Tahini Ice Cream with Dates (Printer-Friendly)

Nutty tahini blended with Medjool dates and a touch of sea salt for a creamy, sweet-savory delight.

# What You'll Need:

→ Ice Cream Base

01 - 2 cups heavy cream
02 - 1 cup whole milk
03 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 cup tahini, well stirred
05 - 4 large egg yolks
06 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
07 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Date Topping

08 - 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons water
10 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Garnish

11 - Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

# How To Make It:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine heavy cream and milk. Heat over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
02 - In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick.
03 - Gradually pour the hot milk mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
04 - Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a spoon, reaching 170-175°F internal temperature.
05 - Remove from heat. Whisk in tahini, vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt until smooth.
06 - Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl. Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours.
07 - In a small saucepan, combine chopped dates, water, and lemon juice. Cook over low heat, stirring, until the dates are soft and jammy, about 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
08 - Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.
09 - In the last minute of churning, swirl in half of the cooled date mixture.
10 - Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container. Dollop the remaining date mixture on top and swirl with a knife. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
11 - Scoop into bowls, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and serve.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Tahini brings an unexpected savory depth that makes every spoonful feel sophisticated without tasting complicated.
  • The date swirl melts into pockets of jammy sweetness that creates this beautiful contrast with the creamy base.
  • Sea salt on top isn't just garnish—it's the moment everything clicks into place.
  • No ice cream maker? A blender and freezer method works beautifully if you're willing to stir occasionally.
02 -
  • The tempering step isn't optional—rushing it or skipping it means you'll get scrambled eggs instead of custard, and no amount of straining fixes that.
  • Chilling the custard fully before churning makes an enormous difference in texture; warm custard produces grainy, icy results.
  • The date mixture needs to cool completely before swirling, or it'll melt the soft ice cream into mush.
03 -
  • Room temperature eggs whisk faster and create a smoother custard than cold ones, so pull them out 15 minutes before you start.
  • The flaky sea salt at the end isn't decoration—it's the finishing note that ties everything together, so don't skip it or use table salt.
  • Make the date mixture a day ahead; it keeps in the refrigerator and actually improves as the flavors meld.
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