APPLE BUTTER ICE CREAM

MAKES ABOUT 1 QUART

ALTHOUGH apple butter can be found wherever you buy jam and
jelly, look for unsweetened and unspiced apple butter. 

1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 cups light cream
1½ cups unsweetened, unspiced apple butter
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium mixing bowl, beat the sugar into the eggs and egg yolks until
thickened and pale yellow. Beat in the flour. Set aside.

Bring the light cream to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Slowly
beat the hot cream into the eggs and sugar. Pour the entire mixture back
into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden
spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture
boil or the eggs will scramble. Remove from the heat and whisk in the apple
butter and cinnamon. Pour the hot apple butter custard through a strainer
into a large, clean bowl. Stir in the vanilla. Cool to room temperature, then
cover and refrigerate until cold or overnight.

Stir the chilled custard, then freeze in 1 or 2 batches in your ice cream machine
according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When finished, the ice
cream will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a
freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours.
Serving Tip: Hollow out an apple and fill with apple butter ice cream.
Serve on a small dessert plate dusted with ground cinnamon.

Variations

APPLE BROWN BETTY ICE CREAM Substitute ½ cup dark brown sugar
for ½ cup of the granulated sugar. Add ½ cup crumbled ginger snaps to
the machine when the ice cream
is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix in the cookies. Proceed with the
recipe as directed.

APPLE CHEDDAR ICE CREAM Add ½ cup finely grated sharp Cheddar
cheese to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine
to mix in the cheese. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

APPLE CHERRY SWIRL ICE CREAM Swirl ½ cup canned cherry pie filling
into the finished ice cream. Take care not to overswirl or the filling will
“melt” into the ice cream. Streaks of cherry sauce should be visible. Serve
immediately or freeze until firm.

APPLE CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE ICE CREAM Add ¼ cup chocolate
chips and ½ cup crumbled coffee cake to the machine when the ice cream
is semifrozen. Allow the machine to mix in the additional ingredients.
Proceed with the recipe as directed.

APPLE PIE ICE CREAM Add ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg and 1/8 teaspoon
ground mace to the custard along with the vanilla. If desired, add ½ cup
crumbled baked pie crust to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen.
Allow the machine to mix in the crust. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

APPLE RAISIN WALNUT ICE CREAM Add ¼ cup raisins and ¼ cup
walnuts to the machine when the ice cream is semifrozen. Allow the machine
to mix in the additional ingredients. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

APPLE THYME ICE CREAM Omit the cinnamon and add 1 tablespoon
chopped fresh thyme to the custard along with the vanilla. Proceed with
the recipe as directed.