Chocolate Chestnut Ice Cream Recipes

CHESTNUT ICE CREAM WITH CHOCOLATE GRAND MARNIER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make ice cream:
• Finely chop chestnuts and cook with 1 1/4 cups milk at a bare simmer in a large heavy saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Purée in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids).
• Bring cream and remaining 1 3/4cups milk just to a simmer in heavy saucepan and remove from heat.
• Beat together yolks and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until thick and pale and mixture forms a ribbon when beaters are lifted.
• Whisk 1/3 of hot cream mixture into yolk mixture to temper, then whisk yolk mixture into remaining cream mixture. 3Whisk in chestnut purée and salt, then add zest. Cook over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, just until mixture registers 170°F on an instant-read thermometer (do not boil).
• Immediately pour custard through a fine sieve into a clean metal bowl and stir in vanilla. Set bowl in a larger bowl of ice and cold water and cool custard, stirring occasionally. Chill, surface covered with waxed paper, until cold, at least 3 hours.
• Freeze custard in ice-cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.
• Make sauce:
• Bring cream just to a simmer in a heavy saucepan over moderate heat and remove from heat. Add chocolate and butter, whisking until smooth. Whisk in Grand Marnier.
• Serve ice cream with sauce.

FRENCH CHESTNUT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Put milk, chestnut puree and 3 oz of the sugar in a pan and bring to a boil over med. heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a bowl until a light ribbon consistency.
• Pour the boiling milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then pour the mixture back into the pan.
• Stir over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the custard lightly coats the back of the spoon. When you run your finger through it, it should leave a clear path on the spoon.
• Immediately take the pan off the heat and pour custard into a bowl.
• Add the rum now, if using.
• Cool over ice, stirring occasionally to prevent the formation of a skin.
• When cold, pass the custard through a fine strainer or a chinois into the ice cream maker and churn 10-15 minutes.
• Pour the cream into the ice cream maker, in a slow stream. Churn an additional 10 minutes. It is ready when firm but still creamy.
• Serve with the marrons glace on top, in small pieces, if desired, or with a drizzle of semi-sweet chocolate sauce, or just plain.

CHOCOLATE-CHESTNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Bring chestnuts, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt to a boil over high heat in a small saucepan. Reduce heat, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until milk is reduced by one-quarter and chestnuts smash fairly easily against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon, 15-17 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely chop 4 oz. chocolate. Using a peeler, shave remaining 1 oz. chocolate; set aside until ready to serve.
• Purée chestnut mixture in a blender on high speed until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add chopped chocolate and 1 tsp. brandy and blend on high speed until chocolate is melted, about 30 seconds. Scrape into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally (if lumps form, stir vigorously until smooth), 15-20 minutes.
• Whip 2 cups cream with a whisk in another large bowl until it just barely holds soft peaks. Stir one-third of cream into chocolate mixture to lighten it, then fold in remaining cream just until incorporated. Transfer mousse to a large serving bowl, cover, and chill at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
• Whip remaining 1 cup cream and 1/2 tsp. brandy with whisk in a large bowl to medium peaks. Garnish mousse with reserved chocolate shavings and serve with whipped cream alongside.
• Do ahead
• Mousse can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.

EASY CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine half-and-half, sugar, cocoa and vanilla in a blender; process on low until smooth. Stir in heavy cream. Freeze in an ice cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions.