Quirky Foodster
  1. Back

Hokey Pokey Ice Cream

The Quirky Foodster Team

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (0)

9
Servings

Ingredients

  • Cream — 480 ml (16 fl oz)
  • Can sweetened condensed milk — 395 g (14 oz)
  • Vanilla extract — 1 tsp
  • Sugar — 200 g (7 oz)
  • Golden syrup — 3 tbsp (or corn syrup)
  • Baking soda — 1 tsp

Method

  1. For the honeycomb toffee, combine the sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves, then increase heat and boil without stirring until it turns a deep amber colour.
  2. Remove from heat and quickly whisk in the baking soda — the mixture will foam up dramatically.
  3. Immediately pour onto a lined baking tray and let cool completely and harden.
  4. Once hard, break the honeycomb into small pieces.
  5. Whip the cream to soft peaks.
  6. Fold in the condensed milk and vanilla extract until well combined.
  7. Fold in the honeycomb pieces.
  8. Pour into a loaf tin or freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 6 hours, or until firm.

Introduction: Vanilla ice cream studded with crunchy pieces of golden honeycomb toffee, one of New Zealand's most beloved and distinctive ice cream flavours.

Cultural Background: Hokey pokey is considered one of New Zealand's signature flavours, its crunchy honeycomb toffee pieces folded through creamy vanilla ice cream making it a nostalgic favourite found in nearly every New Zealand supermarket freezer.

Tips: Work quickly once the baking soda is added to the toffee, as it foams up almost immediately. Break the honeycomb into small, bite-sized pieces so it distributes evenly through the ice cream.

Variations: Add a swirl of extra golden syrup through the ice cream before freezing. Use store-bought honeycomb pieces to save time if preferred.

Storage: Store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Reheating: This is a frozen dessert and is not reheated.

FAQs:

Q: What is hokey pokey exactly?

A: A honeycomb toffee, made by adding baking soda to hot caramelised sugar syrup, which causes it to foam and set into a light, crunchy candy.

Q: Is hokey pokey ice cream unique to New Zealand?

A: The flavour is especially associated with and beloved in New Zealand, though similar honeycomb ice creams exist elsewhere under different names.