The Simple 2-Ingredient Upgrade For 10x More Flavorful Vanilla Ice Cream

A scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream is a no-brainer pairing, whether it's served atop a slice of pie or a brownie, under a shot of espresso, or sandwiched between two cookies. Thanks to its combination of subtle sweetness, the delicate floral notes woven throughout, and smooth, creamy texture, vanilla ice cream complements just about anything. Now, imagine it with a yellowish tinge and the flavor turned up about 10 notches. That's the power of adding two surprising ingredients from your spice rack: turmeric and vanilla bean paste.

Turmeric may seem more like something you'd add to a curry recipe while vanilla bean paste — a concentrated form of vanilla made with vanilla bean seeds — might sound redundant, but when thoroughly mixed with vanilla ice cream, the flavor combination harmonizes beautifully. Turmeric's predominantly warm, earthy flavor, with its slightly peppery and subtly sweet notes, is balanced by the full-bodied sweetness and rich, buttery undertones of vanilla bean paste. When added to already-sweet, creamy vanilla ice cream, both ingredients create a sweetly spiced taste that can highlight whatever other flavors or toppings you pair with it. The result is a familiar favorite that tastes more nuanced, aromatic, and surprisingly complex.

To give this vanilla ice cream upgrade a whirl, simply add turmeric and vanilla bean paste to either homemade or store-bought vanilla ice cream, softened until it's easy to mix (but not melted). Start with a quart of ice cream and add 1 teaspoon of turmeric and ½-1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste, gently folding it in with a sturdy spatula or spoon, or using an electric mixer on low speed, until evenly combined. Once fully incorporated, put the ice cream back in the freezer to harden to its usual consistency.

If you're wondering whether you can substitute similar ingredients, such as vanilla extract for vanilla bean paste, or if ingredient quality makes a difference, the answer to both is yes, but with a few caveats. While you can swap vanilla bean paste with equal parts vanilla extract, the resulting ice cream may have a slightly less pronounced vanilla flavor. The extract doesn't provide the same boldness or flecks of vanilla bean as the paste. Similarly, using high-quality ground turmeric is also important, because old or low-quality turmeric can have a muted flavor.

Last but certainly not least, the ice cream itself makes up the bulk of this upgrade, so it's best to start with a high-quality vanilla ice cream that you already enjoy on its own to create the most flavorful result.