There's nothing better than freshly picked berries and ice cream in summer so why not combine the two with this recipe for tangy homemade gooseberry ice cream? If you're looking for unusual gooseberry recipes then this is for you!
I love summer and I love all the fresh fruit and vegetables that are around right now. One of my favourite activities to do with the children is to go and pick our own fresh fruit and vegetables. We often go to Garsons Pick Your Own Farm, which is where I picked these gooseberries.
Who couldn't love gooseberries? They're a brilliant ingredient for pies, crumbles and sponge puddings and now this gooseberry ice cream too!
What are gooseberries?
Have you tried gooseberries before? If you're not familiar with gooseberries they are tart green berries about the same size as grapes. You can sometimes eat the very ripe ones raw and without sweetening them. However, usually they are too sharp and need to be cooked and sweetened before they can be eaten.
Other recipes you can make with gooseberries
I grew up on a farm and we used to pick them in the hedgerows. That meant we always had a lot of gooseberry pies and crumbles at this time of year. I've made a few crumbles myself and last year I made a delicious gooseberry cobbler. This year however, I fancied trying a different gooseberry recipe. I fancied gooseberry ice cream.
Initially I was thinking along the lines of a gooseberry crumble cake and I still want to make that but I need to go and pick more gooseberries first! I was then given the idea of making ice cream.
Now I love my ice cream maker in summer but it was still sitting in the cupboard since last year. I just had to get it out, especially as I keep coming across so many tempting ice cream and frozen yogurt recipes online.
My Ice Cream Maker
I have had my ice cream maker for about 10 years now and it seems to be out of stock. However, it is very similar to this Sensio ice cream maker which is currently the number 1 bestseller on Amazon. It only costs £39.99 at the moment so there really is no reason not to treat yourself!
If you're not sure about it, just think how good you'll feel when you can make your own homemade ice cream any time you want! This is one gadget I have never regretted buying!
Sugar quantities can vary in this ice cream recipe
I find when cooking with gooseberries that the amount of sugar I use varies. Sometimes the berries I pick are sweeter and sometimes more sour. That means it's best not to stick rigidly to the recipe and to keep tasting as you are cooking them.
Not only that but some people like their ice cream to be sweeter than others. If you love tart flavours then go easy on the sugar. After all, you can easily add a bit more but it's harder to take it away!
Once the gooseberries have been mixed into the cream then you might also need to add extra sugar. I add icing sugar at this stage as it dissolves more easily.
Do you like bit of fruit in your ice cream or a smooth texture?
You can see from the pictures that there is still some texture in the gooseberry ice cream from the fruit. I love to get lumpy fruity pieces in my ice cream but if you want it to be smoother then puree the gooseberries after stewing them. You could even then pass the mixture through a sieve to remove pulpy bits and seeds.
Can you adapt this gooseberry ice cream?
I went for a plain gooseberry ice cream this time but you could also add some spices to the gooseberries as they are stewing to get a more complex flavour. How about gooseberry cardamom ice cream? That's a recipe for next time!
Can you easily scoop this gooseberry ice cream?
I found that this gooseberry ice cream kept well in the freezer and didn't go too hard. It was possible to scoop it as soon as it came out of the freezer without having to wait for it to soften a little first.
More easy homemade ice cream recipes
If you're looking for more homemade ice cream recipes then do take a look at my other ice cream recipes: kiwi fruit ice cream, cardamom and pistachio ice cream and raspberry and white chocolate ice cream.
I've even got a homemade frozen desserts recipe collection with recipes for ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt and ice lollies!
I have to say I am also very happy with my new quick release ice cream scoops
Recipe
Gooseberry Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 300 g gooseberries
- 50 g caster sugar
- 300 ml double cream
- Icing sugar or sweetener optional
Instructions
- Put the gooseberries in a saucepan with a tablespoon of water and the sugar. Heat until the berries begin to break down. Leave to cool and then chill in the fridge.
- Mix the gooseberries and cream together in a mixing jug.
- Taste and mix in a little icing sugar or an alternative sweetener if the mixture is not quite sweet enough.
- Follow your ice-cream maker's instructions. Pour the gooseberry mixture into the ice cream maker and let it churn for about 15 minutes by which time it should be fairly stiff. Transfer to a freezer container and place in the freezer. Or eat straightaway.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for later
Do you make your own ice cream? If so then please leave a comment and inspire me with your favourite flavour combinations.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Jacqui Bellefontaine
As it 30+C outside right now I can not tell you how much I would like to eat a bowl of this icecream it looks delicious!
Corina Blum
I could really do with a bowl of it again too Jacqui!
Nico @ yumsome
Whoaaaaa... I need this in my life! I've not even seen a gooseberry for years... maybe they only grow in Britain!
Thank for giving me a craving I never knew I had! xx
Corina
I hope you find some! I don't think many people know what they are though! x
hijackedbytwins
Ooooh homemade ice cream, so good! We have got gooseberries growing in the garden but have not got many this year. I bet this ice cream is delicious! Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Corina
It was lovely! I don't eat a lot of ice cream normally but I am at the moment - lots of new flavours to try out and hopefully some more posts about ice cream soon too!
Mandy Mazliah
I love gooseberries and your ice cream looks like a delicious use for them - just wish they were in season for a bit longer. Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare
Corina
I know, it's such a shame the season doesn't last long and there's not time to make more things!
shaheen
Lovely, I was wondering what to do with my red gooseberries and then I went out to harvest them and the birds had got each and every one.
Corina
Oh no! That must be so disappointing. I have to say I have given up on growing my own fruit and vegetables as I hardly had any success last year.
Philip
this is lovely: what a great, refreshing way to serve gooseberries #TastyTuesdays
Corina
Thank you Philip! So pleased you like it.
Dragons And Fairy Dust
My gooseberries are just ready to pick. I will have to try this, it looks lovely
Corina
I hope you enjoy it!
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
Love the idea of gooseberry icecream 🙂 Mum used to buy gooseberries quite regularly but for some reason I haven't bought any for ages....I have no idea why. I shall certainly have put gooseberries on the shopping list! Your idea of a gooseberry crumble cake sounds fab too.
Angeal x
Corina
I think gooseberries get forgotten about Angela. They don't seem to be sold in the supermarkets or if they are they are hidden away and overshaddowed by more popular berries - such a shame as I love them!
Eb Gargano
Yum! That sounds so amazing! Glad you liked my idea 😉 Though I don't think anything will beat a gooseberry crumble for me...unless maybe...do you think gooseberry crumble with gooseberry ice cream would work? Or would that be gooseberry overkill?? 🙂 Eb x
Corina
Thank you so much for the idea and I'm planning more ice cream recipes now too! I'd happily have a gooseberry crumble with gooseberry ice cream (after all, there is only a short time to eat them before having to wait a whole year!) and I did actually want to make a crumble or similar pudding with the leftover stewed gooseberries but I ended up just eating them as they were!
Basement Bakehouse
YUM! We used to grow gooseberries at home when I was little so this is making me super nostalgic!
Corina
I used to have them as a child too then didn't have them for years until last year when I discovered our pick your own grew them!
choclette
I love gooseberries, but rarely get to eat them as the birds always get to ours before we do. One day we will get a proper garden and be able to put up a fruit cage. Your ice cream looks gorgeous. I've made rhubarb a few times, but never gooseberry. My day will come 😉
Corina
I would love to try rhubarb ice cream one day! I always seem to miss it when it's in season and I'm no good at growing thing at home.