Lightened Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

By Tinkysmom55

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granular sweetener for ice cream*
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
• granulated sugar may be substituted

Details

Servings 1

Preparation

Step 1

1. Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a large heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk and half-and-half. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 8 to 10 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
2. Whisk egg yolk until slightly thickened. Gradually whisk about 1 cup hot cream mixture into yolk. Add yolk mixture to remaining cream mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk in vanilla.
3. Pour mixture through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl, discarding solids. Cool 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Place plastic wrap directly on cream mixture; chill 8 to 24 hours.
4. Pour mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2-qt. electric ice-cream maker, and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Let stand at room temperature 5 to 10 minutes before serving.


TRY THESE TWISTS!

Cherry-Bourbon Ice Cream: Stir in 1/2 cup drained and coarsely chopped canned, pitted cherries in heavy syrup and 3 Tbsp. bourbon halfway through freezing.

Coffee-Chocolate Ice Cream: Substitute 2 Tbsp. instant espresso for 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean paste. Stir in 1/4 cup shaved semisweet chocolate baking bar halfway through freezing.

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream: Omit vanilla bean paste. Stir in 1 tsp. Key lime zest, 1/3 cup Key lime juice, and 1/2 cup coarsely crushed graham crackers halfway through freezing.

Banana Pudding Ice Cream: Preheat oven to 400°. Peel 3 medium-size ripe bananas, and cut into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a 2-qt. baking dish, and sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. butter, cut up. Bake 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Let cool 30 minutes. Gently mash into chunks. Prepare ice cream as directed, stirring in bananas and 1/2 cup coarsely crushed vanilla wafers halfway through freezing.