Jamaican Grape Nut Ice Cream is a rich vanilla custard ice cream. It’s a creamy sweet and a little salty, it’s slightly nutty and oh so delightful!
I was first introduced to this Grape Nut Ice Cream back in 2013 on a winter’s getaway to Jamaica.
Grape Nut also referred to as “Grain Nut” Ice Cream
Even though we discovered this Caribbean ice cream flavor in Jamaica, and believed that it originated there, after doing my homework, I found out that it’s also popular in the Canadian Maritimes, Nova Scotia, and New England. Who knew? (well, I guess we both do now!)
I have also discovered that Gifford’s Dairy in Maine has been making and selling Grape Nut Ice Cream for years. Guess I need to plan a trip to the North East, right?
You may also hear Grape Nut ice cream called grain nut ice cream or great nut ice cream, too!
What is Grape Nut Ice Cream Made Of?
The ingredients in this homemade Grape Nuts ice cream are all very simple ones. Egg yolks, heavy cream, sugar, pure vanilla extract, and of course, Post Grape Nuts cereal.
You prepare a traditional vanilla custard with egg yolks and sugar, tempered by warm cream. That mixture is then warmed to 170 degrees F. over the stove.
It’s chilled in the refrigerator for about an hour before the vanilla and cereal are added in, then it’s frozen. The result is a sweet, rich and creamy frozen custard with a slight salty nutty taste.
The Grape Nuts aren’t hard like they are when they come from the box. They have about the same texture as they do when they soak up some milk from your cereal bowl.
What is a Grape Nut Anyway?
Funny thing? Grape Nuts Cereal contains neither nuts nor grapes! It is a cereal that was created by C.W. Post way back in 1897, actually made of both wheat and barley. The “batter” was baked into a sheet and then he used a coffee grinder to produce the little kernels. Post called the glucose that came from baking “grape sugar,” and the name was born.
Grape Nuts are a very crunchy cereal, that tastes nutty and slightly malty. They are a great combination with vanilla frozen custard!
Making Homemade Grape Nut Ice Cream
Because I (sadly) can’t just snap my fingers and be on the beach in Jamaica enjoying this frozen confection whenever I want, I set out to make it for myself.
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More Jamaican/Caribbean Recipes to Enjoy
We love the food in the Caribbean so much, I have been building my recipes up for Jamaican fare. Here are some other favorites:
- Jamaican Sweet Coconut Rice – pictured above
- Dirty Monkey Cocktails
- Tropical Chicken Nachos with Tropical Salsa
- Jamaican Jerk Glazed Chicken
- Spicy Caribbean Shrimp
See ALL of my Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Recipes
Grape Nut Ice Cream
Jamaican Grape Nut Ice Cream is a rich vanilla custard ice cream. It's a creamy sweet and a little salty, it's slightly nutty and oh so delightful!
Ingredients
- 6 large egg yolks
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 3 cups cream (divided)
- 1 cup grape nut cereal
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In a metal bowl whip egg yolks and sugar until fluffy.
- In a metal bowl over a pan of boiling water on the stove (or use your double boiler) warm 2 cups of cream. (do not boil)
- Add warm cream in a slow stream to egg mixture, whisking constantly. This is the custard.
- Set the custard mixture in a metal bowl over boiling water (or use double boiler)
- Stir custard with a wooden spoon constantly, until thermometer reaches 170 degrees.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining cup of cream, place in the refrigerator to cool for about an hour.
- When the custard is cool, add vanilla and grape nuts and pour it into your ice cream maker.
- Freeze according to your maker’s instructions.
- Pour into a metal loaf pan, cover, and place in your freezer until frozen.
Notes
You can eat while it is soft, or freeze it until its firmer.
Recipe by epicurious.com
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 387Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 211mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 17gProtein: 7g
nutrition isn't guaranteed accurate.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to know! Snap a picture, share the photo on social media with the hashtag #AnAffairFromTheHeart – I’d love to see what you made! – Michaela
Drea L. says
The great flavors of blueberries and almonds mixed in ice cream? This sounds wonderful!
Kareen says
Oh yes thank you for a great review of one of a delicious flavour icecream we eat in Jamaica… . Yes yes yes, grape nut is delicious. You should also try our icecream cake when your their. Hmm hmm.
And how about Pistachio icecream. Oh so delicious. Make sure to get the one with the Pistachio nut in there. And the icecream should be green coloured.
You can find it at Wakefern Shop Rite grocery stores.
Kushigalu says
How creamy and delicious this is. Your recipe is awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I have been obsessed with grape nut cereal lately. This looks so good, it is definitely going on my to-do list 🙂
Dannii says
We love any kind of ice cream and this is a new one for us to try. YUM!
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
Never thought of this combination before but it sounds amazing! I need to try this 🙂
Jen Talley says
I never would have thought to use grapenut cereal in ice cream! It looks absolutely delicious!
Nan says
My mother made this over 60 years ago and never traveled out of the country. I think she added the grape nuts just before the ice cream got hard. I’ve never heard of anyone else making it before.
Good memories. It was my fathers favorite.
Michaela Kenkel says
Aw! Thanks for sharing! I love comments like these! <3
Savannah says
My boyfriend is Jamaican and grape-nut ice cream is his favorite ice cream but hasn’t had it since he was last in Jamaica about 20 years ago. I decided to surprise him for his birthday and make it for him, so I tried your recipe. He was beyond excited and said it tasted exactly like how he remembers. He now asks me to make this for him every week or so lol. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.
Michaela Kenkel says
Savannah – Comments like these are what makes what I do so worth it! Than you for taking the time to share that with me. I am tickled that you made this for him and that it brought him fond memories of home. Cheers!
Tae says
Love love this ice cream. Taste of the Tropics in Brooklyn sells and ships this ice cream. Used to sell at store here in VA but they stopped….have no idea why.. I will try this at home looks good. If not I will just continue to order and get it shipped from Brooklyn. Thanks for the recipe!!
Michaela Kenkel says
You’re welcome!! I hope you love it! I have had people who grew up in Jamaica tell me it’s perfect! I hope that you think so, too!
Vicki says
I love Grapenut Ice Cream! I like my cereal softened so I would probably add them when heating the mixture.
And the best way to serve it….with warm thickened msple syrup…..
Michaela Kenkel says
This is one of my favorites! They really don’t stay super hard in the ice cream, but they aren’t mushy by no means, either! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Barbara says
Doesn’t anyone carry this grape nut ice cream here in New Hampshire ? If it’s made in Maine, c’mon …… Giffords used to be in some freezers here in NH ??
Michaela Kenkel says
Better homemade! 😉
Diane says
I grew up in Massachusetts and have been eating grapenut custard and grapenut ice cream my whole life and I am now in my 60’s. I have a batch of grapenut custard in the oven right now. Anyone who has never tried it, has no idea what they are missing.
Rose Ann says
I am planning to try this. I see you describe the taste as slightly salty, but there is no salt in the recipe. Are the grape nuts a little salty?
Michaela Kenkel says
That’s right. Grapenuts have that savory taste to them. I absolutely ADORE this ice cream recipe, I hope that you do too!!