This is really Part Two of the ice cream challenge! Before the weekend, I began by making a malted milk custard base for my very first ever home made ice-cream for Kavey’s Bloggers Scream for Ice Cream challenge! I’m only just in time as today is the last day to post entries, but I think I can do it! The good news is – it worked!

A quick re-cap – I learnt that to make a custard-based ice-cream, you first have to make a very simple custard, with egg yolks sugar, double cream and milk. For added flavour, I used vanilla sugar and 50g Horlicks, or Malted Milk Powder.
I followed the instructions for Malt Chocolate Ice Cream on BBC Good food here – I didn’t use the melted chocolate or Irish cream liqueur. After taking a cupful out to go with some seasonal rhubarb, I put the rest into a metal loaf tin and into the freezer.
Since I don’t have an ice-cream maker, I used a no-curn method, using a spatula to stir every 30 minutes. It actually came together really well – no great disasters!
Then I read Laura’s post on Ginger C’Rum Ice Cream and she suggested mixing it with a fork after the first 30 minutes and then every 30 minutes for at least the next 3 hours.
I also read that you can, in fact, use an electric whisk to mix the ice cream once the ice crystals start to form, so I will try that next time.
David Lebovitz has also written a great post on How to Make Ice Cream Without a Machine and incidentally, James left a comment to say he had tried a Malted Milk Ice Cream from David’s book The Perfect Scoop – so if you have that you could just follow David’s recipe and instructions in full – it’s on my wish list!
Quick Mars Bar Sauce
All that was left was to make a suitably quick and easy sauce, so out came two Mars Bars and some double cream. To make the sauce, you literally chop the Mars Bars (I had about 170g worth), put them into a bowl over a pan of simmering water (bain marie method) and stir until it is melted adding 1-2 tablespoons of double cream and then 1-2 tablespoons whole milk if it is too thick. There will be a few lumps as the caramel melts, but you can use a whisk to smooth it out. You can make Mars Bar sauce in the microwave too, just keep stirring every 30 second until it is all combined and melted.
My little boy was fighting a fever yesterday and so was home from school. Guess what? He managed some ice cream!
Why You Should Make Your Own Ice Cream
Shockingly, I looked at the ice cream in the freezer that I would have given my son, had I not made my own. It is a well-known UK brand, bought at the supermarket called “Classic Cornish Vanilla Ice Cream” – note, the box says “Simply 100% Dairy Ice Cream With Real Cornish Cream.”
Here are the ingredients on the shop bought ice cream – “Reconstituted Skimmed Milk, Water, Sugar, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Cornish Cream, Whey Solids, Glucose Syrup, Butteroil, Emulsifier (mono and di-glycerides of fatty acids), vanilla extract, stabilisers (locus bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan), colour (mixed carotenes), flavouring.”
There are at least 6 ingredients in this shop bought ice cream that I don’t recognise.
Moral of the story – check the ingredients OR MAKE YOUR OWN!!!!!
Thanks Kavey for hosting this challenge – I have not only learnt a new skill, I have gained a new a LOT of knowledge in the process!
What’s your favourite ice cream flavour/combo?
Have you got an ice cream machine?!
Sarah says
Mars Bar sauce looks lush! I wouldn’t be suprised if we start seeing that in the shops!
Dianne@Maids says
thumbs up for this ice cream!
really looking good i love the blending.
the bar sauce is the best finale :p
Ren says
Thanks Dianne 🙂
working london mummy says
This is lovely. The texture of the no churn ice cream looks great. I always worry when I make no churn ice cream about it turning out a bit too solid, but this looks lovely and creamy. Mars bar sauce a great addition! Nazima z
Ren says
Thank Nazima! Hope all is well with you and your little bundle. No time to make ice cream for you I bet!
Marie says
That looks wonderfully irresistable Ren!!
Ren says
Aah thanks Marie, the sauce is super quick x
Sally - My Custard Pie says
Loving your pictures Ren
Ren says
Thank Sally. Main camera out of action so having to snap on iphone! It is strangely liberating!
Billy says
this is really what i need to feed my ice cream craving haha!
good post dear i really enjoy it 🙂
Ren says
Thanks Billy!
Ren says
Mars Bar sandwiches, now there’s a recipe! Toasted..!
Mark Willis says
I’m thinking of taking a “sickie” so that I can come round to your place for some ice cream with Mars bar sauce…
When I was a boy I used to have Mars bar sandwiches. Put the bar into the fridge for a while until it is really firm, and then use a knife to slice it really thinly – then into a couple of slices of buttered bread (toasted if desired…)
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
I knew it would work Ren! Looks stunning and who could resist a mars bar topping too . I thought about using an electric whisk but think if you have a chunky ice cream mix then the electric whisk would remove all the chunks & texture so may only use it for my smooth textured ice creams. I can’t wait for summer and the arrival of soft fruits :-)x
Ren says
Thanks for your tips Laura. I also read you can make a quick, no-churn ice cream with a can of condensed milk, so that might be worth a try soon. Toying with sticking an ice-cream maker on my birthday list now!
Jacqueline says
I love your ice cream Ren and you are taking me back with that sauce. My mum used to make that when I was wee.
As for ice cream. I like a scoop of dark chocolate alongside a scoop or tart sorbet. Yum!
Ren says
Isn’t it just the quickest, easiest sauce? Already caramelly, silky, gooey, all of those good things! I’ll try your dark choc-sorbet combo soon!
Mary says
Incredible!! looks like such a delicious treat!
Mary x
Ren says
Thanks Mary 🙂 Sunny days!
Jamie says
I love ice cream but rarely make it since I don’t have a machine and feel that it doesn’t always come out well. Yours, on the other hand, is perfect! I must try your recipe… and that decadent sauce is a WOWEE!!! Fabulous, Ren!
Ren says
Thanks Jamie, I was pleased for a first attempt! Also really quick with ready-made custard or condensed milk! xxx
Magnolia Verandah says
This looks irresistible – when you make yourself you know what’s in it and its not that hard.
Ren says
Hiya, yep! I freaked out! Will look closer in future! Or make my own now I know how!
Kit says
Oh Wow! looks so heavenly yummy! I really have to bookmark this recipe for coming spring/summer. 🙂
Ren says
Thanks Kit hope you enjoy it when the weather warms up!
Kat says
Oh god… that looks absolutely incredible.
Ren says
Thanks Kat, try the sauce!
Kavey says
How delicious does that look!
Am glad that a few people without ice cream machines have gone ahead and entered, as it proves how simple it is to make your own!
Thanks Ren!
Ren says
Thanks Kavey, a really great challenge. Easy and better for you to make your own!
Zita says
This looks so yum! I need 2 scoops after lunch! Please send me in a box. The weather is cold, it started snowing again so it won’t melt! 🙂
Ren says
Hi Zita, sorry to hear it is so cold! Hopefully the weather will warm up soon 🙂
thelittleloaf says
This sounds like absolute heaven, and so simple! Malted milk is such a comforting flavour – it makes me think of my childhood, and as for Mars Bar sauce? Yum! 🙂
Ren says
I agree, my sister and I used to make Mars Bar sauce as kids all the time, so I guess it is a nostalgia recipe! Thanks for stopping by x