Indulge in Homemade Cinnamon Ice Cream: The Ultimate Fall & Holiday Dessert Recipe

As the crisp air of autumn settles in and the vibrant hues of fall foliage paint the landscape, our thoughts naturally turn to comforting, spiced treats. Visions of warm apple pie, pumpkin spice lattes, and hearty holiday meals begin to dance in our heads. This season calls for something truly special, something that perfectly captures the essence of fall and winter festivities. Enter this exquisite homemade cinnamon ice cream – a delightful dessert that promises to elevate any autumn or holiday spread. It’s not just an ice cream; it’s a creamy, spicy embrace that marries beautifully with classic fall desserts, offering a warm and inviting contrast.

My journey to discovering this sweet and spicy masterpiece led me to the renowned David Lebovitz, a true connoisseur of frozen delights. I stumbled upon this irresistible cinnamon-infused ice cream recipe in his celebrated book, The Perfect Scoop. Lebovitz’s expertise shines through in every detail, crafting an ice cream with just the right amount of warm fall spice that’s both comforting and invigorating. It’s an absolute revelation, especially when paired with a warm slice of apple pie, or in my personal favorite tradition, a tender piece of Milopita, a traditional Greek Apple Pastry. The cool, spicy creaminess of the ice cream provides a stunning counterpoint to the soft, fruity warmth of the pastry, creating a dessert experience that is truly unforgettable.

This remarkable dessert is destined to become a staple in your holiday repertoire. I can already envision making batch after batch during the festive seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Imagine the delight of your holiday guests as they savor this unique and flavorful treat, a testament to the comforting power of homemade indulgences. It’s more than just a dessert; it’s an experience, a memory in the making that perfectly encapsulates the joy and warmth of gatherings with loved ones.

The Secret to Unforgettable Cinnamon Flavor: Infusion Perfection

The profound and authentic cinnamon flavor in this homemade ice cream isn’t achieved through simple ground spices. Instead, the real secret lies in a meticulous steeping process that unlocks the full aromatic potential of this beloved spice. A generous ten sticks of cinnamon are gently warmed in a luscious base of whole milk and heavy cream. This aromatic mixture is then left to steep for a full hour, allowing the cinnamon’s essential oils and complex flavors to slowly, yet thoroughly, infuse into the dairy. This extended steeping time is crucial; it extracts a depth of flavor that is unparalleled, creating a rich and spicy foundation that permeates every spoonful of the finished ice cream. It’s this dedication to flavor extraction that sets this recipe apart, transforming a simple dessert into an extraordinary culinary experience that will delight your palate.

Crafting Your Own Culinary Delight: Why Homemade Ice Cream?

Making ice cream at home is a truly rewarding experience that offers unparalleled control over ingredients and flavor intensity. While store-bought options are convenient, they often lack the depth, creaminess, and fresh taste of a truly homemade batch. This specific cinnamon ice cream recipe, inspired by the master David Lebovitz, is a testament to the superiority of artisanal methods. The commitment to using whole cinnamon sticks for infusion, rather than relying on powdered spice, ensures a vibrant, genuine flavor that sings with warmth and complexity. You’ll notice the difference immediately – a smoother, more luxurious texture, a cleaner taste profile, and an aroma that fills your kitchen with festive cheer. It’s an investment of time that pays off handsomely in every scoop, making it a perfect project for a cozy weekend or a prelude to a holiday feast.

Beyond its incredible taste, crafting this homemade cinnamon ice cream provides a wonderful sense of accomplishment. You get to witness raw, simple ingredients transform into a velvety, luxurious dessert that’s far superior to anything you can buy. This recipe strikes a perfect balance: it’s accessible enough for enthusiastic home cooks, yet it yields a result that tastes professionally made. The subtle hints of sweetness perfectly complement the robust spice of the cinnamon, ensuring that no single flavor overpowers another. It’s an ideal way to impress your family and friends, offering them a unique and memorable treat that they won’t soon forget, and perhaps inspiring them to try their hand at homemade frozen desserts too.

Cinnamon Ice Cream

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Course:
Desserts

Cuisine:
American

Author:

Amanda Davis

Ingredients

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  cup
  whole milk

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¾
  cup
  sugar

• 
  ▢
  
  
  pinch
  of salt

• 
  ▢
  
  
  Ten 3-inch cinnamon sticks
  broken up

• 
  ▢
  
  
  2
  cups
  heavy whipping cream

• 
  ▢
  
  
  5
  large egg yolks

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, gently warm the whole milk, sugar, a pinch of salt, the broken cinnamon sticks, and 1 cup of the heavy cream. Once the mixture is warm (not boiling), remove it from the heat, cover the saucepan, and allow the cinnamon to steep at room temperature for at least 1 hour. This crucial step infuses the dairy with a deep, rich cinnamon flavor.
• After steeping, gently rewarm the cinnamon-infused milk mixture over medium heat. Carefully remove all the cinnamon sticks using a slotted spoon and discard them, ensuring no fragments remain. Pour the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream into a large, clean bowl and place a fine-mesh strainer directly over the bowl. This setup will be ready for the custard.
• In a separate medium bowl, thoroughly whisk the 5 large egg yolks until they are light and slightly thickened. Gradually and slowly pour about one-third of the warm milk mixture into the whisked egg yolks, whisking constantly to temper the eggs and prevent them from scrambling. Once tempered, scrape the warmed egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture.
• Continue to stir the mixture constantly over medium heat using a heatproof spatula, making sure to scrape the bottom of the saucepan to prevent sticking. Cook until the mixture thickens sufficiently to coat the back of the spatula (reaching about 170-175°F or 77-79°C). Immediately remove from heat and pour the hot custard through the prepared mesh strainer into the bowl with the reserved cream. Stir the custard over an ice bath until it is thoroughly cool, which helps stop the cooking process and creates a smooth texture.
• Once completely cooled, chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. A well-chilled base is essential for the best ice cream texture. When ready, freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This will result in a perfectly creamy and spiced cinnamon ice cream.

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The recipes detailed on this blog are meticulously tested using a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop to ensure consistent and reliable results. Please be aware that cooking and baking performance can vary significantly between different types of ovens, especially older models, which may heat inconsistently. For optimal accuracy in your baking and cooking, we highly recommend using an inexpensive oven thermometer. This simple tool can verify that your oven is consistently reaching and maintaining the correct temperature, preventing unexpected results. When using alternative appliances such as toaster ovens or countertop ovens, remember that their heat distribution can differ substantially from full-sized conventional ovens, and you may need to adjust your cooking or baking times accordingly. Furthermore, for recipes that utilize specialized appliances like pressure cookers, air fryers, or slow cookers, specific operational instructions and links to the appliances we use are often provided within each recipe to guide you. Finally, in baking, precision is key. For recipes where measurements are specified by weight, achieving comparable results when substituting cup measurements cannot be guaranteed, and we advise following weight measurements for the best chance of success.

Serving Suggestions and Creative Pairings

This homemade cinnamon ice cream is incredibly versatile, making it the perfect accompaniment to a wide array of desserts and a delightful standalone treat. While it pairs exquisitely with warm apple pie or Greek Milopita, its rich, spiced notes also beautifully complement other fall and winter favorites. Imagine a scoop melting delicately atop a slice of pumpkin pie, enhancing the squash’s earthy sweetness, or beside a warm fruit crumble. It’s also fantastic with a rich chocolate lava cake, where the cool cinnamon cuts through the chocolate’s intensity for a harmonious bite. For a simpler pleasure, serve it alongside a bowl of fresh, seasonal berries, or even with a drizzle of warm caramel sauce or a sprinkle of toasted pecans. Don’t hesitate to get creative – this ice cream is a canvas for your culinary imagination, suitable for any occasion where a touch of spice and sweetness is desired.

Tips for Achieving Perfect Homemade Ice Cream

To ensure your cinnamon ice cream turns out perfectly creamy and delicious, reflecting the quality of David Lebovitz’s original vision, here are a few expert tips to guide you:

• Chill Thoroughly: The custard base must be completely chilled before churning. This means at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, but preferably overnight. A well-chilled base is critical for a smooth, firm texture and prevents an icy, granular consistency. This also allows the flavors to fully meld.
• Quality Ingredients: Always opt for high-quality whole milk and heavy cream. The fat content contributes significantly to the richness, mouthfeel, and luxurious texture of the ice cream. Fresh, large egg yolks are also essential for creating a stable and creamy custard base.
• Temper Eggs Carefully: When adding the warm milk mixture to the egg yolks, do so slowly and whisk constantly. This process, known as tempering, gradually raises the temperature of the eggs without scrambling them, ensuring a smooth custard.
• Don’t Overcook the Custard: Cook the custard until it thickens just enough to coat the back of a spoon, reaching an ideal temperature of about 170-175°F (77-79°C). Overcooking can lead to scrambled eggs or a grainy texture, compromising the final product.
• Ice Bath is Key: Cooling the custard quickly over an ice bath immediately after cooking halts the cooking process, preventing further thickening and ensuring a smooth, glossy finish. This step is vital for the custard’s integrity.
• Follow Ice Cream Maker Instructions: Every ice cream maker is different. Always adhere to your machine’s specific instructions for churning times and capacity to achieve the best results and a perfectly frozen consistency.
• Proper Storage: Once churned, transfer the soft ice cream to an airtight container. For best results, press a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the ice cream before sealing the container. This prevents the formation of pesky ice crystals and freezer burn, keeping your homemade ice cream fresh and wonderfully creamy for up to two weeks.

Variations to Explore

While this classic cinnamon ice cream is divine on its own, you can easily adapt it to create new and exciting flavors and textures:

• Spiced Apple Swirl: After churning, gently fold in a homemade or high-quality store-bought apple pie filling, creating a delightful textural contrast and an extra layer of quintessential fall flavor.
• Chai Spice Infusion: For a more complex spice profile, add a couple of crushed cardamom pods, a few whole cloves, and a star anise to the milk mixture along with the cinnamon sticks during the initial steeping process. Strain them out with the cinnamon.
• Caramel or Toffee Swirl: Swirl in a rich caramel sauce, butterscotch, or even melted toffee bits during the last few minutes of churning, or simply drizzle generously over individual servings before serving.
• Nutty Crunch: For added texture and a complementary flavor, fold in candied pecans, toasted walnuts, or even crumbled shortbread cookies after the ice cream has finished churning.
• Chocolate Chip Delight: For those who love a classic combination, fold in mini chocolate chips or finely chopped dark chocolate after churning, creating a delightful contrast with the warm cinnamon.

No matter how you choose to enjoy it, this homemade cinnamon ice cream recipe is a true delight, promising warmth, comfort, and an explosion of flavor in every spoonful. It’s a versatile dessert that will quickly become a cherished favorite in your home, making every season feel a little more special and every gathering a little sweeter.