Last Updated on July 1, 2020 by Chef Mireille
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Cherimoya Ice Cream
This tropical fruit often called the “ice cream fruit” is creamy and luscious. AKA as Custard Apple, this no churn ice cream is a must make flavor.
Do you love Ice Cream as much as I do. Summer, Winter, Fall or Spring – as far as I am concerned, every season is the season for Ice Cream so don’t forget to also check out these 45 Delicious No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes.
Are you an adventurous foodie and trying to teach your kids to be the same?
Do you go perusing your city in search of strange and exotic ingredients? When you see unique ingredients do you buy them without knowing how to utilize them just because you don’t know when or if you will find it again?
When you travel, do you make it a point to only eat local food?
If you do, you’ve come to the right place. Every recipe I transport you to another corner of the globe and help you to utilize every ingredient you find!
Often called the “ice cream fruit”, if you haven’t tried it yet, Cherimoya or Custard Apple should be on the top of your culinary bucket list. It’s sweet, creamy, custard like flesh makes it perfect for ice cream.
In fact, when ripe, the flesh has an almost ice cream consistency all on its own. Add any combination of milk, cream and eggs – it’s even more creamy and luscious!
Where can I get cherimoya in the United States?
Unless you live in a state with tropical climates like Florida or southern California, you most likely will not be able to get the fresh fruit. However, it is available frozen in many Latin supermarkets like Mi Tierra here in NYC or supermarkets with a good selection of International food products.
You may have seen frozen cherimoya and just walked right by it because you thought I don’t know what to do with cherimoya. Well I’m here to help you figure out what to make with cherimoya so the next time you see it, your bring a pack home instead of walking right by it!
You may also be able to find cherimoya in different forms like cherimoya powder in health food and organic stores.
Even if you can only get the dehydrated cherimoya powder, it is great to include in smoothies for not only amazing flavor but a boatload of health benefits.
You can often find canned custard apple in Asian markets.
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What is Cherimoya?
If your first experience with this fruit was in a Spanish speaking country like it was with me, then you know it as cherimoya. However, most of the rest of the English speaking world refers to it as custard apple or in India it is known as sitaphal. Sitaphal Ice Cream is one of the most popular ice cream flavors in India!
My first experience eating custard apple was a visit to Costa Rica many years ago. This is a popular fruit in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and South Asia.
At my favorite Peruvian restaurant here in NYC, the two flavors of ice cream they offer are Lucuma and Cherimoya. Maybe you can’t get to visit Urubamba, but I can definitely teach you how to end your Peruvian meals with Peruvian desserts.
I have already showed you how to make Picarones and Lucuma Ice Cream, so now it’s time for Cherimoya Ice Cream!
As in any plant food, custard apple has a ton of health benefits, so why should you start adding cherimoya into your smoothies?
Custard Apple Health Benefits
- High in Vitamin A & Vitamin C
- High in Pottasium & Magnesium
- Helps control high blood pressure
Custard Apple is the most popular smoothie flavor in Sri Lankan restaurants, so you might want to try it at one of those first!
I know you want to try this soon!
With it being the middle of summer, it is definitely Ice Cream Season. You might want to check out some of my other recipes for Ice Cream and other refreshing summer treats!
Ice Cream Recipes & Summer Coolers
- Strawberry Hibiscus Ice Cream
- Lucuma Ice Cream
- Purple Yam – Ube Ice Cream
- Lemongrass Ice Cream
- Rhubarb Lavender Iced Tea
- Homemade Lychee Juice
- Mint Cooler
- Strawberry Basil Cremolata
- Watermelon Sangria Popsicles
- Come y Bebe – Tropical Fruit Punch
Have you ever wondered Which Type of Ice Cream Scoop is Best for you?
Whether you call it Cherimoya Ice Cream, Helado de Cherimoya or Custard Apple Ice Cream or Sitaphal Ice Cream, it’s just as delicious!
Cherimoya Ice Cream – Custard Apple Ice Cream
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup cherimoya fruit pulp
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup evaporated milk
Instructions
- In a bowl, beat sugar and egg yolks until light and voluminous, about 10 minutes by hand with a whisk or 5 minutes, using an electric mixer.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cherimoya and the heavy cream.
- Heat evaporated milk in a saucepan, but do not boil.
- VERY SLOWLY, add the heated milk to the egg combination, mixing constantly. If you add the warm milk too quickly, the eggs will scramble.
- Add cherimoya cream combination and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer to a freezer safe container.
- Transfer to freezer and stir once every hour for the first four hours.
- Continue to freeze overnight.
Notes
Nutrition
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Well, I guess I will have to live vicariously through this recipe.
You should look around. Your city might just sell one of the forms of cherimoya whether it is in powdered or canned form and you might just not have noticed before. If you’d really like to try it, there are also online sources.
Too bad I can’t get the fresh stuff around me. I have never heard of cherimoya, but I will have to look it up because this ice cream looks amazing!!
Check for the frozen puree!
I’VE MADE “NICE CREAM” WITH FROZEN BANANAS. SO NOW I NEED TO SEE IF I CAN FIND CHERIMOYA AND TRY YOUR RECIPE!
It is becoming more and more available, but a lot of people don’t know what it is so just walk right by it in the market. Here I have even started to see the fresh ones here and there and I am in the northeast!
Oh, I have never ever tried cherimoya, but the recipe is so intriguing that I am going to look for such fruit in a store!
Oh wow! I’ve never heard of this but I can’t wait to try it. You had me at custard-like! Looks so lucious!
What an interesting recipe! I’d never heard of Cherimoya – I’ll need to try it!
I’m a huge fan of cherimoya, as its a staple in my culture. I wanted to try something new and found your no-churn ice cream. It was all I remembered and love from my childhood!
Glad to know I could bring some nice nostalgia for you. Now it’s time to start making cherimoya ice cream again 🙂
Thank you so much for this recipe and for introducing me to cherimoya! This ice cream is such a delicious, refreshing summer treat!
Glad I was able to give you a new ingredient to try. So glad you enjoyed the cherimoya!
I love this recipe as it was my introduction to cherimoya. It’s been a favorite in our home! Thanks for sharing!
glad to be able to introduce you to a new delicious ingredient
This is my first time making Cherimoya and with this delicious recipe, it came out perfect! I’ve been enjoying this for dessert over the past couple of days! Thanks for the recipe!
Your recipe had us on the hunt for cherimoya and we were so excited when we found them at our local Whole Foods. Thank you so much for introducing us to this wonderful creamy fruit!
so happy you were able to find it. Isnt it delicious!
Wow! Love that you’ve introduced me to a new treat. What a creamy treat and thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!
sure. Glad to introduce you to a new fruit
I didn’t know it was SO easy to make Cerimoya Ice Cream! It’s super delicious too!
thanks yes – since it is called the ice cream fruit, then the ice cream should be pretty easy right 🙂
I had been looking for a good no churn ice cream and thanks to you I’ve finally found it! This recipe was so bomb!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I love no churn ice cream so this is a must try!!
I had not used cerimoya before this recipe but am glad to have found it. A new fave, for sure!
Last summer was the first time i tried cherimoya. I can sure imagine this yummy ice cream flavor. something that will cool you off and comfort you in the same time.
Isn’t it such a great texture and flavor. It absolutely deserves its name as the ice cream fruit. You should definitely try out the ice cream.
We call custard apple Tomoko in Kenya and i will for sure try this out
good to know – I am going have to try to remember that. I am sure you will love this amazing ice cream made with this delicious fruit!
I saw these all the time at the farmers’ market and after seeing your recipe I snatched them up and made this! AND OMG WHY DIDN’T I KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFORE?! So delicious and creamy, it’s crazy!
yes – there is a reason cherimoya is called the ice cream fruit
As an ice cream lover, I am always looking for ways to jazz up my homemade ice creams. I stick with vanilla way too much. With this recipe, I learned about cherimoya AND got to up my ice cream game. Thanks!
While vanilla is great, I always like trying the more unique flavors. Glad I found a kindred spirit.