Inspired by Max’s genius Pumpkin Brownie Chunk Ice Cream, I’ve married two great ice cream loves, Cookies & Cream and Pumpkin, in a recipe that’s a real winner for Serious Eaters who love that pumpkin + chocolate combo as much I do.
Homemade pumpkin purée can really boost your pumpkin flavor, but the canned stuff will work well, too. You can use any pumpkin pie spice mix for this ice cream, but I’m particularly fond of the blend that Trader Joe’s makes with cinnamon, ginger, lemon peel, nutmeg, cloves and just a hint of cardamom. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, try my standby homemade mix: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground clove, and 1/8 teaspoon ground all spice. Check out this pumpkin ice cream primer for even more tips.