Thursday, August 21, 2014

Chocolate with Buttercream Frosting ... Ice Cream! #IceCreamWeek

Yes, you heard that right. Frosting. Buttercream. In ice cream.

Yes, I've gone mad.

I made cupcakes and had extra frosting. I wasn't planning another cake immediately. I started brainstorming. Where could I use the frosting?

This time of year, many thoughts turn to ice cream, but after testing a dollop, I found out that it froze too hard to work in ice cream. So I added some vodka, and it was the perfect texture.

Depending on your buttercream mixture, you might need more or less "loosening." I suggest starting with a cup of buttercream, adding 1 tablespoon of vodka, then freezing a spoon full to see if you like the results. If it's still too hard, add more vodka.

As far as flavors, you really don't need a flavored version, but if you have one, you might as well use it. Cake flavor, whipped flavor, chocolate flavor ... use anything you think will be compatible.

Welcome to Ice Cream Week 2014! 

You could win these!
This post is part of ICE CREAM WEEK, and this is the fourth day of ice cream creations on this blog and a whole lot of others. Have you been following along? If not, you can always go back and see what you missed.

We're in the home stretch for ice cream now, and it's all deliciously downhill from here. Only a few more days to go.

This year the event is hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Susan of  The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen.

We have teamed up with 25 amazing bloggers to bring you ice cream treats all week long. I hope you have as much fun as we did. Break out those stretchy pants and celebrate Ice Cream Week with us.

Our sponsors for the event have provided us with some great prizes.

A huge thanks to Cake BossAnolonMicroplaneWÜSTHOFPage Street Publishing and Quarry Spoon

Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Susan of The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen have tossed in a bonus prize of a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker because they think everyone should own one!

Be sure to swing by all of today's Ice Cream Week Participants:

Chocolate Ice Cream with Buttercream Frosting

For the ice cream base:
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup chocolate syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1 package white chocolate* instant pudding mix
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

For the frosting swirl:
1 cup buttercream frosting
2 tablespoons flavored vodka

Combine the cream, milk, chocolate syrup, sugar, pudding mix, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl. Whisk to combine - and until the sugar has dissolved and you don't have any unmixed bits of pudding mix floating about.

Hint - if you mix the sugar and pudding mix first, then add the liquid, it tends to combine easier. But you can also just throw it in a bowl and mix. It just takes a few more stirs to get the job done.

Chill the mixture, then churn according the the manufacturer's instructions.

Meanwhile, beat the frosting and vodka together until combined. Refrigerate until needed.

Churn the ice cream in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. As you're transferring it to a storage container, dollop in portions of the buttercream. If you like, give it a little stir/swirl - but don't mix too much - you want the buttercream to remain separate from the ice cream.

Freeze until firm.

I thought this was particularly good served on top of brownies, soft cookies, cupcakes, and other cake-like treats. Give it a try!

*Or any compatible flavor. Vanilla, French vanilla, or any version of chocolate would be fine.

And now for the GIVEAWAY!!!

More goodies to win!
The Ice Cream Week Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada. It closes at midnight on 31st. It's ONE WINNER TAKES ALL!
Giveaway is now OVER.
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