This grilled peach and mascarpone ice cream is the most delicious way to enjoy a warm summer night. With fresh juicy peaches, rich creamy mascarpone, and a hint of honey every bite is perfection.
I enjoy a perfectly grilled peach drizzled with a bit of honey and topped with a scoop of creamy mascarpone cheese as a dessert any day. But as the summer heats up, I run to the freezer for a frozen treat.
This honey mascarpone ice cream with grilled peaches will be your go-to all summer and maybe all year. One of the benefits of making ice cream is that you take some time to make it once, and then you have a small stash for whenever you want a little more.
Ingredients
Peaches - You want to use fresh ripe peaches. Cling peaches are the best to use because the pit will normally release fairly easily.
Mascarpone Cheese - Mascarpone is the star of the show. It is a mild flavored soft creamy cheese. In a pinch, you can sub in cream cheese.
Heavy Cream - Using heavy whipping cream makes ice cream smooth and creamy.
Whole Milk - It is best to use a combination of cream and milk when making homemade ice cream.
White Sugar - Just a bit to enhance the natural sweetness from the peaches and honey.
Honey - Honey goes perfectly with the peaches. You can sub in maple syrup if you prefer.
Egg Yolks - I use raw egg yolks in my ice cream to enhance the creamy texture. If you do not want to use raw eggs you can gently heat the ice cream base or sub in pasteurized eggs.
How to Grill Peaches
Step One: If you are going to grill some peaches, heat up the grill. Allow the grill to get hot, while you prep your peaches. Cut the peaches in half by cutting around the pit. You can then twist the two halves and the peach will pull apart exposing the pit and allow you to pop the pit right out.
Step Two: Once the grill is hot, place the peach halves on the grill for about two minutes per side. This will allow the peaches to develop some nice grill lines and create a caramelization from the sugars within the peach.
Step Three: Once they are done set them aside on a plate and let them cool to room temperature. They will ooze a little juice as they rest, be sure to retain that to add to the ice cream, it will add more peach flavor to your grilled peach ice cream.
How to Make Mascarpone Ice Cream
This mascarpone ice cream recipe is easy to make. Just blend the ingredients and then freeze.
Step One: Add all the other ingredients into a blender while you are allowing the peaches to cool. Blend ingredients until smooth.
Step Two: Then add the peaches and give it a quick pulse, just to break them up a little.
Step Three: With all the ingredients mixed, go ahead and pour the ice cream mixture into your ice cream maker. Follow the instructions per your ice cream maker. Once the custard is done in the ice cream maker, transfer it to a container to put in the freezer to let it harden a little. Of course, you can start enjoying it immediately if you want to taste it.
When you allow it to firm up in the freezer for at least two hours, it is easier to serve it in a nice scoop or transport it to a party to share with friends. I will freeze it in a metal loaf pan and cover it with plastic wrap. It freezes a bit faster this way.
Variations
Spices - Add a pinch of cinnamon or ginger.
Peach Melba - Have you ever heard of peach melba? It's peaches combined with a raspberry sauce and it is amazing. Try this ice cream on top of some keto raspberry cake bars for a delicious peach melba-inspired combo!
Extracts - Add a teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract to boost the flavor.
Toppings - Top a bowl of mascarpone ice cream with some whipped cream, smoked peaches, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Lemon - To make lemon mascarpone ice cream omit the peaches and add the grated zest of one lemon.
Blackberries - To make honey blackberry mascarpone ice cream omit the peaches and stir in a cup of halved blackberries when the ice cream has finished churning.
Strawberry - This may be my favorite variation. Make grilled or smoked strawberries and add those in place of the peaches to make strawberry mascarpone ice cream.
Common Questions
Do I have to add grilled peaches?
Nope. If you'd like plain mascarpone ice cream you can leave out the peaches or serve them on the side.
Can I add regular peaches?
Sure. If you don't want to grill the peaches first you can just add them raw to the ice cream machine. Just give them a coarse chop first and add during the last few minutes of churning or blend them with the other ingredients in the beginning.
Do I need to use an ice cream maker?
If you make this according to the recipe listed without using an ice cream machine it will freeze too hard to scoop. An alternative would be to make a no churn recipe. No churn ice cream recipes call for sweetened condensed milk folded into whipped cream. You should be able to add the mascarpone to the condensed milk and then fold in the peaches too.
Otherwise you can freeze this into popsicles.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe peaches
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup mascarpone cheese
- ⅓ cup white sugar or sugar free 1:1 sweetener of your choice
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 egg yolks ***
Instructions
- Grill the peaches over medium heat until they are softened. Cool and chop.
- Combine all the ingredients except the grilled peaches in a blender and blend until smooth. Churn in an ice cream maker according to your manufacturer's instructions. Stir in the cooled grilled peaches. Freeze in a separate container.
Notes
Nutrition
More Great Recipes:
If you like this ice cream, try making Peanut Butter ice cream next.
Make sure to try our No Bake Mango Cheesecake Bars next!
Love peaches? Here are a few of our favorite peach recipes. Siracha BBQ Sauce and Smoked Peaches.
Need a main course? Try Traeger Turkey or Smoked Chicken Soup.
Originally Published June 19, 2019. Revised and Republished March 21, 2023.
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