Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book by Ben Cohen, Jerry Greenfield, Nancy Stevens
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Book Reviews of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book
Book Review: When they say "generous" they MEAN it
Summary: 5 Stars
I tried out this book's chocolate chip cookie dough recipe along with my new Cuisinart quart ice cream maker today.
When they say "generous quarts" they MEAN it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing... but if you plan on adding mix-ins, I'd recommend adjusting the quantities by starting with half a batch. I seriously mean it: half a batch.
I should've known something was up with their recipe measurements when their sweet cream base added up to four cups of material (three of milk and cream, three-quarters for sugar, and two eggs) and then they were talking about another cup and a half of add-ins. Add the fact that ice cream expands by at least a quarter to a half when you mix it...
I ended up with closer to "two quarts" than "one generous quart" when following the cookie dough directions accurately, and I had to hastily shut off the ice cream maker to keep from decorating the entire kitchen!
So I'd recommend doing the quantity math on their recipes and allowing a cup or two of space for the air that gets mixed in during the process. (Or the easier way is just to cut the recipe in half, like I said earlier.)
But to me the best part of this book (aside from the delicious recipes) is that it teaches you how to think about ice cream making. It teaches about things like how much air gets added, how to vary the types of ice cream bases for different purposes, how to judge what kinds of mix-ins to use and when to add them in the process, etc etc etc...
The ice cream tastes fabulous, and they teach enough about the theory and options of ice cream making that I feel confident in following their guidelines to come up with my own stylized versions of ice cream. (I want to come up with a lower-calorie, lower-cream version, just for starters. And I love green tea ice cream, so I want to come up with a less milky base for that. And I've never heard of anyone doing this but I think chai ice cream sounds like a fabulous idea. And so on, and so on...)
Book Review: Homemade Ice Cream is just Minutes Away
Summary: 5 Stars
My favorite flavor of ice cream is Coconut Almond Chocolate Chunk from Ben & Jerry's; it's only available in their stores, and isn't expected to be available in grocery stores anytime soon. When I was on their web site, I discovered that they had published a cookbook that contained the recipes of most of the Ben & Jerry's flavors, so I immediately purchased it so I could make my favorite flavor at home.
This book is casual and fun. There are colorful drawings throughout, and the recipes are quick and easy. It looks almost like a children's cookbook, and is written so that anyone--child to adult--can understand and follow the recipes.
In addition to ice cream recipes, there are also recipes for refreshing sorbets--mostly fruit, but even one for beer sorbet, brownies--which can be used as an ingredient in ice cream or eaten alone, cookies for ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, sundae sauces, and a few specialty desserts. Every recipe I have tried so far from this book has been quick, easy, and good.
The book also has a history of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, helpful hints and notes on ice cream ingredients, and even a butterfat chart. This book contains a complete index, which is helpful when looking for specific items.
One thing that is missing from this book is a recipe for an old-fashioned cooked custard ice cream base; all of the recipes are uncooked. While the uncooked bases are good, it would have been nice to have at least one recipe for real custard. Also there are no photographs.
If you're interested in making ice cream fast, this is a great and inexpensive book. Even if you don't plan to use their recipes for your ice cream base, the book has lots of good ideas for flavoring and preparing ice cream. I would recommend this book as an addition to your cookbook library; it's a great excuse to purchase a new automatic ice cream maker and eat ice cream every day of the summer!
Book Review: Ended my quest for the perfect ice cream
Summary: 5 Stars
I had memories of homemade icecream perfection from my childhood. However, I never could quite copy the taste no matter how many recipes I tried. I literally printed out volumes of variations, called my parents to ask if they remembered how it was made, looked in other cookbooks...still, there was something missing. I ordered this book after seeing some great reviews on Amazon figuring that at least I'd have some cool flavors if I couldn't get the base exactly as I had remembered...and I frankly began doubting my memories.
SHAZAM! They have several recipes for a vanilla that you can use as your base. You can choose which style you like so you don't have to use this one if you prefer another kind, they give you options...but their main one was IT!!! I wasn't the only one who noticed the difference...as soon as I made it it got the highest accolades of any batch we'd made in the past.
That, added to their chocolate malted recipe (we use malt powder, not Ovaltine. They say to use either.) created nirvana. In fact, we have gotten through many of the recipes but that one winds up being made the most, with or without the chocolate chips.
The best thing about the book is it also goes into the whole science behind ice cream and what makes the tastes different based upon the ingredients you use, amount of butterfat in cream vs. milk and how it changes the texture, changes based on the amount of whipping in the ice cream maker etc.
This has recipes from some of their faves but also some original ideas as well. Unique tastes but truly mastering the art of the ice cream!
Note: eliminating dairy or fat? These can be easily adapted to use with soy milk...non fat or regular too!
Book Review: Best Recipe Book EVER !!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have bought several ice cream books, but this is the ONLY one I can recommend. The recipes are EXCELLENT! I am ordering another since mine is already dog-eared and I've only had it a month. One suggestion if you make the orange cream recipe - use at least double the orange juice stated in the recipe (half a can of frozen concentrate - thawed, of course, and not the small size can). I just tasted the mix to make sure it was the strength I wanted. I've noticed that after this is made and frozen, it doesn't taste as strong as it did before you put it into the machine. I've made this particular recipe 3 times and will continue making it !! It beats any creamsicle you've ever had. And the French Vanilla and Mocha (and regular Coffee) are to die for! The mocha came out the texture of gelato - what a dream ! I haven't managed to try all the recipes yet, but the 10 or so I've tried have turned out perfectly. I am now making it once or twice a week for my co-workers because it is too good not to share! This book has also given me enough information to experiment with recipes of my own. I just can't say enough about this book. And as a previous reviewer states, there should be a sequel - if they are willing to give up more of their recipes. And I wish they would add a recipe for chocolate ice cream using only cocoa powder (I'm too lazy to melt the chocolate squares). Based on their recipes, I strongly recommend using a 1 and 1/2 quart capacity machine, rather than the 1 quart, since when mixes are frozen, they tend to expand due to "whipping" the cream. Air is beaten into the ice cream by the machine, causing the expansion. I noticed that many of the recipes indicate the yield is a "generous quart" and they are not kidding!Book Review: Beautiful and delicious
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my favorite Ice Cream book so far! Imagine the cartons of Ben and Jerry's ice cream art on the pages on this book! Bright, colorful, cute, cozy and funny!
The book starts off with the general history of how the guys came together to bring us what we today know as Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
They give you a few easy ice cream bases to follow, giving you a choice of how creamy and rich you want it to a less filling and figure friendly versions.
Ok, here's the best part; you can make most of the recipes using one of the base recipes, and then pick your favorite page, and drop designated ingredients in. It gives me a great opportunity to customize their crazy concoctions!
Tonight I made two recipes from the book, pumpkin ice cream and plum ice cream, but managed to change them easy into Pumpkin with toasted Hazelnuts and Plum, walnut and shaved chocolate ice cream. Their recipes are fool proof, fun and come out fantastic. Besides you can add whatever combinations your heart desires, you won't find that option at any store!
Some of my favorite recipes from the book are; pumpkin ice cream, plum, kiwi, Banana fudge chunk, strawberry coconut, Fresh coffee, Maple walnut, cantaloupe and many more I can't wait to try out. In the end sections they also have recipes for sorbets, cookies, brownies and sauces, with ideas how to arrange the whole thing into a mouth watering creation.
Great book, not expensive and trust me, looking at the recipes will get you into that kitchen weather you have an ice cream maker or not!