My first encounter with S'mores flavored ice cream was at Howling Cow here in Raleigh. They call it 4H Campfire Delight, and it's a graham cracker flavored ice cream with marshmallow cream and chocolate chunks swirled through. This was my attempt to make it at home.
S'mores Ice Cream With Real S'mores
We loved the Howling Cow version, but when I got my new ice cream maker I wanted to try a version with a little more charred marshmallow flavor. To do that, I made S'mores in my toaster oven and chopped them up for the ice cream. The broiler in the Breville toaster oven works perfectly for S'mores, but you could make them in any oven with any broiler. If you don't want char, you can just lay them on a baking sheet and bake.
Graham Cracker Flavored Honey Vanilla
The ice cream itself has graham cracker flavor from actual graham crackers dissolved in the milk mixture as it cooks. I should mention I also tried it with Golden Grahams cereal infused milk, but that was overkill and tasted too much like Golden Grahams. The graham crackers did the job. They dissolve, but leave little flecks of graham crackers throughout. I also used some honey for honey-graham flavor. The honey also helps give the ice cream a smooth texture.
Here's the recipe. Even if you don't make the ice cream exactly as I did, you may want to try making toaster S'mores, chopping them up and stirring them into vanilla or honey vanilla ice cream.
Howling Cow
Now back to that Howling Cow. If you are ever in Raleigh or just passing through and need some ice cream, stop for a visit! Howling Cow is made and served in a building on NC State University's dairy farm so you can sit on the porch and watch the cows while you eat ice cream. The ice cream is literally "farm fresh" and they make it in fun flavors that represent North Carolina agriculture.
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Recipe
S'mores Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 squares graham crackers (30 grams)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ⅓ cup sugar (65 grams)
- 1/16 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey (30 grams)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
Broiler S'mores
- 6 square graham crackers
- 6 pieces milk chocolate
- 6 large marshmallow halves
Instructions
- Whisk the egg yolks in a medium size bowl and set next to the stove.
- Combine the graham crackers, cream, milk, sugar and salt in a saucepan and heat just until it starts to steam.
- Gradually whisk about half of the hot cream mixture (leave any broken up graham crackers behind in the saucepan) into the egg yolks to temper, then pour it all back into the saucepan. Whisk over medium-low heat allowing the graham crackers to break up and dissolve. Whisk for 3-4 minutes or until mixture is about 175 degrees F. and thickens just slightly.
- Remove from heat and pour into a clean bowl. Set the bowl in an ice bath and whisk until it's cooler, then whisk in the vanilla and honey. If you have more time, you can skip the ice bath, let cool slightly, add vanilla and honey and refrigerate until very cold.
- Cover with plastic wrap (doesn't have to be pressed against the surface ) and chill the milk mixture until very cold.
- Pour into your ice cream maker and churn as the manufacturer directs.
Broiler S'mores
- Set six graham cracker squares on a broiler pan. Top each with a piece or two of milk chocolate and large marshmallows that have been cut in half. Broil just until the marshmallows start to brown. Let cool, then chop and add to the ice cream as you pack it. Alternatively, you can freeze them and then chop.
- As you chop the S'mores, you'll create more graham cracker crumbs. Add the crumbs to the ice cream as well.
Darlene says
Thanks, Anna!
Anna says
We have the large one and love it, but it requires dedicated counter space. If you aren't in need of the convection and air frying settings and don't mind using smaller pans, go with the mini!
Darlene says
This recipe sounds incredibly delicious! Turkey Hill Graham Slam is one of my favorite flavors, so I think I'd really enjoy this. I'll have to wait to try it since I gave up ice cream and all types of chips for Lent. (Btw, I need to buy a new toaster oven. Do you have the Breville Smart Oven or the Breville Mini Smart Oven? I dislike keeping it out on the counter, so I thought the Mini might be the best option for us.)
Todd says
This was delicious! 🙂