Eating: Seriously Chocolate Ice Cream

Summer is going strong in the Bay Area and pretty much all I want to eat is ice cream.  I shared my rum coconut ice cream a few weeks back, but that only added fuel to the fire of my ice cream obsession.  Today I want to share my favorite chocolate ice cream.  This chocolate ice cream is seriously outrageously chocolatey good.  I've been using my coconut ice cream base lately and I've found it enhances the chocolate flavor, in addition to being vegan friendly.  With the help of tapioca starch this base cooks up almost as thick as pudding, which makes for a thick and creamy ice cream.  But the secret ingredient that really sets this ice cream apart is vodka.  It seems odd I know, but the vodka brings out the flavor of the chocolate without leaving a trace of its own flavor in the mix.  Seriously, this ice cream is to die for.



Seriously Chocolate Ice Cream

2 cans coconut milk (full fat)
1/2 cup sugar
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp tapioca starch
1/2 cup vodka

Step 1: Whisk together half of one can of coconut milk and tapioca starch in a small bowl to form a slurry.  Whisk well, any lumps left here may end up in your finished ice cream.

Step 2:  Heat remaining coconut milk and sugar in a small sauce pan over medium heat.  Stir constantly until sugar is dissolved.

Step 3:  Add chocolate and stir until chocolate is completely incorporated.  This can take a while, be patient and keep stirring.

Step 4:  Add tapioca starch mixture and stir until thickened, this part is quick.  Remove from heat.

Step 5:  Add vodka and stir to combine, it will bubble as the alcohol cooks off.

Step 6:  Cover and chill at least three hours or over night.

Step 7:  Add to your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions.  It is finished when it is the consistency of a very thick milkshake or slightly soft soft-serve.

Step 8:  Transfer to a container and freeze at least 2 hours or until firm.

Enjoy!

The freezing process is always the trickiest part of learning to make ice cream at home.  How long it takes varies by machine, amount of ice cream, and temperature.  Go by texture to know when it's ready.  Nathan and I just finished scraping the ice cream bowl of yet another batch of this tasty treat, it's too good to let even a drop go to waste.

 Perfect with some fresh raspberries for a cool treat on a hot day,