Roasted Hazelnut Vanilla Ice Cream

This hazelnut ice cream is spiked with Cognac and vanilla. The aromatics make the hazelnuts taste like praline, and I adore the crunchy nuts against the cold milky base.

Ingredients

• 1 cup hazelnuts, shelled, skins on
• 1 vanilla bean
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup sugar
• ⅜ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon Cognac or aged rum
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

    576 calories; 43 grams fat; 17 grams saturated fat; 20 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 37 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 34 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 93 milligrams cholesterol; 293 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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About a quart

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 300 degrees. Spread hazelnuts on a rimmed baking pan and roast, stirring once or twice, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a rack.
2. Split vanilla pod lengthwise and scrape seeds into a saucepan. Add vanilla pod, milk, cream, 1/4 cup sugar and the salt. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, rub still-warm hazelnuts in a clean dish towel to remove skins. Take saucepan off heat and allow cream to cool while you prepare hazelnut paste.
4. In a food processor, place 1/2 cup hazelnuts, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the Cognac or rum and purée until a paste forms, 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape paste into saucepan holding milk mixture and return it to medium-low heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally until paste dissolves, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard vanilla pod and stir in vanilla extract. Transfer to a bowl and place in refrigerator or set into an ice bath to chill. Coarsely chop remaining hazelnuts.
5. When mixture is cold, pour it into bowl of an ice cream machine along with 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts and churn according to manufacturer’s directions. Transfer to a container and freeze until solid, at least 2 hours. Let sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, or in refrigerator for 15 to 30. Sprinkle with remaining hazelnuts.

30 minutes