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Kefir Ice Cream

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Prep Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Curing Time 8 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dairy, Dessert
Makes 1 quarts/liters

Ingredients

Base

  • 2 cups (475 ml) whole milk kefir
  • 8 ounces (231 ml) heavy cream or kefir cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup (112g) honey
  • 1 1/4 tsp. (7 ml) vanilla extract, or 1 1/2 whole vanilla beans
  • 1/2 tsp. (3 ml) fresh grated lemon zest
  • ¾ tsp. (3 ml) fine sea salt
  • ¾ cup (125 ml /40g) Dutch process cocoa powder (for chocolate base)

Optional Mix-ins

  • ⅓ cup (66 ml) chocolate chips
  • ⅓ cup (66 ml) toasted coconut shreds (sweetened or unsweetened)
  • ⅓ cup (66 ml) hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, or other nuts or seeds, diced
  • ⅔ cup (100 ml) crushed or pureed fresh fruit (banana, pumpkin, berries, peaches, cherries, etc.)

Instructions
 

  • Chill ice cream machine bowl at least 24 hours. (I store mine in the freezer so it's always ready!)

Make milk Kefir

Make Kefir Cream (Optional-- uncultured heavy cream works fine)

  • In a pint-sized jar, add 12 ounces heavy cream and 1/4 cup finished milk kefir. Stir occasionally. Wait 24-48 hours, or until cream thickens and tastes sour. See full recipe.

Prepare & Chill Base

  • Add eggs and honey to a 3 quart or larger pitcher or mixing bowl with a pouring spout. Beat until incorporated.
  • If using vanilla beans, split beans lengthwise, and scrape out the insides into mixing bowl. Add long bean pod pieces (3" or longer) to mixing bowl. If not, add vanilla extract.
  • Add kefir, cream or kefir cream, salt, and lemon zest to pitcher/bowl. Whisk to combine.
  • Place mixture in refrigerator to chill overnight or up to 8 hours.

Make Ice Cream

  • Fish out vanilla bean pods from mixture.
  • Whisk ingredients together (settling may have occurred during chilling).
  • Follow machine instructions for making ice cream. Be careful not to overfill the machine, otherwise it may overflow or not freeze properly.
  • When mixture has aerated and resembles soft-serve ice cream (usually 15 to 20 minutes for most machines), add the mix-ins. Let machine run a few more minutes.
  • Scoop ice cream into jars or wide container(s).
  • Harden in freezer overnight, at least 8 hours.