Description
Salt and caramel ice cream is the perfect balance of buttery sweetness and savory sea salt. This homemade recipe includes a rich caramel sauce blended into a creamy custard base, then churned into a silky-smooth frozen dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
FOR THE CARAMEL:
- 1⅓ cups (265 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, slightly warm
- 1 tbsp (15 g) butter
- 2 tsp (10 ml) fleur de sel sea salt
FOR THE ICE CREAM BASE:
- 6 large egg yolks
- 2 tbsp (13 g) cornstarch
- 2 cups (480 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
- 2 tbsp (25 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp (5 ml) fleur de sel sea salt
Instructions
- In a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the sugar without stirring until it turns a deep amber color. Swirl gently to help it melt evenly.
- Reduce heat to low and carefully whisk in the warm heavy cream. It will bubble rapidly—keep whisking until smooth.
- Add butter and fleur de sel. Stir until fully incorporated. Transfer to a heat-safe bowl to cool.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks with cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.
- In another saucepan, heat cream, milk, and sugar just until sugar dissolves.
- Temper the egg yolks by slowly whisking in some of the warm cream mixture. Gradually combine both mixtures.
- Return to heat and stir constantly until thickened and it coats the back of a spoon (165°F).
- Strain through a fine sieve into a clean bowl. Stir in the cooled caramel sauce.
- Chill the custard in the fridge for 2–4 hours or overnight for best texture.
- Churn in an ice cream maker until soft-serve consistency. Freeze 4+ hours until firm.
- Serve with pretzels, honey drizzle, or cookies for an upscale finish.
Notes
If using kosher salt instead of fleur de sel, start with ¼ tsp and adjust to taste.
Chill your base overnight for maximum flavor infusion.
Use a light-colored pan so you can see the caramel change color.
Pre-scoop into ramekins and freeze for easy dinner party serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Churned
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup
- Calories: 94
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 675mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 155mg