This drunken cherry ice cream recipe is made with Grand Marnier orange liquor. It’s a crowd pleaser!
I’m probably pushing my luck here but I decided to squeeze in one final ice cream recipe this season! And one with cherries, no less. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
This drunken cherry ice cream made with Grand Marnier exceeded all of my expectations when I prepared it a few weeks ago. I served it at a food blogger potluck and everyone seemed to enjoy it!
I feel like that’s the ultimate seal of approval.Â
I wanted this recipe to be slightly richer than my typical ice cream so instead of using 50% heavy cream and 50% whole milk I used 50% heavy cream and 50% half and half.
You can taste the difference in every spoonful. It’s silky smooth without being over-the-top heavy.
I decided to puree the cherries completely for a smooth ice cream but if you prefer some texture don’t blend them quite so long. Simply process the mixture briefly and enjoy little bites of liquor soaked cherries.
Drunken Cherry Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 pound cherries, pitted (frozen cherries may be substituted)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier, divided
- 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
- 6 large egg yolks
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place cherries in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup Grand Marnier + 2 tablespoons sugar. Stir, cover, and chill for at least 30 minutes, stirring periodically.
- Pour the cherries and all the liquid into a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook the cherries, stirring frequently, until they're very soft and the liquid has reduced and thickened, approximately 15 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool briefly and then puree in a blender. For some texture in the ice cream, don't puree the cherries completely.
- Heat the cream, half & half, and vanilla in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar. When the cream begins to simmer, turn the heat to low and ladle half of it into the egg mixture while whisking. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan, using a spatula to get everything out of the bowl. Using a heatproof spatula or wooden spoon, stir the custard over low heat until it thickens up a bit and coats the back of spatula. Stir in the cherry mixture.
- Allow the mixture to cool for several minutes, stirring periodically. Take a small taste and if you feel that it needs more Grand Marnier flavor, stir in an additional 1-2 tablespoons. Pour the liquid into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic directly against the liquid to prevent a skin from forming. Chill until very cold, preferably overnight.
- Prepare the ice cream in a machine according to manufacturer's instructions.
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
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Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
Beautiful cherry ice cream, girl! I love adding Grand Marnier to berries and cherries. Thanks for this last bit of summer! Pinned!
Tieghan says
So gorgeous! I love your light in these photos!! Just stunning!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
This is an ice cream super model….crazy good shot!
Shanna@ pineapple and coconut says
Stunning!! I am adding this recipe to my list to make. I am all about making homemade ice cream and with boozy cherries sign me up!
Zainab @ Blahnik Baker says
These images are stunning!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
So pretty, I love that you added Grand Marnier!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
So happy to see one more ice cream from you, and this is just a lovely flavor! Your photo is gorgeous – that ice cream is waiting for me to eat! :)
Preeti Tamilarasan says
fabulous shot :)
Archana @ feedingthefoodie says
so glad you are still making ice cream – and drunken at that! Lets all hold on to summer – we had a 90 degree day in NYC yesterday, so who says summer is over.
The ice cream looks so yummy and your pics are lovely!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
It’s never too late to post an ice cream recipe, especially one that sounds this amazing. YUM x 1000.
Sophia @ NYFoodgasm says
Ohhhhh yeah this sounds AMAZING! The photos simply ROCK! Love your style so sensual!
Ruthy @ Omeletta says
Your photos looks gorgeous today!! I love the simplicity of metal on metal. Heading on over to Safest Choice Eggs as we speak!
Susan says
This ice cream sounds absolutely delicious. One thing I like about it, beyond the flavors, is that it has very little sugar in it. I get really tired overly sweet desserts. It looks like this recipe has enough flavor from other sources that it doesn’t need a lot of sugar.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
Gorgeous photos, Jen! And this ice cream – way to end the summer!
Kristina @ Love & Zest says
these images are stunning. I love the contrast of the purple on the moody background! looks so creamy.