I was having a Julie & Julia moment. It was just after the beginning of January and a good 2 months into Summer before I made my first Summer ice cream. I knew why exactly and it was because my problematic freezer was unable to get to the requisite temperature in order to chill an ice cream bowl. It decide to revolt in the most alarming way too. I had someone at my house who is a renowned food critic and food writer, and as I was getting out some milk from the fridge for our tea when I tried to close the door and the top of the door has dislodged itself from the hinge. The stupid fridge was only a few years old yet somehow it had decided that on that day of all days, it was going to throw a tantrum. I would have preferred my husband to wander out of the bedroom in his underwear at that point*.
That day, after that embarrassment, I decided to show the fridge who was boss and we bought a new fridge freezer. The very first thing I did was stick a thermometer into the freezer and I was relieved when I saw half an hour later that it had reached -20C so I popped my ice cream bowl in there to freeze. I wanted to try a spiced pumpkin ice cream as I adore pumpkin pie and thought that this was a more weather friendly way of eating it. It required a bit of experimentation with the amount of pumpkin needed but as ice creams tend to be, it was easy enough.
Ice cream is my least favourite thing to photograph. The problem with ice cream is that one wants to eat ice cream when it’s hot and photographing it when it’s hot proves an absolute bother as far as timing goes. Usually when photographing things I like to do it ad hoc and when inspiration strikes me. I may add a prop or two after taking some photos and I take my time. But with ice cream I need to plan things and have a clear idea in my mind of how I want it. I had to set everything up, scooped the ice cream into balls and then placed them in the freezer until they were ready. And this is also when I had Mr NQN waiting in the background for his share once I had finished where he’d have some with a hot toddy.
I didn’t mind the ice cream, in fact it was pleasantly pumpkiny and the spices were wonderful. It was the perfect ice cream for an evening spent at home. It is however fairly strong in pumpkin so if you like your flavours more muted, you could use half the amount of pumpkin and spices needed but leave the rest of the ingredients as is.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite ice cream flavour?
*Mr NQN would never do this thankfully. I’m more likely to embarrass him.
Spiced Pumpkin Ice Cream
An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 400grams pumpkin, peeled and chopped into medium sized chunks
- 3 cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds
- 600ml cream
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup caster sugar
1. In a medium saucepan place pumpkin, cloves, cinnamon stick and cardamom seeds and enough water to cover the pumpkin and simmer until pumpkin becomes soft. It will take about 10-20 minutes depending on how big you cut the pumpkin. Remove pumpkin pieces, cool slightly and puree and place in the fridge once it has cooled down so that it becomes cold (or place in an ice bath in the sink).
2. In a small saucepan, heat cream until almost boiling. In a jug whisk egg yolks and sugar until a shade lighter. Stirring constantly, add the egg and sugar mixture to the cream and turn down the heat so that it doesn’t scramble the eggs. When thickened remove from stovetop and cool. Once it has cooled down place in the fridge to become cold (or place in an ice bath in the sink).
3. When chilled, blend in a food processor and then place in an ice cream machine to churn. If you don’t have an ice cream maker you can freeze it in a freezer proof container and whisk the mixture once every hour or so for about 3-4 times in total while it is freezing to break up ice formation. This is made with cream so it won’t have as much ice as an ice cream made with both milk and cream.
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57 Comments | Add your own
Ohh, that’s so funny and mortifying
Why do these things happen at the worst possible moments? Mmm, favorite ice cream? I’m pretty simple – I like really good vanilla or really, really dark chocolate.
Well…at least you got a new fridge out of the whole ordeal!
I bought pumpkin pie ice cream last year and I have to say I was quite disappointed with them. I’ll give your recipe a try once I invest in an ice cream machine…or buy liquid nitrogen
Oh, gorgeous! A heavenly ice cream!
Cheers,
Rosa
That looks so good! I have also done pumpkin ice cream,albeit a vegan version, and really liked it.
Oh yumm! It looks really delicious! Favourite ice-cream?? Choose one?? Impossible. But I couldn’t go past a good vanilla, swirled with a salted caramel and topped with pecans..
Oh that’s a tough one, it’s like trying to decide which one is your favorite child… Black sesame (home made of course) is really really good, but I recently made a rhubarb compote iced yoghurt (technically maybe not ice cream then) which came a close second! Spiced pumpkin ice cream certainly sounds exciting enough to try!
mmm i love pumpkin so this is definitely a great idea and perfect for this kind of weather! i like eating ice cream in the cold but the spices make it definitely wintry. awesome
hope your fridge got saved. Ours died a little after Christmas as well and it was just awful having to send food desperately to friends’. x
Wow, this seems like such a great flavour. I have an ice cream maker sitting in my larder. I have yet to use it. Bad housewife, bad!
Oh dont you just hate it when something goes wrong. Glad you showed the fridge who was boss. Damn whitegoods… I had pumpkin pie ice cream when I was in America and I really liked it. It was spicy and extra creamy from the pumpkin puree.
I hate how tempermental kitchen equipment (fridges/freezers included) can be. Sometimes it just feels like pure spite, lol!
This ice cream really does look like the summertime twin to pumpkin pie…absolutely delicious, Lorraine!
I must say I can’t choose a favourite – it’s a tie between chocolate, passionfruit, or pistachio.
My favourite ice cream flavour is chocolate and peanut butter. Though I also like cookies and cream, and Sara Lee Ultra Chocolate.
My favourite icecream has ‘Maggie Beer’ on the label. From her range…burnt fig jam and caramel probably is my favourite.
It’s a toss up between anything chocolate and anything coffee.
So funny to be looking at your beautiful pictures of ice cream and reading about summer. It’s snowing here!
I have only tried pumpkin pie once, twenty years ago, when I made it out of curiosity. I didn’t like it but maybe it’s time to try again. I’m not mad for ice cream so it has to be good quality for me to bother. I do love cheesecake ice cream from Nigella’s Forever Summer. My freezer bowl is already in the freezer….
Pumpkin desserts still freak me out a little! But today would be perfect for ice cream!
I love pumpkin and spices – this looks gorgeous icecream – lovely photos esp considering the planning needed – I recently had savoury icecream and I think savoury pumpkin icecream might be interesting too though I would have to think about how you would serve it – maybe with cheese pancakes and salad!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I first tried pumpkin pie icecream in Alaska and immediately fell in love with the flavours. The photographs are superb as usual!
Maggie Beers Burnt Fig Jam Honeycomb and Caramel Icecream. OMG!!!!!! but as my Nan would say “you must eat it outside because when you try it, it will send you straight up to Heaven”. Soooo true.
Oh, spiced pumpkin ice-cream? Delicious flavour. A lovely mix of winter and summer in one bowl!
And so agree about the challenge of photographing ice-cream (and sorbets) in summer. Must be patient and quick at the same time!
As soon as I choose a favourite flavour, there is a new one to try! This looks fantastic!
Oh, Lorraine, sometimes it’s like you have a direct line to my heart. I am obsessed with the idea of pumpkin-flavoured desserts. I say idea, because I’m having trouble actually tracking any down, and sometimes, when I do manage it, the desserts don’t quite live up to my expectations
Case in point – I found Stonyfield’s limited edition Pumpkin Pie yogurt after extensive searching here in the US, but ultimately preferred the Dulce de Leche and Maple flavours by another company. Also, I’ve yet to try pumpkin pie – that’s still a dream. Where was I? (Apart from rambling?) Oh yes – this looks delicious, and I do so wish I could order some to be teleported to me
In terms of favourite ice cream flavours? In the US, the carrot cake flavour by (I think) Rice Divine, and anything from the Purely Decadent range of non-dairy ice creams – particularly the peanut butter zig zag flavour! In Australia – Maggie Beer’s Burnt Fig and Caramel one, and I’m determined to try the Licorice Gundowring sometime!
My, this is a long response… sorry about that!
Pumpkin pie icecream sounds good. Fancy your fridge picking such a moment to die!
Perfect ice cream photo… could have been a winter shoot! I had a fridge die before a big weekend in the country… bring on the ice!!! Great recipe… can’t wait to try it!
You heard my reaction yesterday to the fridge door becoming unhinged – and you also!
I’m a bit chicken when it comes to non-sweet icecream.
My fave.. Hmmm.. Probably Ben and Jerry’s Peanut butter or Serendipity chocolate fudge.
Too bad that your old fridge picked that one day to break. Never a good time, is it. I love the look of your pumpkin ice cream as well as your always great photo set up. I do not care for ice cream though. I am hooked on Vanilla Frozen Yogurt that I purchase already made. Koo dos for all the work you put into all of your recipes.
Mmmmm icecream.. I love lots of icecreams but my favourite would have to be Cold Rock Ferrero Rocher with Bounty and cookie dough mix ins.. mmmmm.
Fantastic! I will be sure to try it as I got an ice cream churn for Christmas! My favourite flavour is Jaffa – I love choc orange mmmmm
Is there any thing better than Strawberry ice cream…….remember Strawberry billabongs? (sighs fondly)
pumpkin icecream thats a first for me hehe
It’s freezing here but I still feel like having some of those ice-cream! My fav is matcha.
I can imagine the pressure of photographing ice cream!! I’m glad your freezer decided to behave! This would be perfect right about now!
You know people should really believe that inanimate objects CAN throw tantrums, Like when my oven decides to SMOKE in front of my living room full of guests. They weren’t too thrlled to smell like lemongrass chicken wings.
But glad u conquered it! As we speak, I’m having a icecream sundae party and would have LOVED if you brought yours over! 
It’s too hard to choose between ice creams, som I’d go for a bowl of several scoops – slated caramel, licorice and chocolate., Or maybe a rich, home made vanilla with a shot of espresso poured over…
Sad to hear about your freezer. The good thing about having winter while celebrating Christmas is that we can put things out on the veranda. The last few weeks it’s been freezing, so I suddenly have lots and lots of freezer space!
Oh, tell me about it! Photographing ice-cream is such a challenge. But you did awesome! What an unusual flavour too! Never would have thought. Kudos!
We’re in the winter deep freeze here in the states. A broken freezer wouldn’t have mattered much, we could just put it outside. I love making ice cream and will save this recipe for warmer weather.
Pumpkin in icecream? Wow! And you seem to have photographed it pretty well too.
A very Happy New Year.
What a delicious looking ice cream! Time to break out my ice cream maker!!
I love the way you try these things – i am pretty sure i wouldn’t like pumpkin ice cream, but it’s GREAT that you keep us up to the mark!!
Despite the challenge of photographing the ice cream in such hot weather, your photos turned out beautiful. The ice cream maker is a piece of gadget that I have been deliberating for a long time – my dream unit is the Cusinart with a built in chiller. Alas, I have not table top space for it….
Lorainne
This is unfair to have some ice cream so cold here but I will remember !! When next July you will freeze and Paris will sweat I will hassle you with fresh food !!!
Have a good time anyway !! cheers from Paris
That is the funniest story Lorraine! Argh.
I can only imagine how that would have felt. x
hee hee. I laughed for a good minute when I read that line about your husband coming out in his underwear. That would have been funny. This ice cream looks so creamy and delicious. I totally feel your pain regarding the photographing of it. I wanted to rip my hair out when I photographed a granita for my blog some time ago!
Ooh this is great! I was thinking of making pumpkin ice cream sometime, probably with some cream cheese or even mascarpone to make it kind of a pumpkin cheesecake flavor.
I’m not sure what my favorite flavor is, for the longest time it was black raspberry but since I know how to make any flavor I can dream up now it’s a bit hard to pick a favorite!
Looks great – I made rockmelon icecream at Xmas but turned out too icey …
I want to do Lychee, Watermelon and Rosewater gelato next:)
Mmmmm, looks delicious Lorraine, I want some lol
Favourite ice-cream flavour, oh dear that’s waaay too hard , does gelato count? Prickly pear gelato I once tried in Sicily but then again all their gelato flavours are fantastic.
spiced pumpkin icecream. Yum! Had some recently at bentley bar. Was delicious!
ur so right about making and photographing ice cream…it starts melting as soon as you take it out frm the freezer and wheres the time to photograph it b4 it becomes sauce! here in malaysia.:(
this is the first time ive heard of pumpkin ice cream n it looks awesome! ill make to eat not to fotograph
I was actually tickled-pink when I read this. “Pumpkin” is the code name I use for the young fellow I refer to as my “darker, more nefarious” reason for delving into Chinese culture and cuisine. [Blushes.] With summer looming in earlier than we think in these parts, this looks like a worthwhile project!
well, leave the pumpkin out of this recipe and we have my favorite flavor–CINNAMON! the cloves and cardamom are just a nice bonus.
ooh i wish i had an ice cream maker… of all your delicious recipes this is the one i want the most…
i love anything pumpkin…!!!
Yum – this looks delish. My favourite icecream flavour is by a Toowoomba company called Pixie icecream that I think was gobbled up by Home Icecream, and is called Coconut Ice. It didn’t really taste like coconut ice, but it was delish and pretty pink and white in colour. There also used to be iceblocks called Teddy Bears made by Pixie from the pink coconut ice icecream – bring ‘em back!
Hi Krista-I know, isn’t it the worst?
They know just when to break down don’t they!
Hi Sean-Ahh true true, but a lot of drama!
Haha I haven’t worked with liquid nitrogen yet! 
Hi Rosa-Thankyou so much!
Hi yaelian-Ahh cool! Do you use soy milk or cashew nuts for a vegan version?
Hi Vintage Macaroon-I know, it’s a toughtie right. Like choosing your favourite child
Oooh I love swirls in ice cream!
Hi Maria-Haha that’s exactly how I look at it (although I don’t have any kids). Ooh those flavours sound wickedly good! :O
Hi diva-Ahh yes it’s really for the colder months with the seasonality of pumpkin I suppose! We just got a new one, the old one was really not worth saving
x
Hi Heavenly Housewife-Haha not at all, you have many other talents!
Hi Katherine-Haha I can do it to the fridge
Mmm yes that’s the best way!
Hi Faith-I know, doesn’t it just! And I swear kicking/banging them sometime helps
You are totally right Faith! 
Hi Su-yin-Ahh yes a good pistachio (one that doesn’t taste like almonds!
) They have a habit of tasting like almonds here 
Hi Amanda-Oooh nice! Chocolate and PB is fabulous together, like a creamy PB cup
Hi Theresa-I so have to try them one day!
Hi MaryPoppinsinHeels-Oh yes! Coffee ice cream is to die for! Hehe isn’t that funny and yes I read all about soups and stews
Hi Amy-Hehe maybe it’s the kind of thing one either loves or hates? I’m not sure! Absolutely good quality is a must!
Ahh that reminds me, she has some great recipes in Forever Summer!
Hi Fiona-Hehe really?
Yes here comes the warm weather-finally!:D
Hi Johanna-Thanks! I wish we had air conditioning and then I could relax
Ooh interesting, cheese pancakes with savoury pumpkin ice cream-never thought of that!
Hi Moya-You’re welcome! I hope it compares favourably with the pumpkin pie icecream in Alaska!
Thankyou!
Hi Natalie-Haha yes I really should get me some of that. I feel like I’m totally missing out! Aww what a cute saying!
Hi Julia -Ha you are so right!
I know, if only I had air conditioning to help matters!
Hi Lauren-I find that too sometimes! So perhaps current favourite flavour
Hi Hannah-Ahh yes ice creams are hard, they are sometime too muted or ring false
If only I could teleport! I think I must do this carrot cake flavour, it sounds like perfection! :O Thankyou for the inspiration as I’m going to try and make it now! 
Oh and never apologise for talking food with me! 
Hi Arwen-I know, I swear it was a hostile gesture
Hi deana-Thankyou so much! They always fill me with such dread
Thankyou!
Hi Liss-It’s sweet though! I promise
I haven’t tried either of those-yet! But I hope to 
Hi Darlene-I know, I don’t suppose any day would have been good for it but not with a special guest! I love frozen yogurt but not the really tart kind
Thankyou so much! 
Hi Lulu-Mm sounds like a nice and chunky mix!
Hi Noodlehead-What a great gift! I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun with it
Hi Letetia-Haha the memories!
I totally understand
Hi betty-Haha really?
Hi pigpigscorner-Oh yes a good matcha with a strong green tea flavour is lovely!
Hi Betty-I know, how hot is it nowdays? We finally got the Summer I guess!
Hi Sweets at Vicky’s-Oh yes I’m sure they can do it!
Oh what a cool idea! I love it! 
Hi Christine-Ahh yes of course the sundae! Good idea! A bit of everything there
Hehe that’s very clever! 
Hi The Little Teochew-Aww thanks so much! Yes I have to psych myself up to do 2 more flavours *sigh…Thankyou!
Hi Lea Ann-Haha so you’re having the opposite of us!
Good idea!
Hi Aparna-Thankyou so much and a Happy New Year to you too!
Hi figtreeapps-Thankyou so much! Good idea!
Hi brussellsprout-Hehe I just have to try them at least once right?
Hi shirley-Awww thanks you are too kind Shirley!
Ahh yes now that would be lovely, a built in chiller! 
Hi pierre-Haha bring it on!
Hi fat mum slim-Hehe thanks! I can laugh about it now
x
Hi La Pastry Chef-I know although he’d never do that thankfully
Oh yes granita is even harder I think you poor thing! 
Hi anna-Ahh very nice indeed!
A cheesecake ice cream is always a crowd pleaser 
Ooh black raspberry, is that very different from red raspberry? I’ve never tasted a black raspberry but it sounds divine!
Hi Rob-Ahh yes melons are hard because they’re so watery
Yum! Very summery there!
Hi matilda-Oh prickly pear gelato, well I never!
I would love to try that!
Hi Reemski-Ahh would love to try theirs!
Hi zurin-I know, the damn weather! And who wants to eat it in Winter?
Hi Midge-Oh yay! Ahhh I see! I was wondering what you meant heehee
Hi grace-Yep cinnamon ice cream is a beauty I have to agree!
Hi buggy-Thankyou so much! I think you can make this without an ice cream maker but it is a bit extra work whereas the ice cream maker does all the work
Hi Cakelaw-Oh they sound so cute! I made a coconut ice cream last year and it brought back such memories!
Oh, choosing a favorite ice cream flavor is a tough task, Lorraine! I would have to say stracciatella and pistachio – can I choose two??
I’m bookmarking this beautiful recipe of yours right now – it’s so hot in here I have got to try as many ice cream recipes as possible!
I’ve never been inspired enough to make ice cream before: seeing as I’m somewhat lacking in an ice cream maker, but I think I’ll just have to get off my butt and try this! I adore pumpkin! I’ve never had pumpkin pie before either, (some pumpkin lover!), do you have a favorite recipe?
Also, my housemate, who I cook experimentally with, is allergic to cream =/ and cows milk, but wonders whether we could use sour cream instead as he has no digestive problems with it ^_^ What do you think? Would the flavours work? Would sour cream be subtle enough?
I love following your blog, your recipes are divine and your photography is wonderful! I always feel hungry after reading one of your posts
Hi Patricia-Ooh I love stracciatella too as well as pistachio but pistachio sometimes has an almondy taste. Thankyou!
Yes we’re both having a similar Summer!
Hi Cailin-Oh fabulous! You know perhaps it might work. I’ve never tried it but I don’t see why not. It may affect the flavour. I’d love to know if it works
Aww thanks so much for your kind words!
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