Pomegranate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
24 Oct 2013
This ice cream is the whole reason why we bought an ice cream maker. Years and years ago, I had a pint of pomegranate chocolate chip ice cream from Haagen Dazs, shipped to me in dry ice! I have friends in high places, or cold places, I guess. This was way back in grad school, and a box full of ice cream was manna from heaven to a girl going through qualifying exams. I fell in love with that ice cream, and then they discontinued it. A travesty! My heart has been pining after it ever since, so I made some of my own.
It is a really simple recipe, using fresh pomegranate juice. We bought a half-gallon jug (for a pretty penny…) at Whole Foods. This saved us the effort of squeezing a ton of seeds, and it saved our kitchen from looking like a crime scene. That juice goes everywhere! Eric used a bit more of the juice to make grenadine, which we have been using as a topping on the ice cream and for weekend cocktails.
This is my platonic ideal of ice cream: tart and fruity, with a chocolate crunch. Hurray for making dreams come true!
Pomegranate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
2 cups pomegranate juice
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup-1 cup bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small chunks
-Combine pomegranate juice, sugar, lemon juice, milk, cream, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently.
-Heat to almost boiling, making sure all sugar has dissolved.
-Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
-Stir the mixture well, and follow your ice cream maker’s instructions to freeze and churn, adding the chocolate chunks when the mixture is halfway frozen. And then make yourself a nice big bowl of it!
Oct 24, 2013 @ 04:40:57
Yum. Please send me some! 🙂
Oct 30, 2013 @ 20:41:18
Wish I could! Will totally make some for you next time you are here, my lovely!
Oct 24, 2013 @ 06:54:56
Wow, does that look good!
Oct 30, 2013 @ 20:42:31
Thank you!
Oct 24, 2013 @ 16:31:13
Can I come try this pretty please?! 😉 YUM!
Oct 30, 2013 @ 20:48:08
Oh, it is long gone, I am sorry to say! I will have to make some more!
Oct 25, 2013 @ 04:25:07
This looks so good! Ice cream maker is totally on my wish list this year!
Oct 30, 2013 @ 20:53:04
Oh, you should so get one! They are wonderfully inexpensive! I think ours was $50 on sale for $40 or so. Maybe it can be an early Christmas gift for you–you deserve it, mama!
Oct 25, 2013 @ 04:58:03
this is when I wish I could eat dairy….it looks so delicious!!!
Oct 30, 2013 @ 20:56:03
Oh no! My cousin just found some of this flavor in a vegan coconut-milk-based ice cream! It might have been the brand It’s Soy Delicious, in case your store carries it!
Oct 25, 2013 @ 12:26:46
I think I remember that special delivery, or at least I remember your telling me about it and how in awe I was of your ice cream world connections. 🙂 Glad you’ve found a way of recreating a favorite at home! Pomegranates are soooooo good. I guess we’re on the same wavelength because I’ve been thinking about trying to make chocolate pomegranate muffins; I’m just debating the how, although I think my idea will work. I guess only time will tell. ;p x
Oct 30, 2013 @ 21:03:48
Yes, I think maybe I brought them all to your birthday party? That one on the patio where I hilariously manned the grill? Or maybe I just brought them over some other day around then. Anyway, yes, you are definitely in my memories of that ice cream, and I am still using the cooler they sent them to me in! Oh yum, can’t wait to see those muffins when you make them! Maybe chocolate covered pom seeds? Then there would be a little extra crunch:)
Oct 25, 2013 @ 20:41:32
This sounds SO good. And it looks beautiful. That is all : )
Oct 30, 2013 @ 21:04:09
Thank you so much! It was really, really good, but now is long gone!
Jan 07, 2014 @ 17:24:57
Thanks for sharing–will have to try your recipe! I, too, loved that flavor, and was so disappointed that they discontinued it. Maybe if enough of us complain, they’ll bring it back!
Mar 17, 2015 @ 15:50:03
I have been reading different posts about pomegranate ice cream and how good it was or could be. Pomegranate is one of nature’s unique fruits or berries that is loaded with nutrients and packs a sweet and tart punch of flavor. One of the problems with trying to get all the flavor for use in ice cream and smoothies, is using a juice that has been subjected to heat that destroys much of the natural goodness of the original product. I have found that this can all be solved by the use of Freeze Dried Pomegranate Powder from American Freeze Dry, the freeze drying process locks in all the flavor and nutrition, as well as the color, taste and texture. Even the seed itself is edible and can be ground into a powder to add even more nutrients than the liquid extracted for juice. The only thing missing is the water. The powder is actual pomegranate and is ~10 times lighter than the fruit itself, so not as much is needed for the same effect as the juice. Since there is no water, the powder can be kept without spoiling for long periods of time, no need for refrigerated storage. The next time you make ice cream or a smoothie, do yourself a flavor and give Freeze Dried Pomegranate a try!