Is your mouth already watering with those words? I bet it is! There’s something magical about the combination of New York and vanilla ice cream. It’s not just vanilla, it’s not just French vanilla… it’s NY Vanilla!

Imagine this: a scoop of New York style vanilla ice cream every night. That’s what a dear old lady mentioned to me, and she made it clear that it had to be New York style. No other kind would do. She couldn’t quite explain why she found it so addictive, but her enthusiasm piqued my curiosity. I had to find out more about this flavor.

So What is New York Vanilla Ice Cream?

New York is loved by many for different reasons, but the local ice cream is certainly a treat sought after by tourists and locals alike. Ice cream parlors and creameries are a favorite among the young and old.

Over time, a certain ice cream style became associated with the city. It’s rich, folks. It’s absolutely delicious and full of flavor. Let me break it down for you.

There are two styles of vanilla ice cream named after large American cities. First, there’s Philadelphia style ice cream, which is made without eggs. This style lacks the richness and creaminess of other styles.

Then, there’s the famous French Vanilla ice cream, a custard ice cream made with eggs. But wait, there’s more! We have New York style vanilla, which takes creaminess, richness, and flavor to a whole new level, even surpassing the French version.

You might be wondering, how is this possible? Well, New York style vanilla ice cream incorporates more eggs and more vanilla than any other vanilla version out there. It’s a true flavor explosion!

How to Separate Out the Egg Yolk

To achieve the creaminess and richness that defines New York style vanilla ice cream, we need a lot of eggs. So, let me guide you through the process of separating the yolk.

1. Gently crack the egg over an extra bowl, but do not open the egg completely.
2. Try to crack the egg in the center.
3. Carefully open the egg just a little bit and allow the egg white to run out into the bowl.
4. Tip the egg so that the entire yolk fits in one side of the cracked egg. Let the egg white drop out of the egg and into the extra bowl.
5. Pour the egg yolk onto the other side of the cracked egg, allowing more egg white to fall out as the yolk passes to the other side.
6. Continue flipping the egg back and forth until all the whites are gone and only the yolk remains.
7. Place the egg yolks in a separate bowl and repeat until you have enough yolks for the recipe.

But beware of the sharp edges from the cracked egg, they can break the yolk. Don’t worry if you lose a bit of yolk or if some egg whites accidentally mix with the yolks. It’s not the end of the world!

An Easier, but Perhaps Messier Way

There’s an alternative method that some people swear by. Although I’ve never tried it myself, I’ll share it with you. Crack the egg and pour it onto your hand. Keep the egg yolk in your hand, allowing the egg white to run through your fingers into a bowl designated for egg whites. Then, place the egg yolk in a separate bowl for egg yolks.

What to Do with the Egg Whites

Don’t throw away the egg whites! You can use them in desserts or glazes. You can even scramble them with a few yolked eggs and have them for breakfast.

How to Prepare a Vanilla Bean

For this recipe, we’ll need two vanilla beans. Of course, you can substitute them with vanilla paste or vanilla extract if you prefer.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise to open the pod and expose the seeds.
2. Using a blunt knife, scrape the inside of the pod to remove the seeds.
3. Drop the seeds and the pod into the vanilla base to heat, allowing all that vanilla goodness to infuse into your ice cream base.
4. The vanilla pod will be strained out, but the seeds will remain in the ice cream, giving it an elegant appearance.

Serving Tip

There is no reason not to serve this ice cream by itself in all of its rich, creamy, flavor-packed glory. However, if you want to take it to the next level, you can pair it with hot fruit, cookies, or your favorite sundae toppings. The possibilities are endless!

Go ahead, give this New York Vanilla Ice Cream recipe a try, and join the chorus of ice cream lovers who proudly say, “I LOVE NY!”

Ice Cream is all you need!