We all scream for ice cream, all year long. So let’s keep the creamy train going with this earl grey, cranberry and pistachio ice cream.

What?!?!

So – I think it was this summer – my friend A texted me the flavor combo (I think it had cherries though) that she had on her trip to New England and said that it sounded like something I would make.

She was right.

However, the earl grey just gave off fall vibes to me, and swapping the cherries for a homemade cranberry curd seemed like juuuust the thing to lead into Thanksgiving.

earl grey ice cream

Amiright?

I really wanted to make this easy on all of us and make it no-churn. I really, really did. However, I just didn’t I’d be able to infuse the earl grey adequately with cold cream, so I the long game is what we did here.

earl grey ice cream

Let’s break it down:

I popped into my fave bulk spice store and picked up a cream version of earl grey. I don’t know how to describe it other than less fruity and more cozy than perhaps a regular earl grey. While not a helpful description, suffice to say that you can use bags of whatever Earl you have in your pantry, or can find in the store.

I have successfully swirled jam into ice cream before but since fresh (and frozen) cranberries are in season RN, I decided to seize the moment and make a homemade cranberry curd. Both for this and for another dessert I have up my sleeve coming soon. Don’t want to make the curd? A cranberry or cherry jam will do just fine.

I was toasting up the pistachios and impulsively decided to make them sugared pistachios. Sorry not sorry – I thought it would give them extra flair and sparkle, which is always a good thing come holiday time. Don’t want candied pistachios? Toasted will most certainly do.

Using my Jeni’s as a base (adapted slightly), I went to work to make what came out to be quite a luxurious flavored ice cream.

And in my house, it’s always the season for quiet luxuries.

earl grey ice cream

Earl Grey Cranberry and Pistachio Ice Cream

November 15, 2023

Servings: 4-6

Prep: 12 hr

Cook: 5 min

Total: 16 hr

Difficulty: Medium

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Earl Grey, Cranberry and Pistachio ice cream is a luxuriously comforting flavor with infused cream, fresh cranberry curd and toasted sugared pistachios.

By: Chrissy

Ingredients

For the ice cream base:
2 cups whole milk
1- 1/4 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup loose leaf Earl Grey tea
½ tsp salt
2 TB light corn syrup
1/4 tsp xantham gum
3 TB powdered milk
1/3 cup homemade cranberry curd or store bought cranberry or cherry jam
1/2 cup toasted unsalted shelled pistachios
2 TB unsalted butter
2 TB brown sugar

Directions

Step 1 To a saucepan, add the milk, heavy cream, sugar and corn syrup in a . Bring to a rolling boil, and boil for 4 minutes.
Step 2 Remove from heat and add the tea, and let steep 15 minutes.
Step 3 Strain the milk mixture through a fine sieve trying to squeeze out as much tea as possible.
Step 4 Remove from heat and add the salt, xanthan gum and powdered milk. Mix thoroughly to ensure there are no lumps. Refrigerate overnight to ensure it is completely cool.
Step 5 While the mixture cools, to a skillet over medium heat, add the butter and brown sugar and let melt together. Add the pistachios and coat thoroughly in the butter mixture, stirring constantly to ensure the nuts don’t burn. Once the nuts smell toasty, about five minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Set aside until you’re churning the ice cream.
Step 6 Churn the ice cream according to manufacturer’s directions. Right before the ice cream is done churning, add in the nuts.
Step 7 To a freezer-safe container, add 1/3 of the ice cream, followed by 1/2 the jam/curd mixture, another 1/3 of ice cream, the remaining jam and the final ice cream. Freeze overnight.