The Best Ever Vanilla Ice Cream

The Best Vanilla Ice Cream lives up to its name.  It is rich, creamy and luxurious!  The recipe has to be my favorite ever from culinary scientist Alton Brown.  No adaptations, no substitutions, this recipe is PERFECT and is our go to ice cream. 

Enjoy!  Plan on this not last long.  I have yet to find someone who didn't like this...  It is THAT good!!!

Recipe adapted from Alton Brown

Voluptuous Vanilla Ice Cream
3 cups half and half
1 cup heavy cream
8 large egg yolks
9 ounces sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Place the half-and-half and the heavy cream into a medium saucepan, over medium heat. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat.

  In a medium mixing bowl whisk the egg yolks until they lighten in color.

Gradually add the sugar and whisk to combine. Temper the cream mixture into the eggs and sugar by gradually adding small amounts, until about a third of the cream mixture has been added. Pour in the remainder and return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place over low heat.

Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon and reaches 170 to 175 degrees F.

Pour the mixture into a container and allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract. Place the mixture into the refrigerator and once it is cool enough not to form condensation on the lid, cover and store for 4 to 8 hours or until the temperature reaches 40 degrees F or below.

Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. This should take approximately 25 to 35 minutes.

Serve as is for soft serve or freeze for another 3 to 4 hours to allow the ice cream to harden.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe - The Slow Roasted Italian.com