This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
Haskap berries are tart fruits that thrive in cold northern climates. Similar to blueberries, they’re perfect for homemade haskap ice cream!
Haskap berries, or honeyberries as they’re known by those trying to market them, are a tart fruit. Some describe them as downright sour, but they’re sweet enough to hold the attention of my 2 and 4-year-olds. Sweetest when fully ripe, these fruits don’t last long. They’ll spoil quickly once picked, and they’re very soft.
Mostly my kids just eat them fresh in season, but this year we had a huge bumper crop. I used a bit of fish emulsion fertilizer which gave the bushes a boost and we got 4 times our normal harvest. Plenty for fresh eating, haskap jam, and this tasty haskap ice cream. I even have a jug of haskap wine bubbling away on my countertop too!
Our soils are heavy and alkaline, which is horrible for growing blueberries, but honeyberries are much less picky. Growing honeyberries is easy, as they relatively carefree and fast growing. All they need is cool winters, and they do best in zones 2 to 6. No problem here in zone 4 Vermont.
While blueberries may be better for fresh eating, I’m a huge fan of this honeyberry ice cream. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorites, with loads of fresh berry flavor and enough sugar to balance out an otherwise tart fruit.
I’ve wanted an ice cream maker for years, and I’m loving the fact that I can make ice cream out of all the strange fruits we grow on our permaculture homestead. Later this summer I’m looking forward to cornelian cherry ice cream, but for now, this one’s a huge hit.
I’m using a really lovely home ice cream maker with a built-in compressor (no ice or salt required) and it took about 25 minutes for the haskap ice cream to churn completely.
Haskap Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups haskap berries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup sugar, honey or maple
- pinch of salt
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Puree the berries with the sugar in a food processor until the berries are completely blended and the sugar has dissolved.
- Mix in the remaining ingredients and pulse to just combine, but do not over blend the cream.
- Pour into a home ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturers instructions.
- When finished churning, place into the freezer and allow the ice cream to completely setup before serving. (or serve immediately as soft serve)
Notes
More Ice Cream Recipes
Now that I have an ice cream maker, there’ll be plenty of recipes posted soon. For now, try this:
I am an ice cream snob. I know it’s not nice, but the idea of any thing other than Haagen Dazs with it’s basic ingredients and heavenly creaminess, just doesn’t work for me. Then I made this ice cream with my home grown honey berries. Wow!!!! This ice cream recipe is better than anything I’ve ever had. I don’t know if I’ll ever buy ice cream again!
This ice-cream sounds delightful. I grow haskaps in Alberta, Canada and I, too, have a Whynter ice-cream maker. I love it. It makes ice-cream so quickly and easily. I can’t wait to try your recipe. I am thinking of maybe making a haskap and raspberry ripple ice-cream when my raspberries come in. I would swirl the two fruits in separately into a vanilla base. Right now my haskaps are tucked away in the freezing awaiting great recipes. Thanks so much.
That sounds amazing!