The warm weather is creeping up on us on the Gulf Coast and the first day of Spring, March 20th, is right around the corner! We are meeting today around the table with our friends from the #SundaySupper team and sharing delicious spring time recipes! Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or spring inspired, the group  has a menu to please!

Irish Coffee Ice Cream with Caramel Whiskey Sauce:

adapted from Gourmet Live

photo: chris gentile

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

For coffee nut crisp:

• 1 large egg white
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules, crushed
• 1 cup walnut pieces (3 1/2 ounces), coarsely chopped if desired

For sauce:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 6 Tablespoons Irish whiskey
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 pints good-quality coffee ice cream

Preparation:

Make crisps:

Preheat oven to 325°F with rack in middle. Line a rimmed sheet pan with a nonstick baking liner, or line it with foil and lightly oil foil.
Whisk egg white with sugar, coffee powder, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until blended. Stir in walnuts until coated. Spread mixture into a 10– by 8–inch rectangle in pan.

Bake until crisp is dry to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack to cool completely.

Loosen crisp with a metal spatula and break into small pieces.

Make sauce:

Bring sugar and water to a boil in a 2–quart heavy saucepan over medium–high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil without stirring, but washing down any sugar crystals with a brush dipped in cold water, until syrup begins to turn golden, about 5 minutes. Continue to boil, swirling pan occasionally, until syrup is a deep golden caramel.

Remove pan from heat and carefully add whiskey, cream, and salt (mixture will bubble up and steam and caramel will harden).

Return pan to heat and simmer, stirring, until caramel is dissolved and sauce is smooth. Cool to warm.

Serve sauce over scoops of coffee ice cream then sprinkle with walnut crisp.
Note:Crisp can be made 4 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature. (Watch out, though; it’s so delicious, you will be hard—pressed to resist devouring all of it before your guests arrive!)
Sauce can be made 4 days ahead and chilled, covered. Re-warm to serve. Any leftover sauce will keep, chilled, at least 1 week.

#SundaySupper Spring Recipes