate:

30g

Fiber:

0.7g

Sodium:

86mg

Cholesterol:

149mg

Jen Castle and Blake Spalding, With a Measure of Grace: The Story and Recipes of a Small Town Restaurant, Sunset, JULY 2007