Honey has many health benefits, and experts advise us to consume it daily due to its vast health benefits. Besides being the best natural sweetener, honey can benefit you in many ways, including being an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. If you’re looking for a new and creative way to enjoy your at-home honey consumption, look no further. How do you make honey bee ice cream?
You can make your own honey bee ice cream at home using the raw honey from your hives. Honey bee ice cream can also be made by using honeycomb. Depending on which method you use to make honey bee ice cream, times will differ, the equipment needed, as well as some crucial steps.
Honey bee ice cream is a refreshing and creative way to ensure you consume enough honey to stay healthy and indulge in occasional sweetness while reaping the benefits. Stay tuned as I go through three different honey bee ice cream methods!
How To Make Honey Bee Ice Cream Using Raw Honey
Using raw honey to make ice cream is the quickest and easiest way to make honey bee ice cream, and it only takes two to three hours, along with a few steps.
You will need the following:
- 1 cup of raw honey
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup of castor sugar
- Two tablespoons of vanilla essence
- An electric mixer or whisk
- A strainer
- A freezer
- Extras such as nuts or berries (If you prefer)
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Combine Honey And Cream Over Medium Heat
Place your honey and cream in a suitable-sized pot or saucepan, and place the heat on medium. Stir the mixture occasionally for about four to five minutes.
Turn the heat off when your mixture starts to simmer. Place your saucepan aside and continue with the next step.
Step 2: Mix Castor Sugar, Egg Yolks, And Vanilla Essence
Take your electric mixer or hand whisk to beat the castor sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla essence in a separate bowl.
Beat the mixture for about five to six minutes or until it becomes an even, thick, creamy texture. Gradually add your cream mixture from the saucepan until it’s thoroughly combined.
If the mixture has cooled down completely, you may heat it until it simmers before combining it with your mixture for the best results.
Step 3: Strain The Mixture
Strain the entire mixture into a clean and dry saucepan and place it on your stovetop. Heat it again, occasionally stirring for about ten to fifteen minutes. Never heat the mixture until boiling, as a simmering heat would be best.
Now would also be the ideal time to add any extras you would prefer in your honey bee ice cream, such as fresh or dried fruit, berries, or nuts.
Step 4: Pour Heated Mixture Into A Suitable-Sized Cake Pan
While your mixture is heated, pour it into a shallow cake pan. It doesn’t have to be any shape or size, but just shallow enough to cover the pan until it’s about halfway. Make sure the mixture evenly coats your cake pan.
Step 5: Cover, Freeze, And Serve!
Cover the cake pan containing the mixture completely with aluminum foil or clingwrap, and place it in your freezer.
Depending on how thick you like your ice cream, you’ll need to freeze the mixture for three to six hours before serving!
How To Make Honey Bee Ice Cream Using Honeycomb
If you’re a beekeeper like me, you probably love the honeycomb your little bees provide you with. Well, you’re not alone, so I added another variation of honey ice cream you might enjoy: Honeycomb ice cream! You’ll love this one if you like bits and pieces in your ice cream!
You will need the following:
- 1 cup cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup castor sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla essence
- 3 egg yolks (medium or large)
- ½ fresh honeycomb
- A rolling pin
- A hand or electrical whisk
- Your freezer
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Freeze The Honeycomb
If you’ve ever worked with honeycomb, you already know how sticky things can get! For this reason, it’s imperative that you freeze the amount of honeycomb you’ll need for your ice cream.
Although you’ll only need about ½ a cup of honeycomb, you can freeze more or less, depending on how sweet and chunky you want your ice cream to be.
Step 2: Crush The Honeycomb
Depending on how chunky you prefer your ice cream, crush the frozen honeycomb using a rolling pin. Be careful not to crush the honeycomb too much, as you still want some chunks in your ice cream at the end!
Step 3: Heat Cream And Milk Over High Heat
Similar to the steps in making your ice cream from raw honey, you’ll need to combine your cream and milk in a saucepan.
Keep it on high heat, occasionally stirring until the mixture is just below boiling point. Once this has been done, turn off the heat and set it aside.
Step 4: Mix Vanilla, Yolks, And Sugar And Add To Heated Mix
Mix your vanilla, egg yolks, and castor sugar in a separate mixing bowl using either a hand or an electrical whisk.
When all these ingredients are properly mixed, you can add your heated mixture to it and whisk thoroughly until everything is combined.
Step 5: Heat The Entire Mixture Again
Get your saucepan out again and pour your entire mixture back in. Cook it over very low heat, constantly stirring to allow the mixture to thicken.
Once the mixture has thickened just enough to coat the back of your spoon evenly, this indicates that you can take it off the heat and allow it to cool for about half an hour.
Step 6: Fold The Honeycomb Chunks Through The Cooled Mixture
Once the mixture is at least room temperature, you can pour it into a suitable-sized cake pan and work the crushed pieces of honeycomb in through the entire mixture.
Try to spread every chunk of honeycomb evenly so you’ll get multiple pieces of honeycomb with each scoop!
Step 7: Freeze And Enjoy!
Once you are happy with how you worked the honeycomb pieces through your mixture, you are all set to place the cake pan in your freezer. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t over-freeze your honeycomb texture but only freeze it until it becomes solid.
Conclusion
Honey bee ice cream is not only a creative way to put your hard bees’ work to good use but also delicious! I highly recommend trying one or both of these recipes, and let me know what you think!
