The Boozy Use For Melted Ice Cream You'll Wish You Tried Sooner - Tasting Table

"Melted ice cream brings rich flavors and a thick, creamy texture, making it a game-changing cocktail ingredient. It'll add sweetness and body to everything from boozy milkshakes to reimagined classics. Here's a simple rule of thumb to get you started: Whenever a cocktail recipe calls for heavy cream, try swapping in some melted ice cream instead. After all, melted vanilla ice cream is basically a crème anglaise - a combination of heavy cream, vanilla, and egg yolks."

"Take the classic White Russian, for example. Traditionally made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and heavy cream, it gets a rich, velvety lift when you use vanilla ice cream instead of the cream. The same idea works across other creamy classics. Swap the vodka for brandy, and your White Russian becomes a Brandy Alexander. Bourbon, chocolate, and melted vanilla ice cream will make a tasty play on a boozy shake. And because your ice cream's already melted, you won't even need to use a blender!"

"While vanilla is the closest substitute for heavy cream, that doesn't mean you can't experiment with other melted ice cream flavors in your cocktails. One option is to lean into a popular cocktail's flavor profile. For example, melted mint chocolate chip ice cream blends seamlessly into a retro Grasshopper, which is traditionally made with crème de menthe and chocolate liqueur. The second option is to draw inspiration from well-loved flavor pairings."

Melted ice cream adds rich flavor and a thick, creamy texture that enhances cocktails. It contributes sweetness and body to drinks ranging from boozy milkshakes to reimagined creamy classics. Whenever a cocktail calls for heavy cream, melted ice cream can be substituted to boost indulgence and flavor. Melted vanilla functions similarly to crème anglaise because it combines heavy cream, vanilla, and egg yolks. Classics like the White Russian become richer with vanilla ice cream, and simple swaps of spirits create variations like the Brandy Alexander. Varied ice cream flavors, such as mint chocolate chip, can complement cocktails like the Grasshopper. Melted ice cream eliminates the need for a blender in many recipes.

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