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Ice cream

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Ice cream is a cold and sweet dessert that many people love.

Magnum ice cream
Magnum ice cream

It is usually made from milk or cream. People add sugar to make it taste sweet. They also add flavors like cocoa, vanilla, or fruit like strawberries and peaches.

GreenSoft icecream
GreenSoft icecream

Some people add food coloring to make it look bright. You can eat it from a bowl with a spoon. Many people like to lick it from an edible wafer cone. It can also be part of other treats like milkshakes, sundaes, or ice cream cakes.

IceCreamSandwich
IceCreamSandwich

Making ice cream is a very interesting thing that happens. The mixture must be cooled below the freezing point of water. While it cools, it must be stirred. This stirring adds air spaces into the mix. Adding air helps prevent large ice crystals from forming. This makes the texture very smooth.

Black sesame soft ice cream
Black sesame soft ice cream

Some people even whisk a flavored cream base with liquid nitrogen to make it. This creates a smooth, semi-solid foam. The ice cream is solid when it is very cold. It becomes easier to scoop as the temperature rises.

The history of frozen treats is quite old and mysterious. Some stories say it began in Persia in 550 BC. A Roman cookbook from the 1st century had recipes for sweet desserts with snow. In Japan, people during the Heian period ate shaved ice with sweet syrup.

Les Glaces
Les Glaces

This was a special treat for the aristocracy. In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire used horsemen to bring ice to Delhi. They used this ice to make kulfi. Kulfi is a popular frozen dairy dessert from the Indian subcontinent. It is often called traditional Indian ice cream.

Ice cream became more common as new ways to freeze things were found. Adding salt to ice helps it get much colder. This allowed people to freeze cream instead of just chilling it. In the 1800s, people like Agnes Marshall helped make ice cream very fashionable.

Agnes B Marshall
Agnes B Marshall

She was known as the "queen of ices" in England. In America, people like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson enjoyed it. Washington spent about $200 on ice cream in 1790. In the 1840s, inventors like Nancy Johnson made hand-cranked freezers. These machines made it much easier to make ice cream at home.

Today, there are many different kinds of frozen treats to choose from.

Italian ice cream
Italian ice cream

You might try gelato, which is Italian ice cream. You could also try frozen custard, which is a very rich version. Some people prefer frozen yogurt, or "froyo," because it can have less fat. If you cannot eat dairy, there are many plant-based options. You can find ice cream made from soy, oat, coconut, or almond milk. There is even a fruit-based treat called banana "nice cream."

East Village ice cream truck
East Village ice cream truck

You can find these treats in shops, at parks, or from ice cream vans.

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🖼️ Images & Media (16)
File:Matkakulfi.jpg
Matkakulfi.jpg
File:Les Glaces.jpg
Les Glaces.jpg
File:Art of Cookery frontispiece.jpg
Art of Cookery frontispiece.jpg
File:Agnes B Marshall.jpg
Agnes B Marshall.jpg
File:Children in the Ghetto and the Ice-Cream Man. Chicago Ill. (FRONT).jpeg
Children in the Ghetto and the Ice-Cream...
File:Sydney markets, by Rex Hazlewood, c. 1911-1916 (9909471825) (2).jpg
Sydney markets, by Rex Hazlewood, c....
File:Mystic Ice Cream flavor selection sign.jpg
Mystic Ice Cream flavor selection sign.jpg
File:Ice-cream stand in New Castle, Delaware.jpg
Ice-cream stand in New Castle, Delaware.jpg
File:Indonesia bike34.JPG
Indonesia bike34.JPG
File:East Village ice cream truck.jpg
East Village ice cream truck.jpg
File:Black sesame soft ice cream.jpg
Black sesame soft ice cream.jpg
File:IceCreamSandwich.jpg
IceCreamSandwich.jpg

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