August seems to get the short end of the stick when it comes to offering a signature summer dessert. It’s too late in the year to drum up excitement of saltwater taffy and fried fair favorites, but too early for the pumpkin spice hype that happens as the leaves start to turn. However, this Apple Pie Ice Cream recipe stands to change everything. The silky vanilla base and comforting apple pie flavors offer the perfect mix of summer and fall – no ice cream machine required.

Summer Dessert: Apple Pie Ice Cream

Apple Pie Ice Cream Recipe

Image Via: Cannella Vita

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 7 hours

Yield:  1 1/2 pints

Ingredients: 

For Ice Cream Base:

2 cups heavy cream

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Apple Swirl:

2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1 tablespoon butter

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ cup prepared caramel (If you like salty-sweet desserts, check out this decadent salted caramel sauce.)

For Crumb Topping:

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 tablespoons walnuts, finely chopped

2 tablespoons butter

1/8 teaspoon salt

Apple Pie Ice Cream

Image Via: Yammie’s Noshery

Preparation:

1. Heat a skillet to medium and melt a tablespoon of butter. Stir in the apples and vanilla extract. Sprinkle everything with the sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine.
2. Cook the apples for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they have started to brown and the sugars are caramelized. Then, take them out of the pan and allow to cool completely.
3. Return the skillet to the heat and melt the butter for the crumb topping. Mix in the flour, sugar, salt and walnuts.
4. Stir the ingredients constantly until everything is evenly distributed and a toasty brown color. Let the mixture cool completely.
5. After the filling and topping have cooled, beat the heavy cream in a mixer just until stiff peaks form.
6. In a separate bowl, mix together the condensed milk and vanilla extract. Fold in the whipped cream, apple mixture, caramel, and 2/3 of the crumb topping. Gently mix everything to distribute the ingredients.
7. Pour the ice cream into a loaf pan and top it with the remaining crumb mixture. Cover everything tightly with saran wrap or tin foil and allow it to freeze for at least 6 hours

While this ice cream is perfectly fine served on it’s own, it would pop with the crunch from a waffle cone. If you’re feeling especially decadent, go ahead and make extra apple swirl and crumb topping. Once the ice cream is complete, you can use the excess to assemble a crave-able apple pie sundae. Whichever way you serve it, this summer dessert is a keeper. Not only is it delicious, it will have you excited for August’s transition into fall.

How do you feel about mixing summer and fall flavors? Do you have a food that you crave every August?

For more of Stagetecture’s irresistible desserts, click here.