When Pete was a child, his favorite ice cream was Baskin-Robbins’s Jamocha Almond Fudge, and while reminiscing one summer afternoon, we thought it might be a fun recipe to re-create in the Van Leeuwen kitchen. Mocha ice cream is essentially a cross between chocolate and coffee, combining the best of both. A swirl of Hot Fudge Sauce and some sliced almonds give this ice cream incredible richness and texture.
MAKES ABOUT 1 QUART
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
20 grams unsweetened chocolate (99% cacao), preferably Michel Cluizel (see Sources)
¼ cup (20 grams) freeze-dried coffee
¼ cup (25 grams) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon (2 grams) kosher salt
6 large egg yolks
¼ cup (32 grams) slivered almonds
¼ cup Hot Fudge Sauce, plus more to taste
1. Pour the cream and milk into a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water). Whisk in ½ cup (100 grams) of the sugar, the chocolate, coffee, cocoa powder, and salt and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Warm the mixture until you see steam rising from the top.
2. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl and set another bowl over it. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, with a kitchen towel underneath it to prevent slipping, whisk together the egg yolks with the remaining ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar until uniform. While whisking, add a splash of the hot dairy mixture to the yolks. Continue to add the dairy mixture, whisking it in bit by bit, until you’ve added about half. Add the yolk mixture to the remaining dairy mixture in the double boiler. Set the heat under the double boiler to medium and cook the custard, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon and reducing the heat to medium-low as necessary, until steam begins to rise from the surface and the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon. Hold the spoon horizontally and run your finger through the custard. If the trail left by your finger stays separated, the custard is ready to be cooled.
4. Strain the custard into the bowl sitting over the prepared ice bath and stir for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the custard has cooled. Transfer the custard to a quart-size container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or, preferably, overnight.
5. Pour the chilled custard into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the container in which you refrigerated the custard in the freezer so you can use it to store the finished ice cream. Churn the ice cream until the texture resembles “soft serve.” Using a spatula, fold in the almonds and chocolate fudge. Transfer the ice cream to the chilled storage container and freeze until hardened to your desired consistency. Alternatively, you can serve it immediately—it will be the consistency of gelato. The ice cream will keep, frozen, for up to 7 days.