No-Machine Soft Ice Cream Bars - Thai Tea Flavor
User Reviews
5
No-Machine Soft Ice Cream Bars - Thai Tea Flavor
Description
No-Machine Soft Ice Cream Bars in Thai Tea Flavor start by steeping Thai tea leaves in hot water to extract their characteristic robust and fragrant aroma. This tea-infused liquid is combined with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, whipping cream, tapioca starch, and a small amount of salt to balance flavors. The tapioca starch acts as a thickening agent, contributing to the creamy texture and helping the ice cream to set properly without traditional churning.
The mixture is poured into molds or a parchment-lined dish and frozen until firm enough to slice or unmold into bars. The finished bars retain the unique orange-brown hue and distinctive taste of Thai iced tea, combining sweetness, creaminess, and the savory-spiced notes of the tea. The texture is smooth yet firm enough to hold shape without ice crystals common in simple frozen desserts.
These bars are a refreshing treat especially suited for warm weather or as a special dessert. The recipe allows for adjustments such as using half and half or whole milk instead of whipping cream for a lighter, firmer texture although with more iciness. Proper parchment lining facilitates easy removal of the bars from molds. Scant measurement of salt enhances the sweetness without overpowering the tea flavor.
Ingredients
- ½ cup thai tea leaves
- 1 ½ cup water hot off-the-boil
- ¼ cup tapioca starch
- 1 can evaporated milk (354 ml)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (300 ml)
- 1 cup whipping cream (see note 1)
- ¼ teaspoon table salt scant (see note 2)
Instructions
- Prepare your molds. If using a dish, grease the bottom and sides with oil. Cut a piece of parchment paper so it's as wide as the longest side of your container. Line the dish with the parchment, leaving plenty of overhang on two sides. Press the parchment into the oil so it sticks, and use a bulldog clip to secure the overhang onto the edge of the dish to prevent the paper from moving around. For easier removal, you can line with another piece of parchment, going across the first piece so you have overhang on all 4 sides. Tip: I recommend using good quality, sturdy parchment paper for this. Cheap filmy parchment might tear as you try to pull the ice cream out (as I found out the hard way!)
- Steep the tea leaves in hot-off-the-boil water for 5 mins, then strain using a fine mesh strainer, pressing out most of the liquid. You should end up with a little more than 1 cup of tea (1 cup exactly is fine, but it should be less than 1 ¼ cups.) Allow the tea dust to settle to the bottom for a minute.
- Meanwhile, put the tapioca starch into a small mixing bowl, add about ⅓ cup of the evaporated milk and whisk to dissolve the starch - making extra sure there are no lumps. Pour the starch slurry into a medium size pot, followed by the remaining evaporated milk.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk, whipping cream, and salt to the pot. Then pour in the tea, holding back the last little bit so as to not pour in too much of the tea dust. Stir until the condensed milk is dissolved.
- Turn the heat on medium and stir constantly with a rubber spatula, scraping the bottom. The mixture will slowly start to thicken, and once the mixture starts to bubble and is no longer getting any thicker, it is fully cooked. (To check for bubbling you'll have to stop stirring for a few seconds and watch for movement.)Remove from heat and, while still hot, pour or ladle it into your molds. Pop any big buggles with a toothpick, then allow the ice cream to cool to room temp before freezing for at least 6 hours before unmolding.
- To unmold, I highly recommend watching the video to see how this is done so you have a better idea. If using a cake pan or a dish, use a thin knife or metal offset spatula and run it along the edges that don't have parchment paper. You can dip the knife in hot water if you're having a hard time inserting. Carefully lift the parchment overhang to remove the ice cream from the pan. If you're having a hard time removing, try running the knife around the edges one more time, especially around any rounded corners, or wait a minute; resisting the urge to dip the mold in hot water as this ice cream melts quickly.Once it's out, place it on a cutting board and use a knife to trim the edges if you wish, then cut into blocks of your desired size. If making bars, insert a sturdy bamboo skewer into the ice cream, using a knife or something sturdy to push against the top to hold the ice cream steady. Peel it off the paper and enjoy!
- To store: wrap each piece in parchment paper to prevent them from sticking to each other.
- Tip: Because of the added starch, these are soft and creamy but also melt quickly, so work quickly when unmolding the ice cream.
Notes
- You can substitute half and half or whole milk for whipping cream to create a lighter but icier texture.
- Using good quality, sturdy parchment paper helps in easy removal of bars without tearing.
- A scant ¼ teaspoon of salt means slightly less than ¼ teaspoon; adjust carefully as less may not balance the sweetness and more may affect flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 334 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 334kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 36g | 12% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 64mg | 21% |
| Sodium | 192mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 347mg | 7% |
| Sugar | 32g | 64% |
| Vitamin A | 682IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 276mg | 28% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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