Condensed Milk Coffee Ice Cream
Most no-churn ice cream recipes start with condensed milk as a base. This one’s no different. Giving it true South African charisma, I’m adding a shot of espresso and lightly crushed muesli rusks. It tastes similar to sweet Thai coffee but with chewy bits of baked buttermilk crumbs.
The recipe short-cuts traditional custard making and churning. When the ingredient list is short, quality counts. I’d recommend freshly pressed espresso and a batch of homemade, buttermilk rusks. For those unfamiliar with rusks, think of them as the equivalent to Italian biscotti, only chunkier and eaten as a prelude to breakfast. This of course opens the way to adding your favorite cookie in place of rusks. For all the local ice cream eaters, you probably already have a tin filled with rusks. If not, grab a bag at the store, but make sure it’s got some nuts and seeds in the mix.
If you’re after a pure coffee flavour with a buttery-rich finish, omit the rusk crumbs and mix in a second shot of coffee. It’s worth mentioning that the texture of this ice cream is rather unusual. By adding the crumbs, it turns almost fudgy. I like it best slightly softened and topped with warm chocolate sauce.
Condensed milk replaces the need for sugar and stands in the gap for egg custard. From years of making no churn ice cream, I’ve learnt that the key to getting the cream properly aerated is the make sure the condensed milk is well chilled before whipping. For ease, I leave the frozen ice cream on the counter for about 5-8 minutes before rolling up scoops. I’m including a recipe for a quick chocolate sauce, too. Not that it needs embellishing, but having come this far, excessiveness seems reasonable.
Condensed milk coffee ice cream
Serves 8-10
- 385 g tin condensed milk, chilled
- 650 ml fresh (whipping) cream
- 5 ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla paste or extract
- 5-6 buttermilk muesli rusks, roughly crushed or 150 g shortbread cookies
- 1 shot intense espresso (Nespresso’s purple pod), slightly cooled
Place the condensed milk, cream and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Start by whisking slowly until the cream and condensed milk are combined, then increase the speed and whisk until fluffy and light.
Fold through the rusk crumbs, followed by the cooled coffee. Scrape into a loaf tin, cover with foil and freeze overnight.
Side note: To make a quick chocolate sauce, melt together 100 g 70% dark chocolate, 180 ml (/3 cup ) full cream milk and 15 ml honey. Whisk until smooth.
You can never have too many ice cream recipes, right? Here are some of my favourites:
Amarena cherry ice cream with toasted almonds
Peppermint crisp ice cream pudding-cake
Black sesame and liquorice ice cream
Gin and strawberry swirl ice cream
8 Comments. Leave new
Bibby
It looks amazing. Can I use very strong filter coffee instead of espresso. And how much is a shot?
Any recipe with condensed milk….is always a winner!!
I’m dying to dry this one…thanks Bibby
You’re welcome Lynn. It tastes like the coffee I used to have on my aunt’s farm. She made the best rusks! Each day started with a good dunking.
Hi Elzabè. If you’re a coffee and rusk fan, you’re going to love this. You can, but try to make the brew as strong as possible. One shot of espresso is about 30ml. I’d go with 60ml at the most. If the liquid quantity is too much, the ice cream won’t set well.
Oh, Di, I love your icecream recipes!! I just made the ‘halva, pistachio and vanilla’ and the ‘ginger and cinnamon’ ones for a dinner prty this week. A word of advice for anyone planning to share these desserts with other people…. MAKE DOUBLE so you have enough to sample some before, during and for days after the actual dinner party!
Haha! So funny, Tippy. I love how willing you are to share food, especially ice cream! I think the halva one is my absolute favourite.
I’m in the U.S. Is your condensed milk sweetened? We have both, sweetened and unsweetened. Also, I have to be gluten free, so do you think that an ordinary coconut gluten free cookie would work instead? Thank you. Your photos are gorgeous and your descriptions make everything sound so good.
Hi Alene. So lovely to hear from the US! Yes, it is sweetened condensed milk. Here in SA, we only have the sweetened version. The coconut cookies sound fabulous! I’m sure they’ll be absolutely delicious. Take care. Best regards Di