Eggnog IceCream perfect to celebrate Holidays and National Ice Cream Day

Ice cream seems to always makes problems a bit better. The variety of flavors that are available seem to limitless anymore. Our house currently has 3 boxes of different flavors of ice cream. Do you enjoy ice cream??

December does seem a bit odd to be National Ice Cream day. You would think that this holiday would be celebrated in the heat of summer. If you are like me though it does not matter the weather I love ice cream and always ready to have a bit. I did a bit of research though and did find an ice cream recipe perfect for the holidays.

Kentucky Eggnog Ice Cream (source here)

The old fashioned eggnog being flavored with Kentucky bourbon and brandy offers this ice cream a taste of charm as well.
 Kentucky Eggnog Ice Cream

6 large egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups whole milk
tiny pinch of salt
1 teaspoon cognac vanilla or pure vanilla extract
1 quart heavy or whipping cream, cold
1 cup best quality bourbon
1/2 cup cognac or brandy

Place a large, stainless steel if possible, in the refrigerator to chill. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until the mixture turns a lighter shade of yellow and the texture is creamy  Whisk the milk into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into a heavy 1 1/2 to 2 quart saucepan and cook over a medium heat until the custard coats a wooden spoon nicely.
Immediately pour the custard into the chilled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it until thoroughly chilled, about 1 hour (taste it to check).
When you are ready to make the ice cream, stir in salt, cognac vanilla, cream, bourbon, and cognac or brandy. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions.

Makes 1 1/4 gallon.

Note: The rich custard is one of the secrets here. If you want a lighter ice cream, cook the custard less, so that it coats the wooden spoon very lightly or not at all. But don't cut corners on the ingredients. Use whole milk and heavy cream, and the best bourbon and cognac or brandy