Earl Grey Ice Cream with Lavender Whipped Cream

This earl grey ice cream recipe is quickly becoming one of my favorites. The lavender whipped cream pairs really well with it making for a desert that's fresh and fragrant and not too sweet.

Ice Cream (base adapted from Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home)
2 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon corn starch
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup earl grey tea leaves (or 8-10 tea bags - Twinning's brand works well)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 ounces of cream cheese

In a small bowl, whisk together the corn starch with 2 tablespoons of the milk and set aside.
In a large saucepan, mix the milk, cream, sugar, and corn syrup and bring to a boil. Cook for 4 minutes exactly and then remove from heat. Put in the tea and let steep for 10 minutes.
Strain and then add the cornstarch mixture gradually to the pan and bring back to a boil for 1 minute.
Mix the cream mixture into the cream cheese gradually to avoid lumps.
Refrigerate over night or place in a zip lock bag in an ice bath for 30 minutes.
Pour the chilled base into ice cream machine and freeze for about 25 minutes. Ice cream will be ready when it starts to pull away from the sides of the machine. Transfer to storage container and freeze for about 4 hours or until firm.

Whipped Cream1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried lavender

Heat the cream in small saucepan with dried lavender only bringing to a simmer. Keep on heat for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain and discard lavender. Chill mixture for about two hours until cold. Whip in a chilled metal mixing bowl (preferably with an electric mixer) until peaks form. Serve immediately.

*Sidenote: if it's too cold for you to enjoy ice cream at the moment, I highly recommend trying lavender hot chocolate. It's delicious (if you like lavender, which I'll admit is probably an acquired taste) and super easy! Just heat a half teaspoon of dried lavender flowers with milk in the microwave for about 1 minute, strain and then prepare your hot chocolate as usual with the lavender milk.