Last night I did something dangerous. After I finished off the last of this vegan coconut black sesame ice cream with strawberry swirl as a night-cap. Long after we put Zoella down in her crib - where she instantly rolled onto her belly to drift off to sleep. After we too had snuggled in for the night with the cats.
I got up to go to the bathroom at 4am, leaving the baby in my place where she'd dozed off during a middle of the night feeding. I knew it was dangerous to leave a rolly-polly baby so close to the edge of a 3ft high bed over-looking hard wood floor, but my groggy mom brain reasoned that I could be quick about it. And anyway, she was asleep. I rushed. And when I darted back to bed, I found Lucas had rolled over onto my side and I couldn't see Zoella.
Cue panic.
"WHERE IS THE BABY?! OMG, YOU CRUSHED HER! ROLL OVER!!! WAKE UP!!!" Like serious major heart-racing panic, as I shoved Lucas awake and flipped on all the lights. Which, of course, is a super rad way to be woken up.
Also in panic but not knowing why, Lucas responded, "What?! Sarah, she's in her crib," as he hands me the monitor. Sure enough, there she was, all cozy and asleep where I'd left her at bedtime. She hasn't nursed in our bed in over a month.
I'm now having sleepwalking mom nightmares. So sleep's been pretty awesome lately.
You know what the best cure for sleep deprivation is? Nightly scoops (plural) of this coconut black sesame ice cream with strawberry swirl. The black sesame / strawberry mash-up was inspired by the side-by-side scoops I ordered at Humphry Slocombe last month, when I was too indecisive to settle on one.
I could eat this every day forever. Deep smoky black sesame nuttiness blended with vanilla bean flecks in a subtle tropical coconut base with pops of fresh ripe strawberries swirled throughout. To keep things extra creamy, I added a splash of vodka to the base at the advice of my friend Amanda of Heartbeet Kitchen who suggested that tip when she adapted my vegan vanilla bean ice cream. It's so creamy and rich no one will ever know it's vegan.
For my black sesame base, I used Rodelle's toasted and black sesame seeds. Black sesame seeds are intensely rich and nutty with smoky slightly bitter coffee/chocolate-y notes, while toasted white sesame seeds are a tad sweeter, almost like roasted peanuts and vanilla. Rodelle combines them both into one jar that tosses your tastebuds around all of those flavors at once. If you can't get your hands on this mixture, you could substitute in toasted sesame seeds for a sweeter tahini-like version or use all black sesame seeds (be sure to toast them before making the paste if they aren't already!).
I wanted to use uncooked strawberries to infuse their fresh juicy flavor, but experience tells me if you just go throwing fresh fruit into ice cream, you end up with fruit rocks. Serious Eats suggests soaking the fruit in vodka and sugar to draw out excess water, then draining the fruit before adding it to your ice cream. Removing excess water and adding sugar & vodka all contribute to lowering the freezing temperature, thus softening up your berries! Don't worry, the vodka gets drained out, so all you taste is candy-like sweet sweet strawberries.
Black sesame and strawberries are an unlikely pair that JUST WORK in magical ways.
If you're a vanilla bean newbie, check out the video Alanna and I made for Rodelle last year.
Disclosure: Special thanks to Rodelle for sponsoring this post! Find more Rodelle inspiration on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. And thanks to you for supporting the brands that keep Snixy Kitchen cooking!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups minced strawberries
- 1 cup raw turbinado sugar
- ½ cup vodka
- ½ cup toasted black sesame seeds
- ¼ cup toasted sesame seeds
- 1 13.66 to 16-ounce canned coconut cream, I've tested with one 14-ounce can or three 5.4 ounce cans - I use Native Forest brand available at Whole Foods, some other major groceries, or online. See note.
- 1 13.66-ounce can full-fat canned coconut milk, Thai Kitchens brand available at most major grocery stores or online
- ¾ cup raw turbinado sugar, or granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ whole vanilla bean
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vodka
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Strawberry Swirl
- Toss the strawberries, sugar, and vodka in a small bowl.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. Strain the liquid from the berries and transfer half of the berries to a food processor, whizzing until smooth. Add the remaining berries and pulse 3-4 times. Set aside.
Coconut Black Sesame Ice Cream Base
- Whizz the sesame seeds in a food processor until they turn into a thick paste. At first it will seem as though they won't change, but after 6-8 minutes, their oils will seep out, helping transform them into a paste. Scrape down the sides every few minutes.
- In a medium pot, whisk the black sesame paste with 3 tablespoons of the coconut cream until smooth.
- Add the remaining coconut cream, coconut milk, sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla bean seeds and pod, and salt to the pot and warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the cream begins to simmer, remove the pot from heat. Cover and let the mixture steep for 20 minutes. Remove the bean pod, scraping out the insides of the pods for all that vanilla goodness.
- Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice cubes and water.
- Pour the base into a large 1-gallon Ziploc bag. Seal it and submerge the mixture in the ice bath until cold, about 30 minutes. (You can also skip this step by refrigerating until the mixture is cold, about 4 hours).
- Pour the ice cream base into the bowl of your pre-frozen ice cream maker. Follow the directions on your ice cream maker to churn the base into ice cream, until it is the consistency of soft-serve, about 15-18 minutes.
- Spread ¼ of the ice cream mixture into a loaf pan. Dollop ¼ of the strawberry mixture in 4-5 places on top of the ice cream. Use the back of a spoon or a chopstick to gently swirl the strawberries into the ice cream. Repeat 3 times until you've used up all of the ice cream and strawberry mixture.
- Cover the ice cream and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
Matt -
I love reading your posts :) And this seriously looks like the best ice cream ever.
Sarah Menanix -
Aw thank you, Matt! I think it's my favorite flavor ice cream ever.
Sheri -
Need some of this ice cream!!
Sarah Menanix -
Did I accidentally eat it all and not give you a bite? That's pretty mean of me. Good thing I'm making it again...
Veronica -
Wow! This looks so good! Today would have been perfect! It is so darn hot here that just going out to the mailbox to fetch the mail felt like an oven had been turned on and I was the one melting! Your ice cream looks so fancy and yummy!
Sarah Menanix -
You need an ice cream maker to keep cool!
Becky Winkler (A Calculated Whisk) -
Gorgeous colors, and what a fun & exotic flavor combo!! Somehow I didn't quite realize black sesame paste was easy to make at home. Now I can't wait to try it!
Sarah Menanix -
Yes! At first I thought it'd never turn into a paste, but just keep it pulsing and eventually, like nut butter, it turns!
kristan -
This ice cream is BEAUTIFUL!! I love reading all the tips you included in this post, especially the one about using vodka and sugar to draw out extra water, genius!
So glad your little nugget was tucked away safely in her bed. I had a similar scare when my brother was little, and boy did that freak me out.
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you!! I so wish I could have shared a scoop with you <3 But also...come visit?? I miss you already.
Tessa | Salted Plains -
You totally had me there! Haha. Aww, I hope the nightmares cease soon - I can only imagine this ice cream should help! It is GORGEOUS and I love that vodka/sugar tip. xoxo
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - I haven't had any more nightmares, but I've been apparently having conversations in my sleep;) Thanks Tessa!!
Alanna -
I can report firsthand that this ice cream is as delicious as it is gorgeous. <3
Sarah Menanix -
Like you. Wait...what?
Alanna -
Like *you*! ;)
Ellie | from scratch mostly -
Awwww you poor thing!!!! I know I shouldn't be laughing but it's all in the name of "glad everything is okay and it wasn't even real or else that's just simply messed up of me and I need help"!
Phew...can't imagine what that panic would feel like, Sarah! The closest thing--errrr I should say, the worst thing that could have been detrimental actually and I can't believe that it happened to us--was when Selah was barely able to stand up and being the super active baby that she was/is (and athletic might I add), she managed to get herself on the edge of a grocery cart while IN the deep end of the cart (not the toddler's seating part) and yes....fell over as soon as I looked away for a mere 4-5 seconds!!!!! Just thinking about it gives me chills and indigestion. Don't judge me, anybody out there! Haha. (She was completely okay and doctors cleared her right away) Just thought you might want to know about that for future reference. ;) And it's so good that Zoella is being independent by sleeping in her crib~every mommy needs that in one way or another. :)
Also, you know I love this kind of ice cream!!!! black sesame is so so good in desserts that I'm tempted to open up an all-black-sesame-type eatery sometimes. But the business part of it completely scares me.
Sarah Menanix -
Hahaha - nono, you can absolutely laugh. I'm laughing. Lucas is laughing. Oh geez - I'd probably FREAK OUT if that happened. I'm still wearing her at the supermarket...maybe I'll just keep doing that haha. I would totally come visit your all black sesame eatery. I might live in it. <3
gerry @ foodness gracious -
That's just your protective mom brain jumping into action :) The color of this ice cream is insanely beautiful!!
Sarah Menanix -
She needs to CALM DOWN;) Haha. Thank you!!
Tina @ Just Putzing Around the Kitchen -
Oh man, that's a hell of a way to wake up! Fingers crossed for no more sleepwalking mama nightmares - just eat like 50 gallons of this yummy ice cream, I'm sure that'll fix it!
Sarah Menanix -
I'm sure it'll help with my last few pounds of baby weight too;)
Aysegul -
WOW! That is a true nightmare. I am so happy that she was in her crib.
This ice cream is everything. I loved the idea of soaking fruit in vodka. I am going to use this trick next time I make a fruity ice cream.
<3
Sarah Menanix -
ME TOO! Haha. I don't think I'll let her in my bed anytime soon;) I was so excited to discover the vodka fruit trick too! And thanks!! <3
janet -
one thing that actually happened once to someone I may know well is that she couldn't find the baby anywhere in the room and then her other two children, who seemed alarmed but not not as worried as a missing baby warranted, said, um, mama, HE'S ON YOUR BACK IN THE BACKPACK.
Thanks to this sesame situation and that roasted cherry business I recently was exposed to, I now have to go buy an ice cream maker. THANKS A LOT.
: )
Sarah Menanix -
Hahahaha - oh mom brain. It's amazing how we even function when we're this tired, right?
And you're welcome;) (DO YOU HAVE YOUR ICE CREAM MAKER YET??!!)
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain -
I remember having black sesame ice cream when we were in Tokyo! Can't wait to make this version at home!!
Sarah Menanix -
Oh you so should! I can't get enough!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
bahahahaa!!!! Sorry I'm laughing at you but that's pretty funny. Reminds me of the time Truman was still not crawling and I set him down somewhere but couldn't remember where. He's so dang quiet. I searched the whole house for my baby before remembering that he was napping in his crib. PARENTING. It makes you lose your mind!! Let's all have this ice cream to comfort ourselves.
Sarah Menanix -
Hahaha so quiet you left him at home asleep while you ran your errands;) THIS IS A THEME FOR POOR TRUMAN! More ice cream.
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama -
Absolutely love these flavors and colors!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you!! <3
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire -
Oh nights with baby can be so stressful, even when baby is sleeping soundly! Black sesame ice cream is definitely well deserved. I can't get over how delicious black sesame ice cream is - and that strawberry swirl is just gorgeous!
Sarah Menanix -
I remember when we first brought her home, I could barely sleep - I just wanted to watch her all night IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENED. Fortunately we learn to let go of some of that fear as they get older or we'd all be zombies;)
Claudia | The Brick Kitchen -
Oh that would be so scary! The only similar thing I have done is waking up in the middle of the night convinced I had heard my alarm and it was 630 and time to head to uni - I got dressed and got breakfast ready and everything before realising it was still 1am haha!! Oops. One of those things that you hardly remember happening in the morning too - like, did I dream that whole entire thing?
This ice cream looks incredible - I've been wanting to incorporate sesame into more of my sweet baking (lots of Ottolenghi inspiration!) and I especially love how you added the strawberry swirl! x
Sarah Menanix -
Haha that's too funny! Last night I apparently had a conversation with my friend Alanna while we were bunking together that I do not remember. Though, according to her, I said, "I really appreciate how much you care about the baby." Hahaha. Black sesame desserts are my favorite - I can't wait to see what combos you come up with!!
Signe -
I have to try this one!
Looks amazing <3
Sarah Menanix -
It absolutely is my favorite ice cream right now! I hope you love it as much as I do!
Derek | Dad With A Pan -
WHAT AM I LOOKING AT?! This seriously looks like the most interesting ice cream int he world! I want to eat it solely because it looks so cool!
Sarah Menanix -
This comment makes my night:) It's definitely my newest favorite ice cream in the world. I don't often make the same ice cream twice (because: SO MANY ICE CREAMS TO MAKE!) but this one is going to be on constant repeat all summer.
Vitaliya -
Glorious! I wish I could try cooking this ice-cream, but I don't have an ice-cream maker. Sooooo I'll obviously end up with licking the display of all my devices ahah
Sarah Menanix -
Hahaha - I would use it as an excuse to get an ice cream maker;) I mean....unlimited homemade ice cream!!
Anne -
Ommgggg I need this!
Sarah Menanix -
I would so share!! :) <3
Carla -
Oh, YESSSSS. This seems to be decent consolation for the fact that you had such an intense middle of the night panic! (At least you aren't having dreams about dating Kardashians.) (Guess who is!)
Sarah Menanix -
(Is T-swift in your dream too??)
DessertForTwo -
Mom nightmares are real! This used to happen to me allllll the time! Long after I stopped nursing her in bed, I would wake up in a panic, thinking the pillow I was laying on was her. I'd wake up and grab my husband and grab all around the bed reaching for her. It's real.
It just means you love her so much, you'd do anything to protect her. <3
Sarah Menanix -
And the more comfortable I get, the easier it is to just pass out while nursing! In the beginning: no way! Now I'm asleep almost as quick as she is. Glad I'm not alone!!
Kirk Bogacki -
Love how healthy and delicious this ice cream is. Black sesame is something that I don t use in sweets very often but definitely am inspired to get my hands on some now so I can make this!
Sarah Menanix -
I'm totally obsessed with black sesame in sweets - I hope you love this ice cream as much as I do!
Niels -
That strawberry ice cream looks DELICIOUS! I will definitely give it a try. Thanks!
Laura Kirsch -
This looks lovely! Sorry if I missed it, but do you have an ice cream maker recommendation?
Thanks!
Stacey Rae -
Hi there,
Could you tell me what the purpose of the vodka is? Is it necessary or can you skip it?
Stacey
Thank you 😊
Sarah Menanix -
In the strawberries, the vodka contributes to lowering the freezing temperature, thus softening up your berries! Don’t worry, the vodka gets drained out, so all you taste is candy-like sweet sweet strawberries. Without it, the berries tend to be a little icier in the ice cream, but if you don't mind that, you can also leave it out.
Same for the ice cream base - the vodka lowers the freezing temperature so the ice cream is softer and easier to scoop. You can't taste the vodka at all though! If you leave it out of the ice cream base, it will still be delicious, you just might need to let it sit on the counter for 10 min before scooping.
Stacey Rae -
Ahhh, that is very interesting, I didn't know that. Thank you so much!
I will post when I have made the ice cream ;)
Stacey 🙂