How to Make the Perfect Salted Caramel Ice Cream
American · Easy · 265 min · 8 servings
This salted caramel ice cream is a rich and indulgent kid friendly frozen treat with ribbons of buttery homemade caramel swirled through creamy vanilla ice cream and finished with a sprinkle of flaky salt. Kids and adults alike are completely obsessed with the perfect balance of sweet and salty in every single scoop.
Why this recipe works
This Salted Caramel Ice Cream recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 265 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 380 calories with 3g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tbsp salted butter cubed
- 0.5 cup heavy cream divided
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14oz
- 1 tsp flaky sea salt
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Make the Caramel
Heat the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, swirling occasionally but not stirring, until it melts and turns a deep amber color. Carefully add the butter and stir until melted, then pour in half cup of heavy cream slowly while stirring. Add half the sea salt, stir, and let cool completely.
Step 2: Whip the Cream
Beat the remaining 2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream in a large chilled bowl until stiff peaks form, about 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure your bowl and beaters are very cold for the best whipping results.
Step 3: Fold Together
Gently fold the sweetened condensed milk into the whipped cream until just combined. Pour half of the mixture into a loaf pan, drizzle half the cooled caramel sauce over the top, and use a knife to swirl it in.
Step 4: Swirl and Freeze
Pour the remaining ice cream mixture over the top and drizzle the rest of the caramel on top swirling again with a knife. Sprinkle with the remaining sea salt, cover tightly, and freeze for at least 4 hours until completely firm.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- salted butter → unsalted butter plus an extra pinch of salt if salted butter is unavailable
- flaky sea salt → fine kosher salt used in slightly smaller amounts works well as a substitute
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Stirring the sugar while it melts instead of swirling the pan which causes the caramel to crystallize and turn grainy
- Adding the butter and cream to hot caramel too quickly which causes dangerous splattering and a seized sauce
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 380 calories, 3g protein, 38g carbs, 25g fat, 0g fiber.
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