This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
Homemade Rolo Ice Cream? Yep, I went there! Trust me when I tell you that you need this recipe in your life. Today. Not tomorrow, TODAY.
I’m guessing by now, you’ve caught on to the fact that I’m obsessed with Rolos. I mean, come on, I’ve devoted an entire week to them. Well, technically a week and two days because I got a little side tracked by the gorgeous weather and decided cook a pretty serious Southern meal. By serious I mean fried chicken, mashed potatoes with country gravy, corn on the cob and some incredible biscuits that I’ll be blogging next week.
I got inspired to make this Rolo Ice Cream after stopping at McDonald’s for my daily dose of their unsweetened iced tea and happened to lay my eyes upon something that I am going to go ahead and deem as glorious – A Rolo McFlurry. I don’t partake in much from McDonald’s aside from their iced tea and the occasional Filet-O-Fish, but this Rolo McFlurry is pretty genius is my book.
Vanilla soft serve with ribbons of caramel and little bits of Rolo deliciousness – how could this be a bad thing? I didn’t succumb to the pressure of the strategically placed brightly colored ad in the drive-thru though, something I consider a small miracle. But I decided to duplicate this amazing concoction in my own kitchen using my favorite vanilla ice cream base.
This homemade vanilla ice cream recipe does use a custard base, so it’s a little more involved than the Key Lime Pie Ice Cream recipe that I posted earlier in the month, but trust me it’s worth the effort. Plus, it’s adapted from Alton Brown and in my experience, you can’t really go wrong with his recipes.
The vanilla ice cream recipe is pretty stunning on it’s own, but when you drizzle in caramel syrup and chopped Rolos, you’ll pretty much be in ice cream bliss.
Looking for more ice cream recipes?
Blueberry Pie Ice Cream from She Wears Many Hats
Salted Caramel Ice Cream from Food For My Family
Dried Apricot Pistachio Ice Cream from Brown Eyed Baker
Homemade Rolo Ice Cream
Ingredients:
3 cups half-and-half
1 cup heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split in half and scraped
7 large egg yolks
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
30 Rolos, unwrapped and chopped
1/3 cup caramel syrup
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the half-and-half, heavy cream and vanilla bean with pulp. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and remove from the heat. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they lighten in color and thicken; about 3 minutes.
3. Gradually add the sugar and whisk to combine.
4. Remove vanilla bean pod from cream and discard. Temper the cream mixture into the eggs and sugar by gradually adding small amounts, until about a third of the cream mixture has been added. Pour in the remainder and return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place over low heat. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon and reaches 170 to 175 degrees F.
5. Strain mixture into a container and allow to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. If you don't have a fine mesh sieve, no worries, just make sure there aren't any cooked egg bits in your base.
6. Place the mixture into the refrigerator and once it is cool enough not to form condensation on the lid, cover and store for 4 to 8 hours or until the temperature reaches 40 degrees F or below.
7. Pour into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's directions. This should take approximately 25 to 35 minutes. Once the ice cream is at the soft serve stage, fold in the Rolos.
8. Place half of the ice cream into a freezer-safe, sealable container. Drizzle the caramel syrup over the ice cream and layer the remaining ice cream over the syrup. Drag a knife or skewer through the ice cream to swirl in the caramel, smooth out the top and freeze for 3-5 hours or until ready to serve.
Notes:
- Rolos do freeze, so the pieces will be slightly hard and crunchy. Basically watch your pearly whites when noshing on this Rolo Ice Cream recipe straight out of the freezer.
- Recipe adapted from Alton Brown via Food Network
Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!
Just made this ice cream by using this recipe
TASTY
Lam Dep-
I’m so glad you like the recipe. Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie
When I was a freshman in high school, I would buy a pack of Rolo’s every day after school and eat the entire thing. If only I had that metabolism now…. Thanks for the recipe!
Sammi-
Those candies are impossible to resist! Thanks so much for stopping by.
-Jamie
Can you please tell me what half and half is please ty
Lynn, half and half is something we usually put in coffee here in the US. I believe the closest thing in the UK would be single cream. You can use it in this recipe where I call for half and half.
– Jamie
Hiya love the sound of this recipe but being a kiwi way down in New Zealand I have no idea what half and half is. Can someone provide me with some enlightenment? TIA
Michelle, half and half is a type of milk that we put in coffee, typically. It’s equal parts milk and heavy cream. You can make your own, or use single cream. (I’m assuming you have that, since the UK does, but if you don’t just make your own.)
– Jamie
I was thinking of doing a chocolate base, mostly because I haven’t tried to make Choclate ice cream yet. Do you think it might be as good as with a vanilla base?
And I must find these other rolo recipes you speak of.
Lyndsy,
I think it would amazing with chocolate ice cream! Let us know how it turns out!
Jamie
It turned out really good with a chocolate base. Everyone loved it.
Not sure if you’ve ever been to Canada or not but Nestle actually sells a Rolo Ice Cream and it is divine! It is so much better than the McFlurry! We vacation every summer in Ontario and are certain to get our share while we are there. I’ve tried to find it here in the states but it’s impossible. We also looked into having it shipped but no luck! I’m anxious to try your recipe and see how it compares. By the way…love your site, I’ve been following it for almost a year now and your recipes never let me down! Keep up the good work!
Jessica-
Thanks so much for the information and kind words about the site – I truly appreciate you following me! Have a great Sunday.
-Jamie
Hi, there. I just want to quickly mention that I’m fourteen and from London, and over the last few days, I have grown HOOKED on your blog and recipes. They look so simple and amazingly tasty. So thank you. I think I’m going to start baking! And your nutella recipes just look amazing. Amazingly amazingly amazing.