BACON BOURBON ICE CREAM

Bacon Bourbon Ice Cream image

Provided by Russell Jackson, Food Network Star Season 9 Finalist

Categories dessert

Time 5h55m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 pounds smoked slab bacon, diced
1/2 bottle good quality bourbon
3 cups heavy cream
2 cups whole milk
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla paste or 2 vanilla beans, split and scraped (preferably bourbon vanilla beans)
Salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
5 eggs

Steps:

Render the bacon in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until crispy. Transfer the grease to the refrigerator, chilling until the fat solidifies. Leave half the bacon the pot, and reserve the other half.
Add the bourbon to the pot with the bacon and simmer until reduced by two-thirds. Stir in the cream, milk, 1/2 cup sugar, the vanilla and a pinch of salt and remove from the heat. Cover with plastic and cool for 1 hour. Strain and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Toss the reserved bacon with 1/4 cup sugar and the brown sugar. Spread the sugared bacon on a baking sheet and bake until the sugar melts and caramelizes. Set aside to cool.
Whip the eggs until the volume has doubled in a stand mixer set on high speed. Add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, a pinch of salt and 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cooled and rendered fat. Beat on high for 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and slowly incorporate the cooled bourbon and milk mixture, mixing just to combine.
Pour into an ice-cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's instructions. Freeze until firm, 1 to 2 hours. Scoop and garnish with the bacon sweets. Ah yum. Then sit down with a spoon and EAT IT. Do not share.