Chocolate Ice Cream – Alton Brown

  • 65 GR Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 281 GR sugar
  • 1½ TSP espresso powder
  • ⅛ TSP kosher salt
  • 8 LG egg yolks
  • 1 C heavy cream
  • 3 C half and half
  • 2 TSP vanilla extract
  1. Whisk the cocoa powder, sugar, espresso powder and salt in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the egg yolks and whisk thoroughly. Whisk in the cream followed by the half and half and vanilla extract then turn the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring frequently, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 170-175℉. Remove from the heat.
  2. Fill a large bowl with ice cubes and water to come about halfway up the sides. Place a medium bowl directly over the ice water then pour the custard mixture in. Whisk frequently until the mixture comes to room temperature.
  3. Place a mesh strainer over a vessel large enough to hold about 1½ quarts and pour the custard in. Cover tightly and refrigerate until the temperature drops below 40℉, at least 4 hours, overnight preferred.
  4. Pour the mixture into a prepped ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s directions. You’ll know it’s ready when you hear the motor begin to struggle a bit as the ice cream has become very thick, approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Serve as is for soft serve or freeze for another 3 to 4 hours to allow the ice cream to harden.

Yields ~1¾ quarts of ice cream.