White Chocolate Ginger Shortbread Ice Cream Recipe

By Max Falkowitz
Updated Apr. 15, 2020
white chocolate ginger shortbread ice cream
Photograph: Max Falkowitz

Trader Joe's makes the best white chocolate for this ice cream. It's extremely creamy with strong notes of vanilla, chocolate, and herbs.

If you have a favorite shortbread recipe, feel free to use it here. This version is designed to stay soft when frozen (hence the very high proportion of butter to flour) and has a salty kick to cut through white chocolate's sweetness.

Recipe Details

White Chocolate Ginger Shortbread Ice Cream Recipe

Active 45 mins
Total 12 hrs
Makes 1 quart

Ingredients

  • For the Ice Cream:
  • 3 cups half and half
  • 1/4 cup ginger, peeled and finely grated, with juice
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 ounces white chocolate (recommended: Trader Joe's)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup candied ginger, finely chopped
  • For the Shortbread Crumble:
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon raw ( turbinado) sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup flour

Directions

  1. For the Ice Cream: Bring half and half to a simmer in a heavy saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in ginger, and let steep covered for 30 minutes. Half and half may separate slightly but it won't affect the final ice cream.

  2. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar together until they thicken and lighten in color. When ginger is done steeping, quickly whisk yolk mixture into saucepan. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until custard coats the back of a spoon but a swiped finger leaves a clean line.

  3. Strain custard into an airtight container. Add white chocolate chunks, and when melt, add salt to taste. Chill custard overnight and churn the next day according to manufacturer's instructions.

  4. For the Shortbread Crumble: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle. Melt butter in a small saucepan, then add both sugars and salt until white sugar mostly dissolves. Stir in flour until mixture resembles a thick paste. Do not overmix.

  5. Pat dough out on a sheetpan to 1/4 inch thickness and bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until shortbread is just set. Let cool, then crumble into mixed-size chunks. When ice cream is churned, stir in candied ginger and most of the crumble, reserving some for topping. Let ice cream chill in freezer for at least 2 to 3 hours before serving.

Special equipment

Ice cream machine

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