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Black Licorice Ice Cream

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This Black Licorice Ice Cream is rich, decadent and creamy with a luxurious black licorice flavor that your mouth will fall in love with.

Have you ever had a food you didn’t like, made into a recipe that became your favorite food ever?

One can have ice cream for breakfast, you know.  They totally can.

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenI’ve never told you this, but one of my very favorite things in the world is Black Licorice Ice Cream.

And, there’s only one place I know of, to get it around here.  Waaaaay over in West Seattle.  That’s like a million miles from here.  Yet, The Husband would drive me every time I needed a fix.

It’s definitely worth the long drive, but not practical when you’re craving it at midnight.   🙂

I lovvvvve how the ice cream looks so frosty!  Don’t you?  Addictive.  Trust me on this one.

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration Kitchen This little number was inspired by one of my favorite blogs Pinch & Swirl.  Last week, Marissa made this Homemade Salty Black Licorice.

THAT was my DOH! moment.  Why, oh why, oh whyyyyy had I not thought to make Black Licorice Ice Cream at home?  Can anyone tell me, please?

See how that works here on this blog?  DOH! = RECIPE.  Stand back.  It’s happening.

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenGrab a handful of licorice.  These licorice twists are what is going to give us that rich, licorice flavor.

Now, if you’re wrinkling up your nose in distaste of licorice, go with me on this.  I don’t like black licorice either.  But I *love* black licorice ice cream, and I think you will too.

Try it.  Just do it!  🙂

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenYou’ll want to cut them into small bite-size pieces.  The easiest way to do this is to use your kitchen sheers and make quick work of it!

These smaller pieces will help the licorice break down into liquid when it’s melted on the stove.

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenJust in case you are wondering…all of these photos were shot in COLOR.  They were not shot in black & white, nor were they converted to black and white in post-production.

So, in honor of Halloween, I shot you a picture with a splash of orange for a pop of color!

Happy Halloween!  Boo!

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenNow, I know Halloween is all about handing out candies and goodies, but let me just warn you… this is really tough to share!

You’ll love it so much, you’ll want to keep it for yourself!

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenGet a BIG ice cream scoop.  You’re going to need one so you can dig in.  No bowl required.  🙂

Don’t worry.  It won’t last long.  Trust me.

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration Kitchen The next thing you’ll know, it’ll be tomorrow and you’re making another batch.

Even if you just want to look at it, because it’s so pretty!  Annnnnd, because you didn’t have to drive a million miles to get it.  You’re welcome!

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenI hope you love this Black Licorice Ice Cream as much as we do!

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration KitchenEnjoy!

Black Licorice Ice Cream | Inspiration Kitchen
Print Recipe

Black Licorice Ice Cream

This Black Licorice Ice Cream is rich, decadent and creamy with a luxurious black licorice flavor that your mouth will fall in love with.
Course: Desserts
Author: Kristi

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 ounces black licorice sticks gently crushed
  • 3/4 cup whole milk *see note
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon superfine or granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • few drops of natural black food coloring **see note

Instructions

  • Put the licorice in a saucepan with 1/2 cup of water and place over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the licorice has melted.
  • While the licorice is breaking down, pour the milk and cream into a large saucepan and heat gently, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to steam. Do not let it boil - just steam!
  • Whisk the egg yolks in a heatproof bowl until smooth. Add the sugar and vanilla and whisk until pale and slightly fluffy. Gradually and very slowly, pour the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking continuously to prevent the eggs from scrambling. Return the mixture to the saucepan, place over low heat, stir in the melted licorice, and heat until the custard thinly coats the back of a wooden spoon. Do not let it boil. Add the black food coloring, if desired.
  • Pour back into the bowl and set aside for about 30 minutes to cool, stirring occasionally.
  • (NOTE: For more rapid chilling, fill a sink halfway with cold water and ice and place the bowl of mixture in it for 20 minutes. Never put the hot mixture into the refrigerator.)
  • Once cooled, cover the mixture and refrigerate, ideally overnight, but at least for 6 hours, until thoroughly chilled (at least 40°F). Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream machine and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • When the churning is complete, use a spoon or spatula to scrape the ice cream into a freezer-proof container with a lid. Freeze until it reaches the correct scooping texture (at least 2 hours).

Notes

*I modified this recipe based on what I had on hand (I ran out of milk!). If you want to make it the traditional way from the Epicurious site, use 1 cup of whole milk, and 1/2 cup heavy cream.
**The black food coloring is optional. I wanted my ice cream very black, so I used several drops of black food coloring to obtain this color. If you use no food coloring, it will be a dark gray, but not black.

Recipe adapted from Epicurious @ Black Ice Licorice Ice Cream.

Black Licorice Ice Cream

Comments

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Renee! I love how these pictures came out too – and it seemed like the perfect Halloween post! Have a beautiful week, my friend! xoxo

      Reply

    • Kristi says

      You will LOVE this ice cream Karla! The licorice flavor is sssooo good – and you’ll love the color it gets when frozen – it looks like crystals & diamonds!

      Reply

  3. Cailee @ http://hellohealthyeating.com says

    WOW! Look at you! SO innovative! I’m not a fan of black licorice, but I know the feeling of loving some dessert from so far away! Over the past couple of summers my family has gone to Montreal. Let me tell ya, they have THE BEST dark chocolate honey sorbet! …it’s at this cute little gelato shop where most things are sweetened with maple syrup… but this kind with honey!! …it’s dairy free and oh-so delightful!

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Oh yum Cailee! That dark chocolate honey sorbet sounds amazing! Maybe I’ll make that next! I’m not a huge fan of licorice either, but with this ice cream, it’s a totally different story! xoxo

      Reply

  4. Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says

    Wow! You’ve taken black licorice to a whole new level! I grew up eating (and loving) black licorice ice cream – it’s been so long since I’ve had it that I’d almost forgotten about it. Yours looks absolutely addictive!

    Thanks too for the mention, Kristi. So sweet…xoxo

    Reply

  5. Samina | The Cupcake Confession says

    Okay, first of all, I am missing out on such AMAZING Halloween goodies like this Licorice ice cream! Licorice is pretty hard to find here and I’ve looked around in every store and all online shops possible without any luck! I’ve always been SOOOOOO inquisitive to know what it tastes like and you made it into an ice cream!!!!!! Anything in ice cream form is my greatness weakness and I am soooooo droooooling right now! And the photos look sooooo mysterious, it creates the PERFECT mood for Halloween, Kristi!!!!!!!

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      I looooove it when you visit Samina! I always feel ssssoooo good when you visit! I wish I could send you this ice cream and a big bag of Licorice! Hugs! And I love that you think the photos are mysterious! That’s what I thought too!

      Reply

  6. Monica says

    Love the dark photography for this – I don’t know how you did it! : )
    This black licorice ice cream is such a surprise…I once saw Nigella Lawson make a licorice pudding on her show, Nigellisma, and she was just swooning over it. I’ve never had licorice pudding or ice cream but I’m so happy to learn about it! And so glad you managed to make a favorite treat at home for yourself! That is the best feeling!

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Monica! Believe it or not, there are no photography tricks here! The ice cream dishes are silver, the ice cream black and a black/white polka dot placemat! This ice cream happens to get silver, glittery edges, which gives it that eery look! This ice cream is my favorite ice cream ever, so I’m so glad you love it!

      Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Heather! It is ssssoooo good! I don’t even like black licorice, but I love this ice cream. It is perfect for Halloween, isn’t it? Thank you for visiting!

      Reply

  11. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    I am crazy about licorice.. it has to be one of my favourite sweets ever, I love the aniseed taste. This black licorice ice cream is definitely going on my ‘to make list’ Krisi – it looks delicious and I am loving your incredible presentation and styling of it!

    Reply

  12. Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says

    This pictures are the coolest ever! I feel like I’m looking at snapshots from an old black and white film. I hate black licorice but I will trust you that I will like this ice cream because you are always right. And we like the same things – given. Pinned! So cool.

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Daniela! Nope, no post-processing with a black & white filter. I thought that’s what people might think, which is why I mentioned it! Have a great week!

      Reply

  15. Kelly says

    These pictures are just so so beautiful! So dramatic and cool – perfect for Halloween! I am not a fan of of black licorice but I am a total sucker for ice cream so will definitely trust you since this since it is one of your favorite things in the world:) Yay for making your own now and not having to drive a million miles!

    Reply

  16. whatjessicabakednext says

    I’ve never liked licorice, but I’m sure if it was in ice-cream form I would definitely love it! Love your photography, the black and white is just so perfect! Great styling and delicious recipe, Kristi!

    Reply

  18. marcie says

    Kristi, these photos blow me away — they’re like none that I’ve ever seen! They’re so beautiful. 🙂 I hate black licorice with a passion, but I’m intrigued, and I trust you implicitly. 🙂 I really need to try this for myself, and you bet I’m pinning this! 🙂

    Reply

  21. Juliana says

    Oh Kristi! I must tell you that I do not like licorice…but seeing this pictures of your ice cream I must admit that one side of me is telling me to try…this is sure a fun treat for Halloween.
    Have a great week 🙂

    Reply

  24. Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com says

    Holy smokes, girl! These pictures knocked my socks off! I was sure that you converted them to BW…they are so gorgeous! And I’m not a black licorice hater (although I never really crave it) so if it can win over a black licorice hater like you, I’m pretty sure this is my new favorite ice cream. Love, love, love!

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      Thanks Elizabeth! Nope, no B&W editing – the color palette just happened to be black & white with no color! 🙂 I love this ice cream so much it’s crazy talk! xoxo

      Reply

  27. Karen says

    The recipe states licorice sticks crushed. Your photo indicates you used the chewy style licorice, I’m debating which to use. Please advise if you substituted the chewy licorice and if so, does it have to completely melt in cooking?

    Reply

  28. Joyce Braunle says

    I share your love and craving for black licorice ice cream. I found it in Finland, many years ago . And I haven’t either, tried to make it myself. It is made (like most ‘flavor blended’ ice creams there), with a sweet and salty licorice syrup, swirled into a vanilla ice cream. The vanilla and licorice are swirled, but separate. It’s soooo delicious.

    Other flavors are swirled that way too; strawberry, …and so many other berries that are local to Finland. So good. But I really LOVED the (black) licorice. (They only have black licorice there).

    Reply

  29. Jennie says

    I have a question. For step one did you have the licorice completely melted? I tested this out tonight; I want to make it for my kids’ Candy Land birthday party next month. We’re going to have all parts of the game board either in treats or decorations, so I thought this would be perfect for Licorice Lagoon! I crushed the licorice pretty finely but it never completely dissolved and when I added it to the rest of the mixture I still had bits of very small licorice. Is there a way to get it completely smooth or is it supposed to have the small tiny pieces in there? I’m hoping it still tastes yummy – going in the ice cream machine tomorrow.

    Reply

  31. Denise says

    I can’t wait to make this! I’m wondering if you bought or have tried the black licorice that’s soft from Australia? We also have Twizzlers, kind of chewy and tough.

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      No – I have never tried it – but that sounds AMAZING!!! Twizzlers IS tough and chewy – I agree. The good news is, it melts down in this ice cream! Hahaha. I hope you love it. It’s one of my favorites.

      Reply

  32. Kim T says

    I do not care for black licorice candy (except Good and Plenty) but I also
    love black licorice ice cream. I have to drive about 2 hours to get to a place that
    sells it in Abbotsford, WI…a real treat….usually 1-2 times a year.

    Reply

    • Kristi says

      I’m with you too Kim! I don’t like black licorice either, except my ice cream – which I crave. I hope you get a chance to make it at home. It’s worth it – and you won’t have to drive 2 hours. 🙂

      Reply

  33. Annie says

    I know this is a very old post but hoping I can still get my question answered 🙂
    I have seen several recipes which use brittle/hard licorice sticks but your recipe implies twizzlers in the photos. In the actual recipe you say licorice sticks slightly crushed. Can you confirm which type you use?
    I’m so excited to try this recipe! I LOVE black licorice ice cream and your recipe is the first one I’d like to try in my new ice cream machine!
    Beautiful pictures!
    Thank you!!

    Reply

  34. Denise says

    This is my favourite recipe ever!! Both my boys and husband unfortunately love it too, so I might have to make it and hide it lol!!

    Reply

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