Honey & Lemon Thyme Ricotta Ice Cream with Vanilla Peaches
yields: 1.5 quarts
Fresh whole milk ricotta blended into a rich and creamy egg-free ice cream. Sweetened only with honey and infused with lemon thyme, this ricotta ice cream is luscious and aromatic. Serve topped with warm vanilla peaches for a summer sundae to celebrate National Ice Cream Month this July!
Ingredients
Honey & Lemon Thyme Ricotta Ice Cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 4-6 sprigs fresh lemon thyme, or regular thyme works too!
- 1 whole vanilla bean, scraped
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 12 ounces (1-⅔ cups) fresh whole milk ricotta, (I like Bellwether Farms)
- 3 tablespoons full-fat cream cheese (blocked), room temperature
- ½ teaspoon flaky salt, such as maldon
- 1 tablespoon vodka, optional
Vanilla Peaches
- 3 medium peaches
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ tablespoon honey
- 1 whole vanilla bean, scraped
INSTRUCTIONS
Honey & Lemon Thyme Ricotta Ice Cream
- Whisk the corn starch in a small bowl with about 3 tablespoons of the milk to make smooth slurry. Set aside.
- Bring remaining ¾ cups + 1 tablespoon whole milk and heavy whipping cream to boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat, add the fresh thyme and vanilla bean seeds and pod, cover, and let steep for 20 minutes.
- Strain the milk into a heat proof bowl to remove the thyme and vanilla bean. Scrape the inside of the warm vanilla bean into the milk and cream. Return the steeped milk and cream to the saucepan.
- Give the corn starch slurry one last whisk to make sure it's completely incorporated. Slowly whisk the corn starch slurry into the milk and cream saucepan, and bring it back to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook, stirring, until it thickens about 1 minute.
- Pour in the honey and sugar, stirring just until it dissolves. Remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice cubes and water.
- Add the honeyed milk to a blender or food processor with fresh ricotta, cream cheese, vodka, and salt. Blend until completely smooth.
- Pour the ice cream base into a large 1-gallon Ziploc bag. Seal it and submerge the mixture in the ice bath until cold, about 30 minutes.
- Churn according to the manufacturer's instructions and freeze over night.
- Serve with warm vanilla peaches.
Vanilla Peaches
- Peel the peaches. Either do this with a vegetable peeler or blanch the peaches in boiling water for 20 seconds, dunk them in an ice bath, and slide the skin off. Slice into 8-12 wedges.
- Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the peaches, honey, and vanilla bean scrapings. Cook just until the honey melts and the peaches begin to soften, 3-5 minutes.
- Serve warm or cold over scoops of ice cream.
