Creamy, nutty, sweet, and somewhat savory, this homemade Black Sesame Ice Cream has got it all! Enjoy the unique flavor of Japanese ice cream at home with my easy recipe.
Have you tried Japanese flavored ice creams such as Green Tea Ice Cream and Red Bean Ice Cream? I have another Japanese-flavored ice cream for you today, and it’s Black Sesame Ice Cream (黒ゴマのアイスクリーム).
Sesame seeds might seem unusual ice cream flavor, but for Japanese and Asian cuisine, black sesame flavor is commonly used in desserts.
Black Sesame Flavored Desserts
Popular desserts include black sesame macarons, purin (pudding), chiffon cake, mochi, bread, ice cream, and more. Chinese cuisine has black sesame sweet soup and mochi dumpling with black sesame filling. Black sesame is unique in the way it changes the dynamic of a dessert completely. Ordinary-looking desserts are transformed into a peculiar dark gray color, and it surprises you with a unique nutty toasty flavor.
Black Sesame Paste
One of the key ingredients for this black sesame ice cream is the black sesame paste. A jar of black sesame paste is sold at Japanese grocery stores or on Amazon.
With toasted black sesame seeds, you can make the paste yourself easily using a food processor.
Japanese Black Sesame Paste vs. Black Tahini
The black tahini is a common ingredient used in Middle Eastern cuisine. It is also called the sesame paste or sesame butter, but the difference is black tahini doesn’t require toasting the sesame seeds. After being pulverized into a paste, it is mixed with sesame oil and a little bit of salt.
For making Japanese sweets, you should be able to substitute with black tahini but bear in mind that it is unsweetened and may have a more pronounced bitter flavor. It is also more liquid because of the sesame oil. So you will want to add some honey and make any necessary adjustments if needed.
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Black Sesame Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp toasted black sesame seeds
- 1⅔ cups whole milk
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 3 Tbsp black sesame paste (or learn How to Make Black Sesame Paste from scratch)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 200 ml heavy (whipping) cream (¾ cup + 4 tsp)
- ⅛ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- If the black sesame seeds are not roasted yet, put the sesame in a (nonstick) frying pan over medium heat and stir until they start popping. They will release a nutty aroma. Remove from the heat and cool.
- Grind 2 Tbsp toasted black sesame seeds very finely.
- Whisk ⅓ cup sugar and 3 large egg yolks together until pale yellow.
- Add in 2 Tbsp honey, the ground black sesame seeds, and 3 Tbsp black sesame paste. Whisk until well combined.
- Microwave 1⅔ cups whole milk until hot throughout (or bring it to simmer in a small pot) and add to the sesame mixture in a slow stream. Mix at low speed for 30 seconds.
- Transfer the mixture into the small pot. Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and reaches around 176ºF (80ºC). Don’t exceed 181ºF (83ºC) since the egg yolk will cook. To avoid salmonella, the egg must be cooked for at least 1 minute over 167ºF (75ºC).
- Remove from heat and cool down the pot in a large bowl filled with iced water. Add 1 tsp pure vanilla extract.
- Clean the stand mixer bowl and now whisk together 200 ml heavy (whipping) cream (¾ cup + 4 tsp) and ⅛ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt until peaks form.
- Add the whipped cream into the cooled sesame mixture.
- Fold in but do not overmix it. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for several hours (or overnight) until completely cold.
- Process the mixture in your ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions (usually about 25 minutes). Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze it for several hours before serving.
- If you are not going to use an ice cream maker, then transfer the mixture to a container and put it in a freezer. Stir every few hours (3–4 times) to break up the ice crystals until it’s completely frozen.
I have nothing but serious love for Asian-flavored ice creams. I’ve never tried black sesame but I want to greatly after reading this!
I thought it was Blueberry ice cream :D. I really miss visiting your site, and I know that I’ve missed so many beautiful posts Nami T___T. I love to use black sesame for my bento, but have never thought that it can be made into a really nice ice cream ^^
This black ice cream is gorgeous! I love it! 🙂
This must be the most incredible ice cream ever.
🙂 Mandy
Your ice cream takes the Sydney Asian shop ones to shame – it looks unreal!!!
Delicious and beautiful well done my friend 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I loooove black sesame flavour! So delicious! And I love that you made your own ice-cream too!!! haha.. I’ve tried black sesame macarons and they’re soooo yummy. 🙂
You come up with the niftiest recipes. This ice cream looks rich and dark and delicious!
I LOVE BLACK SESAME ICE CREAM! whenever I go to a japanese restaurant, if there’s ice cream on the menu, I will almos talways go for this. it’s my favourite favourite asian dessert flavour. I make my own black sesame paste, it”s really easy, just need to have freshly black sesame, some sweetener and a blender! I usually have it chinese tong sui style, a warm bowl of potage, using glutinous rice flour to thicken. now I know what to do with that paste to make it into ice cream!
I want, I want, hahaha! I’m like a big kid drooling all over now. Lol! Nami, u seemed to see only my giveaway announcements & missed other posts. Hope u’re not drooling over my giveaways. Hahaha!
Amazing and surely heavenly tasting! Your recipes are always wonderful.
Cheers,
Rosa
You sure surprised me with this one and it is a pleasant surprise
We have black sesame seeds here but I am not sure it is the same thing, I can only imagine how interesting this icecream must be Nami
What stunning styling and colors Nami. That ice-cream looks out of the world!
Nami, I absolutely love black sesame ice cream! I wish I could have a big bowl right in front of me right now! Yours looks so creamy and smooth!
More icecream…. I think I’m going to have to have an icecream when I finish work today. I like black sesame, the nutty flavour is great, thanks for another great icecream recipe Nami 🙂
Nami, I never heart of it, but it looks so damn gorgeous! What an color!!