Jesus may have turned water into wine, but I turned wine into ice cream! I have been wanting to make my own wine ice cream since they first time I heard of it. I finally got around to doing it and was not disappointed!
I used a Merlot and a vanilla bean for flavoring. The ice cream is creamy and sweet and first, but then you get the tang from the wine.
I really enjoyed it and have several ideas for variations in the future which will include fruit. This Merlot version would have been great with some fresh blackberries.
Update!: I recently made this same ice cream, but took it to a whole new level with a Wine Ice Cream Sundae. It is topped with vanilla bean whipped cream, spiced red wine syrup, and lavender almonds. Heavenly! I highly recommend making it.
This post contains affiliate links (when you buy we make a little money at no cost to you). See our disclosure for more information.
PrintRed Wine Ice Cream Recipe
This homemade wine ice cream recipe features real vanilla beans, cinnamon, and of course, cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
1 cup half & half
Instructions
The first step in making our wine ice cream is to reduce the wine down to a syrup-y liquid. Pour your bottle of red wine into a large pot and simmer over low medium heat until it is reduced to one cup of liquid. This took about an hour for me, but it could be sooner, so you should keep an eye on yours. Once it has been reduced, set aside.
In a medium pot, whisk together the brown sugar, and whipping cream. Cut your vanilla bean in half and scrape out that beautiful vanilla caviar into the pot. Add the bean pod to the pot as well.
Stir constantly while cooking over medium heat until it begins to steam, but before it boils.
Beat your egg yolks with a fork or with a mixer until they are light colored. Remove the vanilla bean pod from the cream and slowly add the cream into the egg yolks. It is important to add the cream to the eggs very slowly so that they do not curdle.
Once you have successfully added the cream to the eggs, pour the mixture back into the pot and cook over medium heat until it thickens and turns in to a custard. If it sticks to the back of a wooden spoon, it is done. Remove from it from heat.
Pour the mixture through a strainer and into a large bowl. Stir in the half and half and the reduced wine.
Chill the mixture in the fridge for an hour or two until cold. Add to your ice cream maker (I use this one
) and freeze according to directions. (For me this is about 30 minutes). If it is too soft for your liking, stick in the freezer for a few more hours.
Then sit back and serve yourself a glass of Red Wine Ice Cream alongside a glass of red wine!
Nutrition
- Calories: 534
emma says
What is half and half? I see it listed as one cup but there is no mention during the making of the ice cream at all
Jessica Pinney says
Hi Emma!
Half & Half is sold in the dairy section of grocery stores. It is half whole milk, half heavy whipping cream. It is listed in the instructions at the end, when you stir in the reduced wine.
veronica says
Hi! I’m italian and here we don’t have the heavy wipping cream, i’ve always wonder how could i do it with other ingredients, you know how?
Iris says
Hang on, if you reduce the wine doesn’t that cook off the alcohol?
Elva Bayley says
Alcohol prevents the ice cream from freezing. Reducing the wine also means that the flavour isn’t diluted when you add the custard
Lindsay says
Can this stay in freezer for a couple days before its eaten? Need to make ahead due to my schedule. Thanks!!
Jessica Pinney says
Absolutely! I usually end up freezing my leftovers for a week or two and it is always still really good.
Erin @ Thanks for Cookin'! says
Oh my that color! Forget chocolate this needs to be the new go-to breakup ice cream! 🙂
C.D. says
I made this the other day and added Cocoa Nibs. Heaven in a spoon!!!!
Ash West @ The Delightful Home says
Great idea! 😀
Carmo says
Anyone ever tried a dairy free version?? I know, #yawn!!
But it could be possible, right? Like a wine sorbet??
Usha says
Hi, the wine needs to be reduced to how much, please?
Jessica Pinney says
Check the second sentence of the directions. Reduced to one cup.
Mariana Clarke says
Can i substitute vanilla bean with vanilla extract? Vanila bean is super expensive 🙁
Gianna Mattina says
Hey! I looked it up and vanilla bean can be substituted as follows:
1 Vanilla Bean = 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Hope this helps even though it’s like a year later ?
Lisa says
This was delicious and very easy to make. Brought it to a party and it was a hit. Especially tasty when served atop something chocolate, such as flourless chocolate cake or, in my case, homemade brownies 🙂
★★★★★
Gianna Mattina says
Is there a way I can substitute the actual vanilla bean with vanilla extract?
Rachel Brown says
Where is the half and half in the recipe?
Jessica Pinney says
Third paragraph from the bottom.
Tiffany Days says
What if you don’t have an ice cream maker?
Michael Lee says
This sounds so good. I can’t wait to try it.
Dannie says
Is the Ice-cream like that gonna have any effect? I know you can’t put too much alcohol, but I would like an ice cream that would make me drunk. Is that even a possibility?