Ice Bomb Recipes

Steps:

• Coat inside of 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper by cutting two strips, one the width and the other the length of the pan, overlapping them inside the pan. Both should be long enough to generously hang over edges of pan. Place in freezer to chill for 15 minutes. Beat pistachio ice cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until soft but still holding its shape, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pistachios; remove pan from freezer. Transfer pistachio ice cream to pan, forming a 1-inch layer and smoothing with a small offset spatula. Return pan to freezer until the ice cream hardens, about 40 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, combine cherries, rum, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat (be careful not to ignite); reduce heat; cover pan. Let cherries simmer until all liquid is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool.
• In a medium bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form; set aside. Soften vanilla ice cream as above. Fold whipped cream into vanilla ice cream. Remove mold from freezer; add a layer of vanilla mixture, smoothing top with a small offset spatula. Return to freezer.
• When vanilla layer is firm to the touch, about 45 minutes, soften chocolate ice cream as above. Add cooled cherries; mix until just combined. Remove mold from freezer; fill to top with chocolate-cherry mixture. Smooth top with an offset spatula; cover with plastic wrap. Return to freezer until completely hardened, about 4 hours or overnight. To unmold, remove from freezer; dip in very hot water for a few seconds. Sprinkle sliced almonds, if using, over chocolate ice cream to keep ice cream from sliding when turned out. Using the overhanging parchment, gently lift ice cream out of pan. Invert onto cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice into servings.

Steps:

• Freeze an 8-inch bowl. When it's cold, place the mango sorbet in the bowl and press it against the sides of the bowl. If you have a 6 1/2-inch bowl the same shape as the 8-inch bowl (such as from a set of nesting bowls), cover it with plastic wrap and press it into the sorbet to make the layer even. Freeze the sorbet for 30 minutes or until firm. Remove the 6 1/2-inch bowl.
• Spread an even layer of softened raspberry sorbet on top of the mango sorbet (a 4 1/2-inch nesting bowl wrapped in plastic wrap helps with this) and freeze for another 30 minutes or until firm. Remove the 4 1/2 inch bowl.
• Finally, spoon in enough softened strawberry ice cream to fill the bowl. Freeze until hard.
• To unmold, dip the bowl up to the rim in warm water. Run a knife around the edge to loosen the bombe and unmold upside down onto a flat plate. You may need to run a flexible metal spatula along the edge of the bombe to release it. Freeze until ready to serve. Serve in wedges.
• Mango Sorbet:
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 5 large ripe mangoes, peeled and seeded
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Place the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
• Place the mangoes in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and puree. You should have about 5 cups of mango. If you want a smoother sorbet, you can process the puree through a food mill fitted with a medium blade.
• Combine the mango, sugar syrup, orange juice, and salt and refrigerate until cold. Freeze in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's directions. (The sorbet will be soft.) Serve directly from the ice cream machine.
• Yield: 1 1/2 quarts; 6 servings

Steps:

• For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl and mix until well combined; set aside.
• Melt the butter and chocolate in a double boiler, then whisk together until fully combined. Pour the chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture and mix until fully combined. Fold in the flour and cocoa.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• For the bombe: Using a 4-inch ring cutter, cut a round from the baking sheet of brownies. Slice the remaining brownies into approximately 3-by-4-inch rectangles. You should have 10 rectangles. Keep 5 rectangles as they are and cut the other 5 in half to make triangles.
• Line a 2 1/2-quart (about 9 inches across) freezer-safe bowl with plastic wrap. Place the brownie round in the bottom of the bowl and, alternating between the rectangles and triangles, fill the sides of the bowl. Press the brownie pieces into the bowl so that the interior of the bowl is lined with brownies. Break off any excess that extends above the edge of the bowl. Make sure to press the seams together so there are no cracks. Break the remaining brownie pieces into small crumbles and reserve.
• Wrap a 5-inch freezer-safe bowl in plastic wrap from the bottom, combining the loose ends of the plastic wrap at the top.
• Spread the softened ice cream inside the large bowl over the brownie layer. You should have about a 2-inch-thick layer of ice cream. Place the 5-inch bowl inside the ice cream layer, pushing it into the ice cream slightly to create a well. Cover the top with plastic wrap and freeze until the ice cream is firm, about 2 hours.
• In a large chilled bowl, combine the heavy cream, granulated sugar and cocoa. Whip the cream with a whisk or electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Remove the bombe from the freezer and remove the small bowl. Pour the hot fudge into the well, then fill with the whipped cream. Combine the reserved brownie crumbles and walnuts and sprinkle over the top of the bombe. Cover with plastic wrap and push down to press the brownie crumbles into the bombe. Freeze until the whipped cream is frozen, about 2 hours.
• Remove the bombe from the freezer and place the bowl side into a large bowl of hot water for 1 minute. Remove the plastic wrap. Invert the bombe onto a large platter or plate. Remove the glass bowl and plastic wrap. Garnish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder. Slice and serve.

Steps:

• Line a small trifle dish with plastic wrap. Pour some orange liqueur into a shallow dish.
• Press a 1/2-inch layer of ice cream into the trifle dish. Then put in a layer of raspberries. Dip some ladyfingers into the orange liqueur and place them on top of the berries, pressing them in lightly. Add another layer of ice cream, another layer of orange liqueur-dipped ladyfingers and then a layer of mangos. Add a last layer of ice cream if there is room. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• When you are ready to serve, unmold the cakes, removing the plastic wrap, onto a cold serving plate. (Dip the bottom of the dish in warm water to loosen the bomb.) Quickly pour over the chocolate shell. Garnish with chocolate curls. Stick a sparkler on top (please check your local ordinances!) and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Line a 1.2-litre pudding bowl with a double layer of cling film, leaving plenty overhanging, and make a space for the bowl in the freezer. Put the biscuits in a food processor and blitz until they resemble fine crumbs. Add the butter and 2 tbsp caramel, and blend until well mixed. Save about 3 tbsp for the top and tip the rest into the lined pudding bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press evenly over the base and up the sides of the bowl. Freeze for 30 mins.
• Remove the chocolate ice cream from the freezer and allow it to soften at room temperature for 10 mins. Remove the pudding bowl from the freezer too (the biscuits should be firm by now.) Spoon the ice cream into the biscuit- lined bowl, packing it into the base. Spoon over the remaining caramel, spreading it to the biscuit walls. Return to the freezer for 30 mins.
• Remove the caramel ice cream and allow it to soften for 10 mins. Meanwhile, tip 75g Maltesers into a bowl and lighty crush with the end of a rolling pin, leaving some chunky bits. Add the ice cream to the bowl and stir through the Malteser pieces - work quickly so the ice cream doesn't melt too much. Remove the pudding bowl from the freezer and tip in the Malteser ice cream, spreading it to completely fill the bowl, then level the top. Scatter with the remaining biscuit crumbs. Return to the freezer for at least 4 hrs (or for up to 2 weeks).
• Put the cream in a pan and heat until steaming hot but not boiling. Put the chocolate in a large bowl and pour over the cream. Leave to stand for 1-2 mins, then stir to make a smooth ganache. Set aside to cool until the sauce thickens to a spreadable consistency (you can speed this up by putting it in the fridge, but remember to stir it every 5-10 mins or it will set around the edges).
• Remove the pudding bowl from the freezer. Turn it onto a plate and remove the bowl and cling film. Spread half the chocolate ganache all over the pudding and, as quickly as you can, stick the remaining Maltesers all over the surface - this is easiest if you start around the bottom and work your way up in layers. The chocolate ganache will start to set, so use a little more from the bowl to make the Maltesers stick. Once covered, return to the freezer for at least a further 4 hrs (or for up to 3 days), removing it 10 mins before serving. Top with a dusting of icing sugar and a sprig of holly, if you like.

Steps:

• Line a 9-inch diameter glass bowl with enough plastic wrap to hang over the edges by 6 inches (15 ¼ cm) all the way around. You may have to use more than one piece of plastic.
• Add the softened ice cream to a medium bowl. Mix with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
• Transfer the softened ice cream to the prepared glass bowl and smooth the top with a rubber spatula so the ice cream is about 1½ inches (4 cm) from the rim of the bowl. Reserve any leftover ice cream in the freezer. Gently press another piece of plastic wrap over the ice cream to prevent freezer burn and freeze for at least 8 hours, up to overnight.
• Make the vanilla cake: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch (23-cm) round cake pan with parchment paper and grease with nonstick spray.
• In a liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, mix together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
• In a separate medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a large bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and butter. Beat with an electric hand mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
• Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the egg yolks, beating between each addition. Continue beating until almost doubled in volume and very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• With the mixer on low speed, gently beat in a third of the flour mixture. Before it's fully combined, add half of the buttermilk mixture. Repeat with another third of the flour, the remaining buttermilk mixture, and the remaining flour and mix until well-blended and no lumps remain. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes, rotating the pan halfway, until the cake is golden brown, pulling away from the sides of the pan, and the top springs back slightly when pressed. A cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean.
• Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. The cake should still be very warm, but cool enough to handle. Remove the cake from the pan and place pan-side down on a wire rack or cutting board. Slice the domed top off the cake and discard or save for another use.
• Remove the ice cream bowl from freezer and peel back the top layer of plastic wrap. Gently flip the cake upside down, placing the still-warm, cut side of the cake down on top of the ice cream. It should fit snugly inside the rim of the bowl. Gently press the cake down to ensure it makes full contact with the ice cream. Cover again with plastic wrap and return to the freezer for at least 6 hours, up to overnight.
• Remove the ice cream bowl from freezer. Fill a slightly larger bowl about ⅓ of the way with hot water. Carefully lower the ice cream bowl into the hot water, ensuring that the water line is well below the rim of the bowl so it doesn't spill over.
• Set a wire rack inside a baking sheet. Peel back the plastic wrap and carefully invert the ice cream bowl onto the center of the wire rack. Remove the bowl and plastic wrap.
• Using the hot water in the larger bowl, warm an offset spatula for a few seconds. Use the spatula to smooth out any creases in the ice cream left by the plastic wrap. The surface of the ice cream should be as smooth as possible. If there are any gaps between the ice cream and cake, fill in with the leftover ice cream. If the ice cream has started to melt at all, return to the freezer until completely frozen again, 1-2 hours.
• Make the chocolate glaze: Add the chocolate, butter, and corn syrup to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, whisking between, until completely melted. Whisk vigorously until glaze is smooth and glossy. Let cool to about 100°F (38°C), or just warm to the touch, before using.
• Pour the chocolate glaze directly over the top of the ice cream dome in one continuous pour, using a spatula to ensure the chocolate leaves the bowl quickly. Ensure the bombe is covered completely by swirling the chocolate in a 2-inch circle over the top center of the dome.
• Let the bombe sit at room temperature 5-10 minutes for the ice cream to soften slightly and the glaze to set, or place in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes. If serving more than 30 minutes later, return to the freezer, then let the bombe thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit into a large bowl, add 2 tbsp brandy and the sugar, then cover with cling film. Microwave on High for 2 mins until the sugar has melted and the fruit plumped up. Give it a stir, then leave to cool and soak overnight. If you're short of time, carry on with step 2 and leave to soak for as long as it takes to complete step 2.
• Put the cream, remaining brandy and icing sugar into a large bowl and whip to soft peaks. Pour the custard into another bowl and fold the cream into it. Tip into a freezer container and freeze the mix for 4 hrs, stirring the frozen edges into the rest of the mixture every hour or so until the whole tub is soft, but frozen (or use an ice cream machine, churning for 20-30 mins until thick). Meanwhile, line a 1.2-litre pudding basin with cling film.
• Once the ice cream mix is thick, quickly fold the soaked fruit (and any liquid from it) and frozen cranberries through it and spoon into the lined basin. Freeze overnight or for at least 6 hrs. To serve, leave bombe at room temperature for 10 mins and turn out onto a serving plate.
• To make the cranberry brandy butter sauce, in a heavy-based pan gently heat muscovado sugar and butter until the sugar dissolves.
• Splash in brandy, add cranberries and boil gently till the cranberries pop, but still hold their shape and colour the sauce. If you want to, sieve the seeds out of the sauce and add some more cranberries for a really glossy finish. Serve hot or warm.

Steps:

• Take the ice cream out of the freezer for 20 mins to soften. Put the mixed dried fruit in a small pan and stir through the brandy, clementine zest and juice and cinnamon, then heat until just steaming. Set aside to cool.
• Oil and line a medium pudding basin (approx 900ml) with two layers of baking parchment. Cut into the sides of the parchment, so it fits closely around the sides of the basin - you want it to be as smooth as possible as it will imprint into the bombe. Two layers of parchment will help you remove it once frozen.
• Mix the softened ice cream, infused fruit and any remaining liquid with the free from Christmas Pudding in a large bowl. Mix gently until the fruit and pudding are evenly distributed in the ice cream. Spoon into the basin, and smooth over the top. Cover and freeze for 6 hrs until solid. Will keep frozen for up to three months.
• About 20 mins before serving, heat the cream in a small pan until steaming. Put the chopped chocolate in a bowl, then pour the hot cream over it, stirring until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy. Leave to cool slightly. Remove the bombe from the freezer 10 mins before serving.
• To serve, invert the bombe onto a serving plate and remove any parchment - dip the base of the basin into warm water to help remove it if needed. Pour the chocolate ganache over the top, easing it gently down the sides of the bombe a little before it sets. Top with the dried cranberries or glacé cherries, and the holly or bay leaves, if using. Spray everything with gold lustre, if you like, and serve whole at the table before cutting into portions.

Steps:

• Line a 4-qt. bowl with plastic wrap. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Quickly spread strawberry ice cream over the bottom and up the sides to within 1/2 in. of the top of bowl. Freeze for 1 hour or until firm. Repeat with chocolate ice cream. Freeze for 2 hours or until firm. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup whipping cream, sugar and egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches at least 160° and coats the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Refrigerate until chilled., Fold in the hazelnuts, chopped candy bar and currants. Beat remaining whipping cream until stiff peaks form; fold into custard. Spoon into ice cream shell, spreading to completely cover the top. Cover and freeze overnight., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Cool. Remove bombe from the freezer and invert onto a serving plate. Remove bowl and plastic wrap. Working quickly, spread chocolate, a little at a time, over entire bombe. Freeze until chocolate is firm. Cut into wedges.