Here at All Things Ice Cream, we want to share with you the tools for making ice cream at home.  We offer a fun, environmentally friendly ice cream maker (the Play & Freeze ice cream ball), wonderful paperboard storage containers (manufactured by Sweet Bliss Containers), and we are always looking for great recipes to share with you.

Today’s recipe is for Chocolate Syrup (courtesy of Bruce Weinstein’s book The Ultimate Ice Cream Book — send us your ice cream recipe and you could win this book!).  This syrup is virtually fat free — who doesn’t like that?

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a large, heavy saucepan and place over medium heat.  Stir until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is clear.  Boil for 5 minutes without stirring.  Reduce the heat to low and slowly whisk in the cocoa.  Bring back to a simmer and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.  Stir in vanilla.

Variations:
Chocolate Mint Syrup — Substitute 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract for the vanilla
Chocolate Orange Syrup — Add 1/4 teaspoon orange oil along with the vanilla

Please feel free to pass on this recipe.  Also, don’t forget — the Play & Freeze makes a great gift for the summer time!  Share the fun of making your own ice cream by giving someone a Play & Freeze!