If your idea of a little afternoon happiness involves a cup of Earl Grey, this homemade ice cream deserves a place on your summer baking list.
Earl Grey tea ice cream brings that familiar tea flavor into a cold, creamy dessert. It’s a lovely change from vanilla, especially when you want something a little different without turning dessert into an elaborate project.
I rather like the idea of serving it in small teacups. The good china gets an outing, everyone gets dessert, and nobody needs to find matching bowls.
An Earl Grey Ice Cream Recipe to Try
This recipe comes from Holly at Holly’s Cheat Day. Her version combines Earl Grey-infused whole milk with heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk and a little salt, then uses an ice cream maker to churn the mixture.
She finishes it with crushed Biscoff cookies for a little crunch.
You’ll find the quantities and complete method in Holly’s Earl Grey tea ice cream recipe.
You will need an ice cream maker for this version. Although it contains condensed milk, it isn’t a no-churn recipe.
Before You Get Started
Read your machine’s instructions before preparing the mixture. Some ice cream makers require their freezer bowl to be frozen well ahead of time, which is an inconvenient thing to discover when you’re already imagining your first scoop.
Check the machine’s batch capacity, too. Leave the space required by the manufacturer rather than filling the bowl to the brim.
For the tea infusion, keep the milk refrigerated while it steeps. Allow time for the finished ice cream to firm up in the freezer after churning.
Tips for Making Tea-Flavored Ice Cream
Choose a tea you enjoy drinking
Different Earl Grey blends have different strengths. Start with one whose flavor you already like, rather than buying something unfamiliar just for the recipe.
Keep the mixture cold
Follow your ice cream maker’s guidance for chilling the base. A properly chilled mixture gives the machine a better starting point than ingredients that have been sitting in a warm kitchen.
Follow the recipe before experimenting
It’s tempting to reduce the cream or condensed milk, but those ingredients contribute to more than flavor. Changing them can affect sweetness, richness and how firmly the dessert freezes.
Make the original version first so you have something to compare your variations with.
Add crunchy toppings when serving
Keep biscuit crumbs separate until you’re ready to eat. That way, you get a contrast between the creamy scoop and the crunchy topping.
A fine-mesh strainer and a freezer-safe container with a secure lid are useful additions to your ice cream supplies. Amazon can be handy for these basics, but check sizes against the equipment you already own.
How to Serve Earl Grey Ice Cream
Try a small scoop in a teacup with a biscuit on the saucer for an afternoon-tea dessert.
For something simpler, serve it in little bowls with shortbread alongside. A modest portion also makes a lovely finish to a meal when a large slice of cake feels like too much.
If you’re putting together a homemade frozen-treat menu, our two-ingredient cherry cream popsicles offer another idea without an ice cream maker.
Can You Make This Recipe Without a Machine?
This particular recipe is written for churning. Simply pouring the mixture into a container and freezing it won’t necessarily produce the same texture.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, choose a recipe specifically developed for a no-churn method rather than assuming the two techniques are interchangeable.
Storing Homemade Ice Cream
Transfer the finished ice cream to a suitable freezer-safe container and keep it tightly covered. Label it with the flavor and date, especially if your freezer contains several mystery tubs.
Let it soften briefly before scooping if it’s very firm, then return the container to the freezer promptly.
There’s something rather charming about taking a familiar teatime flavor and serving it by the scoop. Add a biscuit, bring out a favorite cup, and you have a small dessert that feels like an occasion.
