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Dessert served in a bowl with melty chocolate and marshmallow swirls.

S'mores Dessert Ice Cream Recipe

Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours
A rich and nostalgic frozen treat, this S’mores Dessert Ice Cream combines toasted marshmallows, creamy custard, fudge swirl, and graham crackers for a summer favorite in scoopable form.
Servings

Ingredients

For the Ice Cream Base:

  • 1 bag large marshmallows
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ½ cup granulated sugar divided
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup crushed graham crackers

For the Fudge Swirl:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

Prepare an Ice Bath:

  1. Place a medium bowl inside a larger container filled with ice water. This will be used to cool the custard later. Set aside.

Toast the Marshmallows:

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange marshmallows in a single layer and place under the oven broiler for approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute, until golden brown. Monitor closely to avoid burning. Using tongs, flip the marshmallows and broil the other side. Once both sides are toasted, set them aside.

Make the Custard Base:

  1. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the milk, heavy cream, and ¼ cup of sugar. Stir occasionally and heat until steam forms and the temperature reaches approximately 175°F.

Temper the Egg Yolks:

  1. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and remaining ¼ cup of sugar until smooth. Gradually whisk in about 1 cup of the hot cream mixture to temper the yolks, then return the tempered yolk mixture to the saucepan with the remaining hot liquid. Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and reaches a temperature of 180–185°F. Do not allow it to boil.

Cool the Custard:

  1. Once thickened, immediately pour the custard into the prepared bowl over the ice bath. Stir occasionally for approximately 15 minutes until cooled. Remove the bowl from the ice bath and stir in the vanilla extract.

Blend the Toasted Marshmallows:

  1. Transfer the toasted marshmallows to a blender. Add the cooled custard and blend for about 2 minutes, or until smooth. Pour the mixture into a clean bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours until thoroughly chilled (about 40°F).

Prepare the Fudge Swirl:

  1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together sugar, water, corn syrup, and cocoa powder. Heat until the mixture begins to bubble around the edges. Allow it to come to a gentle boil and cook for 1 minute, whisking frequently. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and refrigerate until fully chilled (minimum 2 hours).

Churn the Ice Cream:

  1. Once the custard is chilled, whisk it briefly to restore a smooth, pourable consistency. Pour into your ice cream machine and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When nearly finished, fold in the crushed graham crackers.

Assemble the Ice Cream with Fudge Swirl:

  1. Spread a spoonful of the chilled fudge sauce into the bottom of a freezer-safe container. Layer freshly churned ice cream with alternating dollops of fudge swirl. Avoid mixing the layers to maintain a clean swirl effect. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.

Notes

To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute traditional graham crackers with certified gluten-free graham crackers. Ensure all other ingredients, especially marshmallows and vanilla extract, are labeled gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.
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