Before I get to my live demo announcement, I need to tell you about this ice cream. The combination of pumpkin and Chinese five-spice is pure perfection. A mixture of star anise, clove, cinnamon, fennel and Sichuan pepper, Chinese five-spice is similar to pumpkin pie spice with the volume turned up. This ice cream recipe is made with roasted pumpkin puree, Chinese five-spice powder, cream cheese, honey and brown sugar. With one bite, you’ll immediately recognize the anise, clove and cinnamon, flavors typically associated with pumpkin. As you finish the bite, the fennel and Sichuan pepper will provide some heat and depth of flavor. Seriously addicting.
I should also mention that this is not one of my typical ice cream recipes. Normally I make ice cream in the French fashion preparing an egg custard base. This recipe doesn’t have any eggs. Instead the base is thickened and stabilized with cornstarch and corn syrup. Continue reading for the recipe and info on my live demonstration.
On Thursday, December 8 at 6:00pm, I will be doing another live cooking demonstration at the San Diego west elm! The theme of this demonstration will be Holiday Entertaining. west elm’s design specialists will be giving tips on setting the perfect table and I will be demoing some scrumptious dishes to serve up at your next Holiday party. And yes… there will be plenty of food to enjoy throughout the evening.
If you live in the San Diego area, I seriously hope that you can come to this event. My last demo was super fun and super delish. Also, the new west elm Holiday collection is amazing. Over the past year, west elm has been focused on releasing more kitchen, dining and entertaining product. Some of the pieces are totes adorebotz 2012 (aka totally adorable).
Even though the store will be open to the public that evening, this free event does require an RSVP. I am collecting RSVPs on Facebook here. If you can’t RSVP on Facebook, please send me an email at brandon [at] kitchenkonfidence [dot] com. See you there!
Roasted Pumpkin Five-Spice Ice Cream and A Live Demo
Ingredients
- 1 small pie pumpkin (about 2 pounds or 3/4 cup pumpkin puree)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
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Cut the pie pumpkin in half and scoop out the guts (seeds and strands). Place the pumpkin cut side down on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 35 - 40 minutes. You will know the pumpkin is ready when an inserted knife meets no resistance. Let cool.
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Scoop the flesh from the skin and place in a food processor or blender. Discard skin. Puree the flesh until completely smooth. Measure out 3/4 cup pumpkin puree and set aside. You can use the remaining puree in other dessert or cocktail recipes (or to make pumpkin spice lattes!).
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In a small bowl, add 2 tablespoons whole milk and cornstarch, stirring to combine. Set aside.
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Add softened cream cheese and fine grain sea salt to a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the 3/4 cup pumpkin puree and honey, whisking until smooth. Set aside.
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Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl (cold water and ice).
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In a medium saucepan, combine remaining whole milk, heavy cream, light brown sugar, corn syrup and Chinese five-spice, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat and let bubble for 4 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and gradually whisk in the milk-cornstarch mixture.
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Bring the mixture back to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently. Cook until slightly thickened (about 1 minute). Remove from the heat.
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Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the cream cheese-pumpkin mixture, whisking until smooth. Float the bowl containing the ice cream base in the prepared ice bath and chill until cold (about 30 minutes). Stirring the mixture occasionally can speed this process up.
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Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled (at least 4 hours). Freeze ice cream base in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Finish by freezing the ice cream until hard or enjoy soft immediately.
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Ann P says
Chinese 5 spice with the pumpkin–that’s amazing! This reminds me of the novel flavors I used to eat at this ice cream shop (Ici) in my college town. I’d love to make a batch of this, but alas, have not an ice cream maker! Maybe I’ll bring some ingredients to my bf’s place and use his mom’s 🙂 BTW–excited about the demo! I will try to make it out, and maybe get some holiday shopping in, too!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Ann! Definitely try making this with your bf’s mom’s ice cream machine. It’s a treat.
You should totally come to the event! It’s going to be fun.
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi) says
Very lovely combo. I love chinese five spice and can only imagine this is perfect!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
This sounds so intriguing!
Thanks for thinking of me with the FB event invite. I am leaving for a trip tomorrow and will be out of town (and I was gone for your last West Elm event too)…but otherwise would have loved to go. Next one!!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Averie! Hopefully our schedules will align for the next event.
Kimberly (unrivaledkitch) says
Pumpkin and five spice is just a heavenly combination. Good luck with your demo! cheers
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Kimberly 🙂
Eve says
This looks and sounds delicious! I’ll definitely have to try it. By the way, I hope you don’t mind, but I added a link back to this awesome recipe on my blog linky. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Brandon Matzek says
I don’t mind at all. Thanks Eve!
Gerry @Foodness Gracious says
Amazing flavor profile! Five spice is one of my all time favs, I wish I could get to the demo, sounds like a great time,
Take care..
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Gerry! What’s your favorite way to use five spice?
Dina says
this sounds intriguing!
Eliot says
I have to try this with my leftover Halloween pumpkins.
[email protected] says
Such a wonderful combination of flavors and I bet that ice cream is to die for!!! Congrats on the West Elm demo – wish I lived closer because I’d be there in a heartbeat – I know you will do great!!
Crystal Lynn says
I made this the other day with half and half instead of milk, and decided to use up the 4 oz brick of cream cheese I had leftover from something else. This ice cream is so creamy! The five-spice really adds an interesting flavor profile to the pumpkin, my whole family loves it. I don’t imagine it lasting very long 😉 Thanks for the recipe idea!
Savannah says
The cream cheese and the Sichuan pepper won me over on this. I tend to get stuck in certain flavor profile ruts, and I’m excited to be trying something so new to me.
Russell at Chasing Delicious says
This ice cream sounds incredible! I don’t care that its the middle of winter; I am definitely trying this one soon.