Homemade Caramelised Plum And Cardamom Ice Cream

Last Updated on October 7, 2024 by Cherie

Learn how to make a delicious and seasonal homemade caramelised plum and cardamom ice cream. Find out why these flavours work, learn about their health benefits and find our detailed recipe and guide.

As autumn approaches and the days grow shorter, many of us find ourselves reaching for more comforting flavours to match the season’s cosy vibe. While ice cream may not be the first thing you associate with cooler weather, the warming spice of cardamom and the rich, caramelised sweetness of plums make for a flavour combination that truly hits the spot during this transitional time of year.

The earthy, spiced notes of cardamom offer a cosy warmth, while the caramelised plums bring a depth and richness that feels indulgent yet familiar. This ice cream is the perfect way to enjoy autumn’s bounty.

In this article, we will share our homemade caramelised plum and cardamom ice cream with you along with some health benefit information on both plums and cardamom.

If you’d like to go straight to the recipe, please click on the following link.

Jump to Homemade Caramelised Plum and Cardamom Ice Cream Recipe

A Plum-tastic Caramelised Transformation

By caramelising plums you add a deep, rich sweetness to their natural tartness, making them the perfect base for a luxurious ice cream.

By roasting the plums until their juices are concentrated and their sugars caramelise, you get an intense fruit flavour that pairs beautifully with the warmth and spiciness of cardamom.

Together, these ingredients create a vibrant, exotic ice cream that is both fruity and aromatic.

To learn more about the process and benefits of caramelisation, please see our article – Autumn Fruits Transformed Into Caramelised Homemade Ice Creams.

Why Plum and Cardamom Work So Well

The combination of plum and cardamom creates a wonderful balance of flavours. Here’s why:

Plums: Sweet and Tart, Caramelised Richness

Plums have a naturally sweet-tart flavour that can range from juicy and fresh to deeply concentrated and jammy, depending on how they are prepared. When plums are caramelised, their sugars intensify, giving them a more robust, syrupy sweetness with a deeper, almost molasses-like quality.

• Sweetness with a Tart Edge: Plums strike a delicate balance between sweet and sour. When caramelised, their sweetness becomes more pronounced, but they retain enough acidity to keep the flavour from becoming too cloying. This tartness makes the ice cream refreshing while complementing the creamy, rich texture.
• Concentrated Juiciness: Roasting plums allows their natural juices to intensify and the sugars to develop into a more complex, caramel-like flavour. The skins, especially, contribute a slight bitterness that offsets the fruit’s sweetness, adding depth and balance.
• Rich, Jammy Texture: The softened texture of caramelised plums creates a luxurious mouthfeel, similar to a compote or jam, blending seamlessly into ice cream for an added burst of flavour without overwhelming the palate.

Cardamom: The Warm, Spicy Elegance

Cardamom is a highly aromatic spice that offers a complex blend of flavours. It brings warmth, sweetness, and a hint of citrus, with subtle notes of mint and eucalyptus. Its flavour is both bright and earthy, making it unique in that it can simultaneously evoke feelings of freshness and comfort.

• Warm, Spicy Undertones: Cardamom is known for its spicy yet sweet taste, which is often described as floral or herbal. This spicy warmth adds a deep, fragrant note to any dessert, especially when used with creamy bases like ice cream.
• Citrusy, Lemony Notes: It also carries citrusy undertones, which is why cardamom often works well with fruits. This citrus quality adds brightness to rich or sweet dishes, balancing out more indulgent ingredients like cream and sugar.
• Floral Complexity: The spice’s floral aroma enhances the elegance of any dessert. In this case, it adds a sophisticated contrast to the natural sweetness of the caramelised plums, elevating the entire flavour profile with a fragrant, exotic twist.

Why This Pairing Works:

The spicy warmth of cardamom adds a layer of complexity to the rich, jammy sweetness of caramelised plums. The citrusy, herbal profile of cardamom brightens the plum’s deeper, concentrated flavours, while the spice’s earthy qualities enhance the fruit’s natural tartness. Together, they create a multidimensional flavour experience—vibrant, exotic, and perfectly balanced.

The creaminess of the ice cream provides a soothing base that harmonises both flavours, making each bite scoopful, yet refreshing.

This pairing is truly a perfect marriage of bright and bold, sweet and spiced, making it a standout ice cream flavour for those seeking something unique yet comforting.

Health Benefits

Together, these ingredients not only offer amazing flavours but also provide a range of health benefits.

Plums are rich in vitamins C and K, antioxidants, and dietary fibre, making them a healthy addition to any dessert. They aid digestion and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Cardamom, on the other hand, is packed with antioxidants and is known to support digestive health, reduce inflammation, and even help lower blood pressure.

Homemade Caramelised Plum and Cardamom Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 1.4 kg fresh plums, halved and pitted
• 200 g granulated sugar
• 10 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 600 ml double cream
• 250 ml whole milk
• 6 large egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1. Caramelise the Plums: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Place the plums, cut side up, on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with half the sugar and roast for 25-30 minutes, until soft and caramelised. Allow to cool, then blend into a smooth puree.
2. Infuse the Cream with Cardamom: In a saucepan, combine the cream, milk, and cardamom pods. Gently heat until steaming (do not boil), then remove from heat and let the cardamom infuse for 30 minutes.
3. Make the Custard: In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and the remaining sugar until pale and creamy. Gradually whisk in the warm cream mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Strain the custard through a sieve to remove the cardamom pods.
4. Mix in the Plum Puree: Once the custard has cooled, stir in the caramelised plum puree and vanilla extract.
5. Churn and Freeze: Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once churned, transfer to a container and freeze for 4 hours or until firm.
   • NB: If you do not have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a lidded, freezer-safe container and freeze. Every 30 minutes, remove from the freezer and stir vigorously with a fork or whisk to break up ice crystals. Repeat this process for 2–3 hours until the ice cream is smooth and creamy. See our article – How to Make Homemade Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker

Preparation Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 30 minutes | Churning Time: 20-30 minutes | Freezing Time: 4 hours

Optional Add-Ons for Caramelised Plum and Cardamom Ice Cream

1. Candied Ginger: The sweet and spicy flavour of candied ginger pairs beautifully with the warm, floral notes of cardamom. The zingy heat of ginger adds a contrasting bite to the rich, sweet plums, making for an exciting flavour combination. Plus, its chewy texture provides a pleasant contrast to the smoothness of the ice cream.
2. Toasted Almonds: Toasted almonds bring a nutty, crunchy texture that complements the creamy consistency of the ice cream. The slight bitterness of almonds balances the sweetness of caramelised plums, while their nuttiness enhances the warm, spiced notes of cardamom.
3. Honey Drizzle: A drizzle of honey adds an extra layer of natural sweetness with floral undertones that pairs wonderfully with both the plums and the cardamom. Honey’s rich, syrupy texture makes the ice cream even more indulgent, adding a touch of sophistication.
4. Dark Chocolate Shavings: The slight bitterness of dark chocolate works well with the sweet-tart profile of caramelised plums, while also highlighting the warmth of the cardamom. Chocolate adds richness without overwhelming the balance of flavours, and the shavings bring an elegant texture.
5. Crumbled Shortbread Biscuits: Shortbread crumbs add a buttery, crunchy element to the ice cream, echoing the richness of the cream while adding texture. The buttery flavour pairs particularly well with the caramelised plums and provides a subtle contrast to the spiciness of cardamom.
6. Roasted Pistachios: Pistachios offer a nutty, slightly sweet flavour that complements both the fruitiness of the plums and the warmth of the cardamom. Their bright green colour also adds a beautiful visual contrast to the pinkish hue of the ice cream, making it as visually appealing as it is tasty.
7. Balsamic Reduction: For a more adventurous option, a balsamic reduction brings a tangy, syrupy sweetness that enhances the caramelised notes of the plums and plays off the spiciness of the cardamom. The acidity cuts through the richness of the ice cream, balancing the flavours in an unexpected yet delicious way​.

Each of these add-ons enhances the complexity of the ice cream by introducing new textures and complementary flavours, making every spoonful a delicious treat.

Storage Tips:

To keep your homemade ice cream fresh:

• Store in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.
• Place a layer of parchment paper directly on top of the ice cream before sealing to minimise air exposure.
• Consume within one month for optimal flavour and texture.

For more information on best practices for ice cream storage, please see our article – Ice Cream Storage Solutions – Essential Tips To Keep Your Homemade Ice Cream Fresh!

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We hope that you have enjoyed our article – Homemade Caramelised Plum And Cardamom Ice Cream – and we especially hope that we have inspired you to give this delicious seasonal recipe a go.

If you have any questions, please do leave us a comment below and we will be happy to get back to you.

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