Remember the pink frosted animal crackers? Circus animal cookie ice cream is a pretty pink color with plenty of colorful sprinkles and bits of frosted animal crackers mixed in. It's fun. It's pretty. It's downright delicious!
Beat the egg yolks and sugar until very light and the sugar crystals can't be felt when you pinch a little between your thumb and forefinger.
Set aside.
Combine the milk, cream, and vanilla pods in a heavy saucepan.
Turn heat to medium high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a simmer and bubbles form around the edges of the milk mixture. DO NOT BOIL.
Remove the vanilla pods and scrape the seeds into the milk mixture. Save the pods to use to make vanilla sugar, if desired.
Add a little of the hot liquid to the egg yolks, beating constantly.
Continue to add the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks while beating - make sure the eggs don't curdle.
If you think you've curdled some of the egg pour the mixture through a strainer to catch any cooked egg.
Return the custard mixture to the saucepan and place over low heat.
Cook, stirring, until the custard coats the back of the spoon and your finger leaves a track. Make sure it doesn't boil.
Remove from heat.
Let cool to room temperature then stir in the vanilla and food coloring..
Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Pour the cooled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's directions. If your ice cream maker allows different settings use the "gelato" setting or slow churn setting.
When the ice cream is thick, just before it’s completely done, add the sprinkles and the cookies.
Continue to churn until done.
Remove from churn and pack tightly into a freezer container.
Seal and freeze overnight for best texture and results.
Notes
Storage:Pack homemade ice cream tightly in an airtight container and store in the freezer for a month or two.Tips:
After it's finished in the ice cream maker pack it firmly into a freezer safe storage container and let "ripen " in the freezer overnight..
Split the vanilla beans in half before adding to the milk to get the most flavor.
Chill the base mixture before freezing. Overnight it best.
Add the circus animal cookies and sprinkles when the ice cream has thickened but isn't completely frozen, or as your manufacturer directs.
Store leftover ice cream in the storage container with a piece of plastic wrap pressed firmly over the top. Keep in the coldest part of the freezer.