GRAPE NUTS ICE CREAM
While vacationing in Jamaica last winter, I was lucky enough to try Grape Nuts ice cream. Jamaica is known for this treat and for good reason - the nutty, malted flavour with chewy and crunchy bits of cereal won me over. If you haven’t heard of Grape nuts cereal, it contains neither grapes nor nuts but is made with wheat and Barley which when baked imparts a nutty flavour and the sugar that is formed during the baking process, Post referred to as ‘grape sugar’. Also the cereal resembles the seeds found in grapes.
I returned home with a distant fond memory of the sweet treat and a recipe in hand. I ran out immediately to buy an ice cream maker so I wouldn’t have to wait for a return trip to Jamaica and could make this at home. Unfortunately with my busy schedule I haven’t had a chance to try it until now - and wow! My memory of this ice cream wasn’t wrong. Even without the warm, sandy beach and sounds of the ocean, this ice cream is amazing! And on first taste, I was brought right back to relaxing and lounging by the sea.
6 large egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream, warmed
1 cup chilled whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup Grape-Nuts cereal, plus more for optional garnish
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
In a medium saucepan, bring a couple of inches of water to a boil.
Meanwhile, in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until mixture is a pale yellow (approximately 3 minutes).
In a slow, steady stream, add warmed cream to egg mixture mixing constantly. Once cream is fully combined with egg yolkk mixture, place bowl in saucepan over the boiling water. Make sure bottom of bowl does not touch the water. Whisk constantly until the mixture reaches 170 degrees, about 10 minutes.
Add the chilled milk and salt, whisking to incorporate. remove from heat, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Add ice cream base, vanilla and 3/4 cup cereal to ice cream maker. Process according to the manufacturer's directions. once mixture is frozen, add 1/4 cup of cereal and allow the machine to mix it in. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 1 hour before serving. To serve, sprinkle additional cereal on top, if desired.