Salted Pretzel & Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
Yield: About 1.5 quarts
To celebrate National Ice Cream Day on July 20th, we teamed up with ice cream influencer Adam Rozen of @adameatsicecream and one of consumers' favorite ice cream makers, Hamilton Beach. Adam created a recipe where salty meets sweet in the best possible way with this pretzel chocolate chunk ice cream. The crushed pretzels get steeped right into the custard base, giving it this amazing toasty flavor that's way more interesting than plain vanilla. But the best part? You can customize it with toppings like chocolate chunks or freeze-dried marshmallow that can be freshly ground with your FinaMill. And yum, you've got yourself a seriously good scoop.
Ingredients:
Custard Base:
- 1 3/4 cups (425 ml) whole milk
- 3/4 cup (150 g) white sugar
- 1/2 tsp (table) salt (or 3½ tsp if pretzels are lightly salted)
- 2½ to 3 cups crushed salted pretzels
- 1-2 tsp plain malted milk powder
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1½ cups (375 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins:
- 3/4 to 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chunks
- Tiny pinch of flaky salt tossed with the chunks before adding
Instructions:
-
Infuse the Pretzel Base
- In a heavy saucepan, combine: Whole milk, sugar, salt, crushed pretzels, (optional) malt powder.
- Heat over medium until just steaming, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat and cover. Let steep for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
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Strain & Temper the Eggs
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl, pressing on the pretzels to extract as much flavor as possible.
- Whisk a spoonful of the softened pretzel mixture into the base to thicken it.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth.
- Slowly drizzle the warm milk into the eggs while whisking constantly to temper.
- Return everything to the saucepan.
-
Cook the Custard
- Cook over medium-low, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Continue until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of the spoon - about 3-5 minutes.
- Do not let it boil.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract.
-
Chill
- Let cool slightly.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, until completely cold.
-
Churn
- Turn on your ice cream maker, then pour the chilled custard into the pre-frozen bowl while it's running. We used a Hamilton Beach model that we loved.
- Churn for 15-25 minutes, until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.
- While the ice cream churns, toss the chocolate chunks with a small pinch of flaky salt for extra pop.
- After about 15 minutes, add the salted chocolate chunks through the opening in the lid. Continue churning for another for 5-10 more minutes until fully incorporated.
- If the machine stops early or thickens too quickly, simply fold in the chocolate chunks by hand once the churning is done.
-
Freeze
- Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container.
- Smooth the top, cover tightly with plastic wrap or parchment paper, then seal with a lid.
- Freeze for at least 2-4 hours to firm up.
-
Top Using Your FinaMill
Here are some possible toppings you can grind and grate in the FinaMill Grater Pod:
- Mini salted pretzels
- Malted milk balls
- Chocolate coated candies
- Chocolate chunks
- Salted peanuts
- Espresso beans
- Hazelnuts
- Mint candies or other hard candies
About Adam Rozen
Adam Rozen is the ice cream lover behind @adameatsicecream, an Instagram account devoted to all things ice cream. Whether he's tracking down the best scoop shops or churning up new flavors at home, he brings his deep love for ice cream to every post. Through his feed, he shares that passion with the hope of inspiring others to become their own ice cream reporters and to always get the scoop.
About Hamilton Beach
Hamilton Beach has been a trusted small appliance brand for over 100 years. From the iconic drink mixer to coffee makers, air fryers and breakfast sandwich makers, their products are designed to make life easier and more flavorful. With a focus on practical innovation, Hamilton Beach's range of small kitchen appliances helps home cooks save time, enjoy the process and feel more confident and creative in the kitchen. Follow them @hamiltonbeach on Instagram or Facebook.
