Homemade Paw Paw Ice Cream

This Paw Paw Ice Cream Recipe is creamy and smooth with that unmistakable flavor of this tropical-tasting fruit found in the eastern half of the United States.

Looking for the perfect pawpaw recipe? PawPaw ice cream is an easy homemade ice cream made to impress. Bonus: It’s kid-friendly too!

All that you need to know is that it’s delicious, and making it an ice cream flavor makes it even more delicious.

Paw Paw Ice Cream

Just about everybody on the planet loves ice cream.

There is nothing better than the perfect cold, creamy dessert hitting the spot on a warm summer day, a cold winter day, after dinner on date night, or just after work after a long day.

Bonus: there are so many great flavors to choose from that the possibilities are almost endless. From dark, rich chocolate flavors to fruity flavors like raspberry swirl and everything in between, there’s a flavor for everyone!

However, today, I’m here to introduce you to a flavor that you’ve probably never tried and probably never even heard of!

Forget BaskinRobins and their 31 flavors … today, we are stepping out of the box and after you try it, you will never step back in!

PawPaw ice cream is a tropical-flavored fruit and now … ice cream!

Whether you are looking for a tropical escape from the winter or just craving something different, this recipe is for you!

What is Paw Paw?

PawPaw is a fruit native to the eastern part of the United States, mainly the northern part of the eastern region, and parts of Canada.

PawPaw has a unique flavor that tastes like a tropical fruit. Most people describe it as the perfect cross between Mango, Papaya, and Banana.

Very Pina Colada esque.

Kind of ironic that it comes from areas like Pennsylvania yet tastes like it’s native to a tropical climate right?!

One reason you may have never heard of them is that they don’t travel well. Why? If you don’t know, most fruits go through quite the journey to get from farm to supermarket. With PawPaw not traveling well, it makes them hard to reach all corners of the US.

So where do I find PawPaw? I highly recommend checking local farmers’ markets and fruit stands.

If you’re on the east coast and haven’t heard of them, don’t worry. Most people that live where the PawPaw is native don’t even know they exist either!

PawPaw Ice Cream Ingredients

Fruit: To make this pawpaw recipe, you are going to use the pulp from the pawpaw fruit

Dairy: What’s ice cream without dairy?! Pop open that fridge and grab the heavy cream and whole milk.

Sugar and Sweeteners: Last, but not least, you will need sugar, honey, and vanilla extract. This will add the perfect sweetness to the fruit and ice cream overall.

How To Make PawPaw Ice Cream

Peel and split. Start off by peeling all of the skin off your PawPaw. Split it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds as they are toxic.

Puree. After you have removed the seeds, puree the PawPaw in a food processor and then add the remaining ingredients.

Blend. Continue to blend until all ingredients smooth out. Then, transfer to a container and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Churn. Once the cream has chilled, pour it into the ice cream maker cylinder. Churn for about 10 minutes until thickened.

Serve or store. If you’ like, you can enjoy the ice cream immediately. Or, you can place it in pint containers and chill for 3 hours to let it firm up.

Can You Eat the Skin or Seeds?

No, both the seeds and skin can be toxic! Make sure to remove all of the skin of the pawpaw and remove all the seeds.

The seeds can be saved and planted to grow more pawpaw trees which take about 3 years to yield fruit.

Does PawPaw Have Health Benefits?

PawPaw actually has some of the most health benefits compared to other fruits. It’s very good for your skin, hair, and health.

PawPaw has many health benefits, but one of the biggest is its source of vitamin C. Because of the vitamin C it provides, it helps improve your immune system.

It also contains folate, fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin E.

What Can You Make With Paw Paw?

Aside from making amazing ice cream, PawPaw has been used to make other desserts as well.

Similar to ice cream, Paw Paws have been used to make puddings and smoothies as well.

PawPaw has also been used in salads, liquors, cakes, and jams.

How do you peel Paw Paw?

Peeling a PawPaw is essential as the skin is toxic if eaten. That said, I recommend peeling a pawpaw one of 2 ways – with a knife, or with a vegetable peeler.

Can you freeze Paw Paw?

Yes! Whether you are looking to cut up the PawPaw fruit and freeze it or make a huge batch of PawPaw ice cream and toss it in the freezer, the freezer is the perfect place to store it.

Freezing raw PawPaw fruit: Cut up the pawpaw and put it in an air-tight container. It will keep in the freezer for about 6 months.

Freezing PawPaw Ice cream: If you are like me and want to enjoy pawpaw ice cream year-round, make a big batch and place it in a reusable quart containers.

Using an Ice cream Maker to make Paw Paw Ice Cream

I used the Cuisinart 1.5 quart ice cream maker. It’s a great very simple-to-use ice cream maker. Be sure that the cylinder is completely frozen before you make your ice cream.

I actually keep the cylinder in the freezer so it’s ready whenever I want to make ice cream of any kind

Other Recipes

Looking for more desserts to indulge in? Check out some of my favorites:

• Smoked Apple Crisp: Meadow Creek SQ36 Offset Smoker
• Grilled desserts
• Rice Krispies and Peep Wellington Easter Dessert

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