Apricot Pit Ice Cream Recipes

APRICOT PIT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Wrap apricot pits in a heavy dish towel. On the floor or on a sturdy cutting board, crack pits open using a hammer or a meat mallet, exposing kernels. Watch your fingers.
• In a medium saucepan, combine apricot kernels and shells with milk and heavy cream. Bring to a boil; turn off heat, and let cool. Chill overnight in refrigerator.
• The next day, bring the milk mixture to a boil again and strain through a fine sieve. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the sugar and the yolks until light and fluffy. Whisk about 1/2 cup hot milk into the egg mixture, and then whisk the egg mixture into the milk. Pour into a large saucepan, place over medium-low heat and, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, cook until thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Remove from heat immediately. Let cool, and then strain.
• Pour into an ice cream maker, and follow manufacturer's instructions.

FRESH APRICOT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Place the apricots in boiling water for 20 seconds to loosen their skins, then remove them from the water, drain and peel them.
• Separate the apricots into halves and discard the pits.
• Chop the apricots coarsely and put them in a large glass bowl.
• Sprinkle with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the sugar; stir and let stand for 1 hour, then puree them.
• While the apricots are standing, prepare the custard ice cream base.
• Beat the egg yolks in a bowl until they turn a light lemon yellow color, about 3 or 4 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine the whipping cream, milk and the remaining sugar in a heavy-bottom saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking often, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is hot.
• Ladle about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, whisking constantly until well-blended and smooth.
• Pour the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan and continue to cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens enough to form a film or coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and add the almond extract.
• Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then stir in the pureed apricots.
• Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.

APRICOT CREAM-CHEESE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Pit apricots and coarsely chop. In a 2-quart heavy saucepan cook apricots and sugar over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Cook mixture, stirring occasionally, until apricots are softened, about 5 minutes, and cool. Chill mixture, covered, until cold and up to 2 days.
• In a blender blend cream cheese and milk until smooth. Using a long-handled spoon stir in heavy cream, lemon juice, and apricot mixture (do not blend).
• Freeze mixture in an ice-cream maker. Transfer ice cream to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.