All About Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle Ice Cream

As the temperature rises, our thoughts turn to ice cream. This summer’s must-have flavor is Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle Ice Cream, and it’s easy to see why. It’s whipped up in mere minutes and easier than ever to make thanks to this fail-proof recipe and the perfect topping: luxurious chocolate chips!

Do you want a bomb dessert recipe? Do you want a decadent, creamy dessert? Do you care about what we think? If so — we’ve got just the thing for you: Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle Ice Cream!

This recipe is all sorts of easy too.

One of these days it’s going to be hot. Real hot. And you’re going to want a rich, creamy dessert that will cool you down and make you forget about the no-air-conditioning situation you probably didn’t plan for. Well — this is it!

And if your in a hurry and looking for a fail proof recipe — we’ve got that too! We tried several recipes before coming up with our favorite one. This recipe is simple, fast, and yummy!

The modern-day flavor sensation has been steadily on the rise since its release in 2006, and for good reason. Its velvety texture, bold vanilla taste, and touch of bourbon make it a delicious accompaniment to many desserts. Its rich winter flavors have made it a perfect addition to cakes, pies, ice cream sandwiches, cupcakes…even brownies!

We’ve all heard the expression, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I might even go as far as saying that statement can be extended beyond gender. 

Over the hump day holiday weekend, I decided to indulge in one of my favorite flavor combinations: salted caramel. It’s not only complex, it’s also incredibly satisfying. As a food blogger, it’s always fun to create new recipes using flavors and ingredients that we aren’t accustomed to seeing, tastes that are familiar yet unexpected in a new combination. Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle is a flavor combination that has been around for quite some time. In fact, it can be traced back to a specific time and place: Pennsylvania.

Before we get too far into the recipe, let’s talk a little bit about ice cream makers. 

While there are a few different ice cream makers on the market ranging in price and quality, it’s hard not to recommend the KitchenAid ® Mixer bowl model 7-Speed Hand Crank Ice Cream Maker (model KMWSS2PC). A hand crank mixer is essentially what you need to get started making ice cream at home. It’s easy to assemble and disassemble, it’s well-made, and it comes with a wide variety of attachments. 

The one thing about hand crank ice cream makers is that they’re not made for heavy duty use. The churning motion can sometimes break the paddle or cause the base to crack. If you plan on making a lot of ice cream at home, step up to a motorized machine. Otherwise, take care of your hand crank model by not mixing over medium speed and following recipes carefully.

When choosing an ice cream maker you should look for quality construction, ease of use/cleaning, and if necessary expandability (how many quarts/cups it freezes at a time). A motorized ice cream maker is much better to use and clean than a non-motorized model, but a hand-cranked machine can be useful in a pinch. If you’re interested in multi-tasker, consider the Cuisinart ® 1.5 Quart Ice Cream Maker with Flexi-Spout  (CMP1.5SS). It not only can make ice cream but also frozen yogurt and sorbets. It comes with a detachable bowl and a paddle that you can use for other things like pie crusts.

In order to make Bourbon Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, it’s important to have the right ingredients. The recipe is based on one from Joy The Baker. Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about how we made this Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle Ice Cream. 

Use good quality chocolate chips. In terms of cost per ounce, it’s much cheaper to buy chocolate chips in bulk over buying them individually (and having them on hand when you need them). The best option to purchase chocolate chips is in a tub or bag. It’s hard to find a better quality chocolate that doesn’t melt as quickly in the microwave than found in a bag of chips (this is especially true if you’re working with dark chocolate). 

Melt the chocolate and pour into a ziplock bag. Cut about one inch off of the corners of the bag and do not stick your fingers into the open end. Allowing extra air to come in will make things easier for you later when it comes time to seal it off.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and winter slowly grinding to an end (hallelujah!), this recipe is the perfect way to celebrate love…or just enjoy the season. In order to achieve the perfect consistency, I tweaked several recipes from various blogs and came up with this final recipe. The consistency is velvety smooth and has just the right amount of saltiness and creaminess for me. 

To make this recipe, you will need:

2 cups heavy cream

1 tsp bourbon vanilla bean paste

Salt to taste (optional)  Directions:  Mix heavy cream and vanilla bean paste together in a bowl until fully incorporated. Add desired amount of salt to taste. Pour into glasses or other container and freeze for at least 4 hours.

Next time you’re heading over to a local bar to grab a pint, stop by and pick up a bottle of High West Double Rye!  This is the perfect whiskey for all of your winter cocktails! It’s tasty enough to drink by itself, yet it’s one of the few whiskeys that complements other spirits. 

Usually when it comes to whiskey cocktails, orange juice and lemon are used in place of the traditional lemonade or lime juice. I’ve made my own version here without them…

Does bourbon ice cream contain alcohol?

Yes. Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle Ice Cream is made with vanilla bean paste, which contains alcohol. Amounts will vary depending on the brand you use, but most brands have about 7% alcohol by volume. You can find out how much alcohol is in your preferred brand of vanilla bean paste here:

Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle Ice Cream

The intense flavor of bourbon paired with a velvety smooth ice cream base is sure to be a hit at any occasion!

Servings: 2 cups  Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups heavy cream 1 tsp bourbon vanilla bean paste Salt to taste (optional) Directions: Combine cream and vanilla bean paste in a bowl until fully incorporated. Add desired amount of salt to taste. Pour into glasses or other container and freeze for at least 4 hours.  

Have you always wanted to make ice cream but wished someone had a step-by-step guide on how to do it so that you can get started making your own ice cream recipes? I’ve written a book! It contains 75+ pages, 88+ photos and heaps of information.  It’s loaded with tons of recipes and techniques for everything from cake batter to custard (not to mention it’s free on Amazon !) If you’re interested in learning more about the book, click here .

How much alcohol does vanilla ice cream have?

This can depend on the brand of vanilla bean paste you use. Most vanilla bean pastes only have 7% alcohol by volume. You can find out how much alcohol is in your preferred brand of vanilla bean paste here:

How long do you refrigerate vanilla ice cream?

This depends on the weather and the type of ice cream maker you’re using. The general rule of thumb is to leave room for expansion. If your ice cream rises above the top line when removed from the freezer, it’s likely not quite ready for consumption yet. Try leaving it out a little longer. If it’s too firm, let it sit at room temperature just until soft enough to scoop (it should still be frozen though).

How many calories in vanilla ice cream?

The average amount of calories in a cup of vanilla ice cream is about 300. This can vary based on the brand and the number of servings per container you’re buying (a pint has about 8 servings). Each tablespoon has about 20 calories.

Does vanilla ice cream expire?

Yes. Vanilla ice cream does expire. It’s generally considered safe to consume for up to 1 to 2 years after it’s been made. Many people, including myself, will eat it as long as it tastes safe (I’ve heard of people eating it that was 10+ years old). Vanilla extract however does not expire, which is why there are recipes that call for adding a teaspoon at a time to your recipe until you achieve a desired taste. Generally speaking though it’s best to store vanilla in the refrigerator even if it doesn’t contain alcohol.

In conclusion, this ice cream tastes pretty much exactly like a Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle. There really isn’t much else to say about it other than it’s delicious (especially when mixed with a drink), healthy and made with real ingredients. If you are interested in creating your own homemade ice cream recipes, definitely check out this book ! It’s loaded with tons of information and is written at the most basic level so that you can understand the science behind it all! It’s 35% off the regular price from now until February 17th!