Very Small Anna
20131002-rum-raisin-ice-cream.jpg

[Photograph: Anna Markow]

Raisins are soaked in dark rum for up to 2 days (the longer the soak time, the more they'll absorb) and are churned into a base that seems fairly bland at first, with faint accents of brown sugar and cinnamon. After setting up for a full 24 hours, though, the rum flavor leaches into the ice cream itself and the bite of pure rum in the raisins mellows out considerably. And all the extra sugar and alcohol keeps the ice cream smooth and soft, ready to serve straight out of the freezer.

About the Author: Anna Markow is a pastry chef obsessed with doing things that no one else does and giving unusual ingredients their time to shine. You can follow her sometimes-pastry-related thoughts on Twitter @VerySmallAnna.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: makes about 3 pints ice cream
Active time: 30 minutes
Total time: 3 days
Special equipment: medium saucepan, mixing bowl, whisk, spatula, fine mesh strainer, ice cream maker
This recipe appears in: From the Pastry Dungeon: Rum Raisin Ice Cream

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raisins (dark or golden)
  • 1/2 cup dark rum
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Pinch salt
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Procedures

  1. Place the raisins in a container with a tight-fitting lid and add rum. Cover and shake to evenly coat raisins in rum, let sit at room temperature at least overnight and up to 2 days. Drain excess rum from raisins, reserving 2 tablespoons. Set aside.

  2. Combine milk, cream, sugars, cinnamon, and salt in medium saucepan and place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is steaming and sugars are dissolved. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks in medium mixing bowl. Gradually whisk hot liquid into yolks, then scrape back into pan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Strain and chill thoroughly.

  3. Add vanilla and reserved rum to base and process in ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions, adding raisins when almost fully churned. Remove to freezer-safe container and seal tightly. Freeze at least 24 hours before serving.