Vanilla Ice Cream Parfait Recipe

Time25m

Serves6

Laced with Creme de Menthe or Kahlua Topped with whipped cream and cherry

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Ingredients

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1
Soften and flavor ice cream
Remove the vanilla ice cream from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 5–8 minutes until slightly softened but not melted. Transfer ice cream to a large mixing bowl and stir gently to loosen. Add the Crème de menthe or Kahlúa (choose one) 1 tablespoon at a time, folding gently to distribute flavor evenly without melting the ice cream; taste after 2 tbs and adjust to preference. Total liqueur: 4 tablespoons.
2
Chill briefly
Return the flavored ice cream to the refrigerator/freezer for 5 minutes if it became too soft while mixing — you want spoonable but not runny for layering.

3
Prepare the add-ins: place chocolate shavings and crushed shortbread in small bowls. These will be used as crunchy layers between ice cream scoops.

4
Spoon about 1/3 cup of the flavored ice cream into the bottom of each of six parfait glasses (or four larger glasses) to form the first layer.
5
Sprinkle approximately 1 tablespoon crushed shortbread and 1 tablespoon chocolate shavings over the ice cream in each glass.
6
Repeat: add another 1/3 cup ice cream layer, then 1 tablespoon each of crushed shortbread and chocolate shavings.
7
Finish with a final scoop (about 1/2 cup) of flavored ice cream to top each glass neatly. Lightly smooth the top with the back of a spoon.

8
Make whipped cream
Chill a medium mixing bowl and beaters (optional) in the freezer for 5 minutes. Pour 1 cup heavy whipping cream into the chilled bowl, add 2 teaspoons granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whip with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until soft to medium peaks form (about 2–3 minutes). Do not overbeat.
9
Pipe or spoon a generous dollop of whipped cream onto each parfait, covering the top scoop.
10
Place one maraschino cherry on top of each whipped-cream dollop and tuck a small mint leaf beside the cherry if using.
11
Serve immediately with a long spoon. If not serving right away, keep parfaits in the freezer for up to 30 minutes; longer storage will freeze the whipped cream and change texture.