Cultured ice cream! After struggling to find an ice cream brand that really knows me and also meets my high standards for ingredients (simplicity and quality), I took matters into my own hands. First, I bought a great ice cream machine from craigslist for $20, a bargain. I then studied classic recipes and tweaked them to incorporate cultured dairy! Using milk kefir and kefir cream as the base, the finished product is slightly tangier than ice cream, but not quite as tangy as frozen yogurt.

Stay tuned! Next, I will be experimenting with a vegan variation, using cultured coconut cream!

Kefir Ice Cream

Prep time: 24 hours

Fermentation time: 4 hours 30 mins

Total time: 28 hours 30 mins

Yield: About 2 quarts

Ingredients

3 cups whole milk kefir
12 ounces/350 ml kefir cream
3 eggs
½ cup /125 ml (170g) honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or 2 whole vanilla beans
1 tsp./5 ml sea salt
(Optional for Chocolate base) ¾ cup/190 ml (60g) Dutch process cocoa powder

Optional Mix-ins (total 1½ cups)

½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup toasted coconut shreds (sweetened or unsweetened)
½ cup hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, or other nuts or seeds, diced
1 cup crushed fresh fruit (berries, peaches, cherries, etc.)

Instructions

Make milk Kefir

See recipe http://fermenters.club/kefir

Make Kefir Cream

In a pint-sized jar, add 12 ounces heavy cream and ¼ cup finished milk kefir. Stir occasionally. Wait 24-48 hours, or until cream thickens and tastes sour. See full recipe. https://fermentersclub.com/kefir-sour-cream/

Prepare & Chill Base

Add eggs and honey to a 3 quart or larger mixing bowl. Beat until incorporated.
If using, split vanilla beans lengthwise, and scrape out the insides into mixing bowl. Add long bean pod pieces (3" or longer) to mixing bowl.
Add all other ingredients before "Optional Mix-ins" section. Mix to combine.
Chill mixture at least 8 hours, but preferably 24 hours.
Chill ice cream machine bowl at least 24 hours (up to 2-3 days).

Make Ice Cream

Fish out vanilla bean pods from mixture.
Follow machine instructions for making ice cream.
When mixture resembles soft-serve ice cream, add mix-ins. Let machine run a few more minutes.
Scoop ice cream into jars or container. Harden in freezer at least four hours, preferably 8 hours.

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