Today I’m going to introduce you to a delightful cold treat that’s sure to tickle your tastebuds, lavender honey ice cream! This is no ordinary ice cream, it’s a unique blend of sweetness, creaminess, and the floral undertones of lavender. If you’re a fan of bold, exotic flavors or just want to try something different, this one’s for you.
Lavender has a distinctive fragrance that is often associated with tranquility and relaxation, while honey brings a natural sweetness that perfectly complements its floral counterpart. Together, they create a balanced flavor profile — light, sweet, and RICHLY textured. Not only are lavender and honey delicious, but they’re also packed with health benefits. Lavender is KNOWN for its calming properties and honey is rich in antioxidants.
I still remember the first time I tasted Lavender Honey Ice Cream. It was at one of those fancy artisan ice cream shops in my local city of Victoria, BC (Canada), and it was an experience, to say the least! The moment the ice cream hit my tongue, it was a dance of flavors. The sweet creamy goodness harmonizing with the fragrant aura of lavender. It was such a delight, it inspired me to replicate this distinctive treat at home.
So, are you excited to recreate this delicacy in your own kitchen? Stick around.
In the next section, I’ll take you through the specific ingredients to get your hands on, so you’re all set for a culinary adventure. Let’s not settle for anything less than PERFECT, so we’ll be discussing the best type of lavender and honey to use for this recipe. On top of this, I’ll also share some handy tips because when it comes to cooking, I believe in giving it all we’ve got!
Essential Ingredients: The Flavor Heroes
Alright, now that we understand the delight of this velvety dessert, let’s gear up to create it. One thing to note is that the kind of components you use can make or break this dish… so we really need THE BEST. The full ingredient list for the lavender honey ice cream includes the following pals — milk, heavy cream, lavender buds, honey, and eggs.
Let’s shed some light on how critical lavender and honey are in our lineup. These two are the STAR PLAYERS here. A good quality lavender can range from mildly sweet to intensely aromatic, giving us the edge that separates this ice cream from the usual ones. As for the honey, a lighter varietal like acacia or clover works like a charm, delicately adding sweetness without outshining the lavender.
Struggling to find lavender or these specific kinds of honey? As a bit of a hack, and one that works quite well you can substitute lavender with dried chamomile flowers for a similar soothing effect. Alternatively, a mild flavored maple syrup can jump in place of honey if you are in a sticky situation.
We should never shy away from using quality ingredient when they are available. Good quality ingredients, lead to a good foundation for your recipe to build off of. Trust me, a good foundation builds up to a staggering height, and in our case, it’s going to be a to-die-for lavender honey ice cream.
Let’s move to the fun part of the process – making the ice cream!
Step-by-Step Lavender Honey Ice Cream Making Guide
Now that we’ve armed ourselves with all our flavor heroes, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Making homemade ice cream may sound daunting, but trust me when I say – it’s a piece of CAKE… if you follow the instructions correctly.
Step 1: Start by pouring a cup of whole milk into a saucepan, followed by a hearty dollop of honey – about half a cup. Yes, you got it right; this is where the HONEY in our lavender honey ice cream comes into play.
Step 2: Throw in a generous handful of culinary lavender. A word of caution here: please, oh please, use only culinary-grade lavender. The other stuff. Well…it’s not so ice cream friendly, you see.
Step 3: Heat the mixture over medium flame until the honey completely dissolves. Remember – PATIENCE is key here. You don’t want to end up caramelizing the honey.
Step 4: Once that’s done, turn off your heat, cover up the saucepan (tuck our mixture in for a short nap), and let it steep for 5-15 minutes.
Step 5: While our lavender and honey combo is forming alliance, it’s time to deal with egg yolks and sugar. Pour 2 cups of heavy cream into a separate saucepan. Add to it 10 egg yolks and a cup of sugar. Whisk it until nicely blended and smoothly fluid.
Step 6: Remember our snoozing friend in the saucepan? Yeah, it’s about time we wake it up. Strain the mixture and discard the lavender. Rinse the strainer and set it over the same bowl. We’ll need this again later.
Step 7: Now, very slowly, pour the warm, fragrant (oh the smell!) honey mixture into the egg yolk and cream mixture, always stirring. You don’t want scrambled eggs…unless you’re making scrambled ice cream (wait…is that even a thing? Nah!)
Step 8: Pour the final mixture back into the saucepan and cook it over medium heat. Keep stirring until the mix coats the back of the ladle.
Step 9: Strain the mixture into the heavy cream. Return it all over ice and stir it until cool.
Step 10: Once the mix is cooled, transfer it to your ice cream machine. Give it a whirl until it turns into a bowlful of creamy goodness. And Voila! Your homemade lavender honey ice cream is ready to freeze.
Even if everything didn’t go as planned, don’t stress. Ice cream making, like any skill, needs practice. Feel free to dive back in and give it another go. And remember – the fun is in the journey… and licking the spoons.
Savoring Your Homemade Lavender Honey Ice Cream
Congratulations! You’ve made it through the journey of crafting your homemade lavender honey ice cream. Now comes the best part – getting to savour your beautifully infused creation.
When it comes to enjoying this ice cream, the possibilities are endless. You can have it on its own or pair it with different types of desserts for an even more decadent experience. I’ve personally found its floral sweetness to compliment well with vanilla-flavored or fruit-based treats like cheesecakes or apple pies. Infuse a bit of creativity into your serving game.
One of the wonderful things about homemade ice cream is the experience of sharing it. Trust me, it’s brilliant! Sharing your experimental lavender honey ice cream flavors with friends and family, seeing their faces light up as they savor every spoonful– those are the moments to live for and where I think this homemade recipe is going to take you.
Let’s not forget, the real joy of cooking – and in this case, ice cream making – is in the process. It’s fascinating to see milk, honey, and lavender blossoms convert into this splendid dessert. But more than that, it’s about the experiment. Perhaps next time you’d like to try different varieties of honey, or maybe try a lavender-chamomile combo? The kitchen can be your playground, and you can get as creative as you like here.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey of becoming an artisan ice cream maker as much as I’ve enjoyed guiding you through it… And remember, there’s always room for a scoop (or two) of homemade lavender honey ice cream on the dessert table!
If you have any questions about this recipe, or any other leave them in the comments below and I will be happy to help you out.