A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913).
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Beat the yolks of eight eggs very light, and add thereto four cupfuls of sugar, and stir well
Add to this, little by little, one quart of rich milk that has been heated almost to boiling, beating all the while
Put in the whites of eight eggs beaten to a stiff froth
Boil the mixture in a pail set inside another containing hot water. Boil about fifteen minutes or until it is as thick as a boiled custard, stirring steadily meanwhile
Pour into a bowl to cool
When quite cold, beat into it three pints of rich sweet cream and five teaspoonfuls of vanilla, or such other flavoring as you prefer
Put it into a pail having a close-fitting cover and pack in pounded ice and salt,—rock salt, not table salt
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
This recipe uses a cooked custard base (crème anglaise) that creates a silkier texture than uncooked bases because heating the eggs denatures their proteins, allowing them to bind water molecules and fat droplets more effectively. The high fat content from both cream and egg yolks (which contain lecithin, a natural emulsifier) creates smaller ice crystals during freezing, resulting in a smoother mouthfeel. The salt-and-ice mixture creates a brine that can reach temperatures well below 32°F, rapidly freezing the custard while constant agitation from the packed ice prevents large ice crystals from forming.
The cooked custard base can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Add the cream and vanilla just before freezing. Once frozen, the ice cream is best consumed within 1 week for optimal texture.
Transfer the frozen ice cream to an airtight container and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent ice crystals. Store in the coldest part of the freezer for up to 1 week. The texture will be icier than modern ice cream due to the lack of stabilizers and mechanical churning. Allow to soften at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving for easier scooping.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The cooked custard base can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Add the cream and vanilla just before freezing. Once frozen, the ice cream is best consumed within 1 week for optimal texture.
Transfer the frozen ice cream to an airtight container and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent ice crystals. Store in the coldest part of the freezer for up to 1 week. The texture will be icier than modern ice cream due to the lack of stabilizers and mechanical churning. Allow to soften at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving for easier scooping.
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