Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Dark Chocolate Orange Ice Cream

I love chocolates. I have always loved chocolates. (The many cavities in my teeth and the dentist bills I have raked up over the years will bear testimony to that love!)



Initially, it was milk chocolates and chocolates with assorted nuts and dry fruits. Much later, I discovered dark chocolates and liqueur centred chocolates and my love for chocolates only intensified.





Ironically, much as I love chocolates, I don't much care for chocolate ice cream. In fact, it has been ages since I ate chocolate ice cream.









A couple of days ago, I happened to zest some oranges for making this Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake, when all of a sudden, I had this intense desire to have the chocolate orange combo in an ice cream.


The cake didn't happen that evening but I managed to fall in love with chocolates in ice creams after a long, long time!


Dark Chocolate Orange Ice Cream



Ingredients:



Low fat milk: 3 cups
Sugar: 3/4 cup* (you could do a taste test and add more, 3/4 cup works perfectly for us)
Cornflour: 2 tbsps
Cocoa: 3 tbsps
Bittersweet chocolate chips**: 2/3 cup
Low fat cream: 1/2 cup
Zest of 1.5 oranges
Orange essence: 1/4 tsp
Vodka: 1 tbsp, optional
(**if using semi-sweet chocolate chips, reduce the sugar to 2/3 cup)

Method:

In a cup of milk, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder and the cornstarch till the mixture is lump-free and smooth. (I simply put everything into a liquidiser - saves a lot of effort in mixing!)


In a small saucepan, heat the cream till it starts to bubble around the edges. Pour it over the chocolate chips and mix till the chocolate chips are melted.


In another saucepan, combine 2 cups of milk with the orange zest. Heat until the milk just starts to steam. Turn the heat off, cover and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Then remove the zest from the milk and re-heat till the milk starts to simmer.

Pour the cocoa mixture into the simmering milk in a thin stream, stirring constantly. Continue to stir and cook the mixture on a low heat until it comes to a rolling boil and starts to thicken. Turn off the gas and remove the saucepan from the burner.


Add the cream-chocolate chips mixture and the orange essence to this custard and stir till properly combined.


Cool on the counter top to room temperature, add in the vodka, if using, and then chill in the refrigerator for atleast 5-6 hours, preferably overnight and then freeze according to the directions of your ice cream machine.





Mmm....mmmm....mmmmmm.....if you love the chocolate orange combo, then this is a flavour you must absolutely must try. The dark chocolate gives it a very intense chocolatey taste followed by a very delicate flavour of orange.


However, if you'd rather not mix chocolates and oranges, just skip the orange zest and the essence from the recipe. The resulting dark chocolate ice cream will satiate every chocoholic!


This delicious melting treat is off to Julia who is hosting In the Bag - December.



19 comments:

  1. Orange and chocolate a marriage made in heaven wish i had a couple of schoop

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  2. I love orange and chocolate combination. The icecream looks delish.

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  3. looks amazing...innovative presentation

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  4. lovely and marvellous combo and looks so mouth watering too.

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  5. Omg, very tempting icecream, beautiful combo..

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  6. Yummy combo. Will have to try soon.

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  7. Love orange cakes ... never tried choco and orange combi. But going by the look of that cake am tempted to try. Looks gorgeous!

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  8. luv the presenation ,chocolate looks too good,..

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  9. I dont care much for chocolate, but I DO like orange-dark-choc. That combo in an icecream must be very heaven. I WANT!!!!

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  10. OOOOOOOhhhhh, I want this and the pull apart rolls as well...you do put in the most gorgeous recipes and lovely pics to go with it.....

    Thank u
    Andy!!

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  11. Absolutely delicious :) love the presentation ;)

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  12. Ok we are freezing here and u re tempting me with ice cream and orange! May be i should wait spring to give a try :( Lovely clicks!

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  13. Orange and dark chocolate has to be the most decadent combo ever. I am off to scrape some zest orange zest and have it with my dark chocolate.. no ice cream, but I do need to get this combo inside me right now.

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  14. Oh wow! what a lovely presentation for these exotic chocolate goodies. Yes, even I have lost counts of the cavities I have :) So this one is a sure try for me.

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  15. I came to visit your blog. Congratulations.
    I invite you to visit my blog “Processo” too. In it there are good Brazilian music, Brazilian modern dance and more.
    Vasconcellos Rego (http://processoproc.blogspot.com/)

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  16. Ladies, thank you very much for comments and all the appreciation.

    Andy, your comment simply made my day. Your are very generous in your appreciation, thank you very much!

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  17. Lovely combo Aqua and even more beautiful pictures. I have to try this when summer rolls around. Thanks for the link. :)

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  18. What an intriguing and interesting combination! Looks tempting...

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