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Three scoops of vibrant blue moon ice cream in a white bowl with cookie pieces visible.
Linda

Blue Moon Ice Cream

Wisconsin's beloved mystery flavor - bright blue, impossibly creamy, and tasting like childhood summers with hints of citrus and vanilla.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 5 hours
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 285

Ingredients
  

Base
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
Flavoring
  • 1/2 tsp blue food coloring gel or liquid, adjust for desired intensity
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp lemon extract
  • 1/4 tsp orange extract
  • 1/4 tsp raspberry extract the secret to that signature Blue Moon flavor

Equipment

  • Ice Cream Maker
  • Medium saucepan
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Airtight freezer container

Method
 

Make the Base
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt until no lumps remain. This prevents clumping when you add the dairy.
  2. Pour cream and milk into a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until steaming and small bubbles form around the edges - about 5 minutes. Do not boil.
  3. Whisk 1/2 cup of the warm dairy into the sugar mixture to create a smooth slurry, then pour back into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon - about 3 to 4 minutes. You'll know it's ready when you can draw a line through the coating and it holds.
  4. Strain the base through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl to remove any cooked egg bits (even though this is eggless, straining ensures silkiness). Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin, then refrigerate until completely cold - at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Churn and freeze
  1. Stir in blue food coloring, vanilla, lemon, orange, and raspberry extracts. The color should be vivid sky blue - add more coloring a few drops at a time if needed. Churn in your ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions until thick and creamy, usually 20 to 25 minutes. It will look like soft-serve when done.
  2. Transfer to an airtight container, press parchment paper directly on the surface, seal, and freeze until firm enough to scoop - at least 4 hours. For the best texture, let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

The exact flavor profile of Blue Moon is a closely guarded Midwest secret - every creamery has its own version. This combination of citrus and raspberry extracts captures that nostalgic, impossible-to-name quality. For an even creamier texture, replace 1/2 cup of the milk with sweetened condensed milk and reduce sugar to 1/3 cup. The base can be made up to 3 days ahead and kept refrigerated until you're ready to churn.