Altogether creamy, icy and crunchy in the same mouthful, this no-churn maple rhubarb and almond ice cream is one sophisticated yet easy dessert and quite possibly my favourite ice cream creation yet.
Rhubarb is something I developed a taste for as I got older. When cooked with a little sugar, it is both sweet and tart which is likely why it appeals to someone with a little more age. I believe once one has gotten over the desire for saccharin overload one can appreciate the subtleties of sweet and tart.
The gloriously blushed rhubarb (pictured below) which inspired this recipe was given to me by wonderful new friends. After visiting friends for the weekend in Jamberoo NSW, they introduced us to the gorgeous Tass and Vern from Jamberoo Valley Farm and we were sent home car laden with fresh produce cut from the garden.
I highly recommend a visit to Jamberoo Valley Farm if you are in the area or even if you aren’t in the area you can stay on the farm for a weekend away if you so desire. Stay tuned because my new friend Tass and I are about to start cooking up some fun activities together!
When looking at this bunch of rhubarb on my kitchen bench my mind instantly wandered to a roasted crumble. With it being summer in Sydney however, I needed to think beyond wintery comfort. I instead decided upon roasting the rhubarb and using it as the base flavour for an ice cream.
While I do have an ice cream machine, I rarely use it. Largely because when I feel like making ice cream I can’t be bothered making a custard and freezing the churn bowl. As a result, for the last few years I’ve adopted the no-churn method which uses condensed milk and thickened cream as the base and doesn’t require churning.
It’s no secret that maple syrup pairs beautifully with rhubarb, so by roasting the rhubarb with maple syrup and then puréeing it and combining it with toasted almonds this ice cream flavour was born. The rhubarb is added to the ice cream in dollops as it is layered into the dish, swirled slightly with a flourish. This results in icy swirls of rhubarb puree amidst the creamy ice cream which is dotted with toasted almond slivers.
No-churn Maple Roasted Rhubarb and Almond Ice Cream
Ingredients
Maple Roasted Rhubarb
- 500g rhubarb, ends trimmed
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 50g caster sugar
Ice Cream
- 395g can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups thickened cream
- 100g slivered almonds, toasted
Directions
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
Cut the rhubarb up into finger sized pieces and place in a bowl with the sugar and maple syrup, tossing well to combine. Place the rhubarb in an even layer on a paper lined baking pan and bake for 20 minutes until softened. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and blend until pureed. Set aside.
Whip thickened cream in a bowl until firm peaks form, then stir in 3 tablespoons of the condensed milk and stir till combined. Add the remaining condensed milk and slivered almonds and fold into the mixture till just combined.
Add 1/3 of the cream mixture into your ice cream container, then top with 1/3 of the rhubarb puree and swirl it around with a skewer, repeat with remaining cream and puree ending with the puree swirled on top. Freeze until solid.
20-30 minutes before you are ready to serve the ice-cream, remove it from the freezer to softened enough to scoop.
Rhubarb is a house favorite and I’ve never thought of the maple pairing, sounds perfect, especially roasted as here. This is lovely and has been Pinned for me to make and shared for others to drool. 🙂
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I’ve never roasted rhubarb! Never even thought of it. You can bet I will, though. And make this ice cream. Thanks!
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I love that it is almost rhubarb season! It grows realy well in Alaska, where I grew up, and I do love that sweet tart flavor. That addition of maple sounds delicious, and this ice cream looks fantastic!
I can’t believe how easy this is. I love rhubarb but always wonder what to do with it when i see it at the market. Last time I made a rhubarb and ginger glaze for my Xmas ham. This weekend I’m making this lush ice cream!
My little ice cream machine has been sitting, unloved, in the attic for years. I too, like yourself, developed a taste of rhubarb a bit later in my years, as well. And do you think I buy it when I see it? Nope! Time for me to get creative, methinks!
I’ve always loved rhubarb … and you’re not kidding about that photo being soooo enticing! ‘m wishing I had some red stalks lying in my kitchen!! yummed and stumbled!
I adore rhubarb, but have never thought of using it in ice cream. I love the idea!
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This looks delicious! What a great combination of flavors!
This looks AMAZING! Do I need a homemade ice cream maker, or can I pour all this into a strong freezer-able container and put it in the freezer? I so want to make this!! Thanks for posting!! 😀
That’s the beauty of no churn icecreams… you don’t need an icecream maker! Just pour it in a container. They do freeze a little harder so you need to take it out and leave it at room temp for about 15-20 minutes before you scoop it.