Ingredients

  • 3 cups fresh bing cherries (pitted and halved)
  • 2 tablespoons kirsch
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar (divided)
  • 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon cherry extract (candy flavoring oil, or exctract optional)
  • 2/3 cup dark chocolate (finely chopped or grated)

Method

  • In a small bowl combine the Cherries with the lemon juice and Kirsh, and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Let the cherries macerate in the juices for at least 2 hours or overnight. Strain the cherries, and reserve the juices.
  • In a medium mixing bowl use a hand mixer on low speed to mix the milk vanilla, and sugar, until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream, the reserved cherry juices, and cherry flavoring. Mix ice cream in your ice cream maker, until thickened. In the meantime chop the dark chocolate very finely, the recipe says 2/3 cup, but use more if you love chocolate! When the ice cream is starting to thicken, add the chocolate, and about five minutes before the mixing is complete, you may add the cherries. The ice cream will be soft. If you want a firmer texture, transfer it to an airtight container, and place in your freezer for a few hours.