Homemade Halva Ice Cream with homemade halva

👨‍🍳 Method

For the homemade halva ✓ Homemade · or skip – back to store-bought

1. 1
   Grease parchment paper well and line a pan with it, so the paper comes up over the sides.

   Baking panParchment paper
2. 2
   Put the sugar and water in a small pot, bring to a boil and cook another 6–8 minutes, until the syrup is thick and stringy.

   Small saucepanStove

   💡On a candy thermometer, the syrup is ready at 121°C.
3. 3
   Beat the tahini in the mixer bowl with the paddle on low speed, raise to medium and pour the hot syrup in a thin stream down the side of the bowl.

   Stand mixer

   💡The syrup is extremely hot: pour it slowly in a thin stream, and don't touch it.
4. 4
   Beat until the syrup is fully absorbed into the tahini, add the vanilla and beat another 30–40 seconds.

   Stand mixer
5. 5
   Transfer the mixture to the pan and press down well.

   Baking pan
6. 6
   Leave at room temperature 6 hours at least, until the halva sets, and slice diced.

   Knife

   💡Halva keeps in the fridge up to two weeks.

For the Ice Cream

1. 7
   Whip the cold cream with the sugar until firm and holding its shape.

   BowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk

   💡Whip cream very cold, in a chilled bowl with chilled beaters, and stop when it holds firm: overwhipping turns it grainy and buttery.
2. 8
   In another bowl, mix the cream cheese, tahini and vanilla with half of the halva until smooth.

   Bowl
3. 9
   Fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture gently, until the mixture is even.

   Silicone spatula

   💡Fold, don't stir: the air in the whipped cream is what replaces the ice cream machine.

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there are no streaks: vigorous mixing knocks the air out of the foam. Add whipped mixtures in stages: a quarter first, to lighten the mixture.
4. 10
   Transfer to Loaf pan, sprinkle the rest of the halva on top, cover and freeze at least 6 hours, without stirring.

   Loaf panFreezer
5. 11
   Move the ice cream from the freezer to the counter 5 minutes before serving, so it's easy to scoop.
6. 12
   Before serving, chop the pistachios and sprinkle over the top.