When it comes to the Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie flavor, it’s pure perfection in every scoop—sweet, salty, buttery, and loaded with chunks of blondie goodness. Honestly, it feels like a little piece of heaven frozen in a pint.
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How to make Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie
Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie is a rich, dessert-style ice cream flavor that combines sweet, buttery, and slightly salty elements in one scoop.
Ingredients
For the Ice Cream Base (Sweet Cream):
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ½ cup heavy cream (warm)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (or Kosher salt)
For the Blondie Brownies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ice Cream Base
- In a bowl, whisk together heavy cream, whole milk, and granulated sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Add in the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- Cover the mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best for a smoother texture).
Step 2: Make the Salted Caramel Sauce
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the sugar over medium heat until it melts and turns golden brown. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.
- Carefully add the butter and stir until fully melted.
- Slowly pour in the warm heavy cream while whisking constantly—be cautious as it may bubble up.
- Remove from heat and add the salt, stirring to combine. Let the sauce cool completely before using.
Step 3: Bake the Blondie Brownies
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
- In a bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking to combine.
- Fold in the flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the blondies to cool, then cut them into bite-sized chunks.
Step 4: Assemble the Ice Cream
- Pour your chilled ice cream base into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually around 20–25 minutes).
- Once the ice cream reaches a soft-serve consistency, fold in the blondie chunks and salted caramel sauce. Swirl the caramel lightly to create ribbons throughout the ice cream.
- Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 4–6 hours (or until firm).
Tips for Success
- Consistency Matters: Make sure your ice cream base is well-chilled before churning; this ensures a smoother texture.
- Caramel Swirl Mastery: Let the caramel sauce cool completely before adding it to the ice cream—you don’t want it to melt the base.
- Perfect Blondies: Avoid overmixing the batter, as it will make the blondies dense. The goal is to have soft, chewy chunks.
- Sea Salt Perfection: Adjust the salt level in the caramel to match your preferences—it should balance the sweetness without overwhelming it.
What to serve with
Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie ice cream is an indulgent treat on its own, but pairing it with complementary flavors and textures can elevate the experience even further.
1. Warm Desserts for Contrast
Pairing the cold creaminess of Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie with warm desserts creates a perfectly balanced sensory experience. Try serving it with:
a) Warm Apple Crisp or Pie: The sweet and tart flavors of baked apples, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, pair beautifully with the salted caramel swirls. Scoop the Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie over a warm apple dessert for an irresistible combination of hot and cold.
b) Molten Chocolate Lava Cake: The rich, gooey center of a lava cake complements the salty-sweet flavors and blondie chunks—the warmth and bitterness of the chocolate contrast beautifully with the creamy ice cream.
c) Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding: A classic British dessert made with dates and served with warm toffee sauce is a natural match for Salted Caramel Blondie. The rich caramel notes of the pudding enhance the ice cream’s flavors.
2. Cookie Pairings
Cookies are a perfect companion because of their variety in texture and flavor. Consider:
a) Vanilla Shortbread Cookies: The buttery simplicity of shortbread cookies complements the ice cream without overpowering it.
b) Chocolate Chip Cookies: Fresh-baked cookies with melty chocolate chips pair wonderfully with the salted caramel and blondie chunks. Bonus: Make ice cream sandwiches with them!
c) Snickerdoodles: The cinnamon-sugar coating on snickerdoodle cookies adds a warm spice element that pairs beautifully with the saltiness of the caramel.
Ingredients Substitutes
Sometimes you might find yourself missing an ingredient or needing alternatives due to dietary restrictions, availability, or preference. Fortunately, many of the ingredients in Ben & Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie recipe can be swapped out without sacrificing flavor or texture.
1. Substitutes for the Ice Cream Base
The ice cream base is a sweet cream mixture that provides richness, creaminess, and the perfect texture for churning. If you need alternatives, here’s what you can try:
Heavy Cream
Substitute: Coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk.
This is ideal for those who are dairy-free or vegan. Coconut cream provides a similar richness and creamy texture, though it adds a subtle coconut flavor.
Whole Milk
Substitute: Almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk.
Plant-based milks work well as a substitute for whole milk, especially if you’re making a dairy-free version. Oat milk is particularly creamy and great for replicating the texture.
Granulated Sugar
Substitute: Maple syrup, agave syrup, or honey.
If you’re looking for natural sweeteners, liquid alternatives like maple syrup or agave offer a subtle flavor boost while still sweetening the ice cream. Honey is another option, but it can add a slightly floral note.
Vanilla Extract
Substitute: Almond extract or vanilla bean paste.
Almond extract adds a nuttier, slightly stronger flavor, while vanilla bean paste provides an even richer vanilla profile.
2. Substitutes for the Salted Caramel Sauce
Salted caramel sauce is the signature swirl in this recipe. If you need substitutes for any reason, here’s how to modify the recipe:
Granulated Sugar for Caramel
Substitute: Brown sugar or coconut sugar.
Brown sugar creates a slightly deeper molasses flavor in your caramel sauce, while coconut sugar offers a caramel-like taste with less processing.
Unsalted Butter
Substitute: Vegan butter or margarine.
Vegan butter works well for a dairy-free or vegan caramel sauce. Margarine is an option if butter isn’t available in your pantry.
Heavy Cream in Caramel
Substitute: Coconut cream or plant-based cream.
Coconut cream can replace heavy cream in a dairy-free salted caramel sauce and still add richness.
Sea Salt
Substitute: Kosher salt or fleur de sel.
Kosher salt is easy to find and can be used as a substitute for sea salt. Fleur de sel is a premium option that adds a delicate, flaky texture when sprinkled over caramel.
3. Substitutes for Blondie Brownie Ingredients
Blondie brownies are the chunks of buttery, vanilla-flavored goodness that make this ice cream extra indulgent. If you need to swap out ingredients, here’s what to use:
Unsalted Butter
Substitute: Coconut oil or vegan butter.
Coconut oil adds richness and moisture to the blondies, and vegan butter is a closer one-to-one substitute for butter.
Light Brown Sugar
Substitute: Coconut sugar, maple syrup, or white sugar with added molasses.
Coconut sugar offers a similar caramel-like flavor, while maple syrup lends a natural sweetness. If you’re out of brown sugar, mix white sugar with molasses to create your own.
Egg
Substitute: Flaxseed meal or chia seeds mixed with water (for a vegan option).
Combine 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal or chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water as a replacement for 1 egg. It works well as a binding agent in blondies.
All-Purpose Flour
Substitute: Gluten-free flour blend or almond flour.
If you’re gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for similar results. Almond flour adds moisture and nuttiness but may make the blondies slightly denser.
Vanilla Extract
Substitute: Almond extract or vanilla bean powder.
Almond extract adds a nutty twist, while vanilla bean powder gives an intense vanilla flavor without liquid.
Final Thoughts
Ben and Jerry’s Salted Caramel Blondie ice cream is versatile enough to complement a variety of desserts, snacks, and beverages.
Ingredients
For the Ice Cream Base (Sweet Cream):
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup heavy cream (warm)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (or Kosher salt)
For the Blondie Brownies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ice Cream Base
- In a bowl, whisk together heavy cream, whole milk, and granulated sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Add in the vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- Cover the mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is best for a smoother texture).
Step 2: Make the Salted Caramel Sauce
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the sugar over medium heat until it melts and turns golden brown. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.
- Carefully add the butter and stir until fully melted.
- Slowly pour in the warm heavy cream while whisking constantly—be cautious as it may bubble up.
- Remove from heat and add the salt, stirring to combine. Let the sauce cool completely before using.
Step 3: Bake the Blondie Brownies
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8x8-inch baking pan.
- In a bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, whisking to combine.
- Fold in the flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the blondies to cool, then cut them into bite-sized chunks.
Step 4: Assemble the Ice Cream
- Pour your chilled ice cream base into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually around 20–25 minutes).
- Once the ice cream reaches a soft-serve consistency, fold in the blondie chunks and salted caramel sauce. Swirl the caramel lightly to create ribbons throughout the ice cream.
- Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 4–6 hours (or until firm).
