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

(adapted from Desi Soccer Mom and The Italian Chef)

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.