Celebrating National Ice Cream Day!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 20th - it's National Ice Cream Day! 

Held annually on the third Sunday (Sundae?) in July, National Ice Cream Day is a day dedicated to enjoying this delicious and cooling treat. And what better way to celebrate this year's event than by whipping up a batch of homemade coffee ice cream?

This velvety ice cream is bursting with the rich, aromatic flavours of freshly brewed coffee and is the perfect blend of sweet and bitter  - the ideal treat for a warm, sunny day! 

Here’s how to make it!

Ingredients.

To make coffee ice cream, you will need:

• 300 ml double cream

• 200 g sweetened condensed milk

• 2 tbsp instant coffee granules (or one shot of Cafe2U espresso)

• 1 tbsp boiling water

• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

• Pinch of salt 

Begin by mixing the instant coffee and boiling water together in a small bowl until dissolved, then leave to cool at room temperature. 

Next, in a large bowl, whip the double cream to soft peaks using a hand or stand mixer. In another bowl, mix the condensed milk, coffee, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.

Gently fold the whipped cream into the coffee mixture until it is well combined and smooth, then pour into a freezer-safe container (a loaf tin works well), smooth the top and cover.
Freeze for at least six hours, or overnight, until firm.

For an extra indulgent experience, pair it with a freshly brewed cup of Cafe2U coffee, or get adventurous with your toppings - think chocolate shavings, a drizzle of caramel or a dusting of cinnamon!

Send us your suggestions!

This is just one way you can celebrate National Ice Cream Day - let us know how you like to incorporate ice cream into your coffee routine on our social channels!

National Ice Cream Day: Coffee and Ice Cream Pairings To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth!

Taking place on the third Sunday of July every year, National Ice Cream Day is fast approaching… and not a moment too soon, with a spot of hot, dry weather currently forecast for the coming days.

With more appropriate seasonal weather due to arrive, we've decided to combine two of our favourite treats - coffee and ice cream - and present you with our guide on how to perfectly pair one with the other.

Let's get started!

Affogato.

A nice easy one to start. A classic summer dessert that's easy to make, affogatos are perfect for lovers of espresso and vanilla ice cream.

Simply spoon two scoops of vanilla ice cream into a bowl, then pour over a freshly brewed cup of dark-roast espresso and, err, that's it! 

Bitter, sweet, hot, cold - affogato has it all! You can even add some crunch to yours by crushing a couple of your favourite biscuits (amaretti or biscotti work a treat!) and sprinkling them on top.

Coffee milkshake.

A milkshake for adults? Sign us up!

Ingredients.

To make four coffee milkshakes, you will need:

• 85g plain chocolate, 70% or 80%

• 1 tbsp coffee granules

• 700ml milk

• 4 scoops vanilla ice cream, plus extra to serve (optional)

First, roughly chop 75g of chocolate and place in a large jug with the coffee granules. Next, bring 300ml of the milk just to the boil, then pour over the chocolate and coffee mix, stirring to melt. Once melted, cool.

Tip the cooled milk into a blender with the ice cream and remaining milk. Blitz until blended, then pour into four glasses. Add an extra scoop of ice cream to each, if you like, then grate a little of the remaining chocolate on top to serve.

Creamy, rich, chocolatey and perfect for lazy summer evenings, everyone should commit this recipe to memory!

Send us your suggestions!

Those are just a couple of ways you can celebrate National Ice Cream Day - let us know how you like to incorporate ice cream into your coffee on our social channels!