Pure vanilla is one of the best flavors around, but adding a little honey makes a good thing better. Case in point, this honey vanilla ice cream. Not only does the honey add a hint of flavor, it enhances the ice cream's texture.
Honey Improves Ice Cream's Texture
Unlike some homemade ice creams that are great on day 1 but rock hard and need to soften a bit before serving on day 2, this honey vanilla ice cream is always easy to scoop. The honey provides two benefits: it adds flavor and enhances texture. My only complaint towards this recipe, an old one from Southern Living, is it makes too much for a small family. I quartered it and made a little less than a quart. If you have a modern ice cream maker and make the full batch, you might want to make all the custard and just process half at a time.
Recipe

Honey Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 5 large or 4 jumbo eggs 250 grams total**
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups whole milk
- 5 cups half & half
- 1 tablespoon good vanilla extract
- ½ cup honey
Instructions
- Whisk the eggs in a bowl and set aside.
- In another bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt.
- In a heavy 3 quart saucepan, heat the milk over medium low and gradually add sugar mixture, stirring constantly for about 8 minutes or until it thickens to the consistency of thin gravy. It will not be as thick as pudding or cream gravy at this point, but it will be slightly thicker and smoother than when you began.
- Whisk about a fourth of the milk mixture into the eggs, then pour the egg/milk mixture back into the saucepan and continue stirring for about 2 minutes or until eggs are fully incorporated and mixture is slightly thicker. If you have any lumps (such as bits of eggs), pour through a sieve. If no lumps, pour directly into a bowl. Let cool slightly at room temperature than chill for several hours.
- Add the half & half and the vanilla to the custard mixture and freeze in batches per your ice cream machine’s directions. Towards the end of the cycle, pour in the honey (if making in batches, use a fraction of the honey for each batch) and let the machine mix it a bit, then remove the dasher and stir mixture until honey is fully blended.
- Pour the ice cream into containers and freeze until firm enough to scoop.
Darlene
Sounds delicious as is, but I bet it would be fantastic in Baklava Ice Cream. Maybe, mixed or topped with cinnamon and sugar crusted-phyllo dough and chopped walnuts. I know I'm going to be dreaming about this ice cream tonight!