Have any of you read the “Tiger’s Curse” series? It’s like a mash-up of Indiana Jones and Twilight, minus the vampires. Insert two 300-year-old Indian princes (from the sub-continent of India, not American Indians which were originally mistaken as Indians from the sub-continent of India) who have been cursed, and the girl who tries to lift the curse. If you haven’t guessed already, the curse is that the men were changed into tigers. However, they do get 24 minutes of each day to be men. And when they are men, they remind me of this ice cream. Mysterious, multi-faceted, alluring, captivating. If you read the books, you will know what I mean. Or you can eat this ice cream and also know what I mean.
I was actually inspired to make this ice cream by a Celestial Seasonings tea called “Bengal Spice” with, oddly enough, a picture of a tiger on the box. So now we’ve come full circle. Like the tea, this ice cream has vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and just a sprinkle of black pepper.
Time Commitment: Medium
Health Benefits of Ingredients: (Please see the Disclaimer)
Pure Vanilla activates chemicals in the brain that reduce inflammation and improve mental performance. (See “Using Vanilla to Increase Your Mental Performance“).
Cardamom has been used to treat digestive issues such as heartburn, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and constipation. It has also been used in treatments for the common cold, cough, and bronchitis. (See “Cardamom: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings“).
Cinnamon may help fight fungal infections, diabetes, help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease, and lower the negative effects of high-fat meals. (See “Cinnamon: Health Benefits, Research, Risks“).
Ginger has been shown to relieve gastrointestinal irritation, relieve nausea and vomiting, reduce menstrual pain, and reduce inflammation. (See “Ginger: Health Benefits and Nutritional Information“).
Cloves have the highest anti-oxidant properties of any spice. (See “Cloves Are the Best Natural Antioxidant“).
Nutmeg is good for your brain, helping to eliminate fatigue and stress and improve concentration. It is also good for oral health because of its antibacterial properties. Nutmeg has also been shown to help prevent and dissolve kidney stones. (See “7 Health Benefits Nutmeg Provides“).
I recommend the Cuisinart ICE-21 1.5 Quart Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream Maker
- 2 c. heavy whipping cream
- 1 c. milk
- 3/4 c. sugar
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. cardamom
- 1/2 tsp. ginger
- 1/2 tsp. cloves
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- pinch of black pepper
- Mix milk and spices in microwave-safe container and microwave on high for one minute.
- Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Add vanilla and cream. Mix well and chill for about two hours.
- Add to your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's directions.
- Transfer to an airtight container and freeze.
Olivia says
YUM! Death by spice and now I have to read that book!
Colleen Houck says
That is awesome! I want to try this flavor now =)
Melissa Howell says
I would like everyone to know that a famous author just commented on my blog! Thanks so much to Colleen for taking the time to stop by! (She is the author of the Tiger’s Curse series I mentioned in this post!)
Olivia says
I am so glad I was stalking your comments just now. I have the entire Tiger’s Curse series in my library pile and had NO IDEA why I put in on hold in the first place. hahaha. Now I am excited to read it!
Courtney Wells says
I made this today and it was Ahhhhh-amazing!!! I am so signing up for this blog! I found all your ice creams on Pinterest and I’m in love!!
Melissa Howell says
Thank you so much Courtney! I’m so excited you made this ice cream and hope that you try lots of others on my blog! Thanks for commenting!
Mike says
I made this with more of a custard base with yolks, heavy cream and half and half. I also added almond extract by mistake. These spices were amazing. Kids and all enjoyed it so much. Thanks for the great idea!
Melissa Howell says
So glad you liked it! Your tweaks sound like they made the ice cream even better!
Jazmyne says
Pure deliciousness!!! My fav ice cream now! This is basically a vanilla chai ice cream, and it is so so good.
Melissa Howell says
So happy you liked it! Thanks for commenting!