Pure Cherry Bliss Ice Cream

1. Roast the Cherries

Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). In a deep 10-inch stainless steel skillet, combine the cherries and sugar. Roast them in the oven for about 40 minutes. This process makes the cherries tender and juicy, concentrating their natural sweetness and enhancing their rich flavor.

2. Cool and Pit the Cherries

Allow the roasted cherries to cool until they are comfortable to handle. Pit the cherries by hand, taking care to preserve as much of the cherry flesh as possible.

3. Infuse the Cream with Cherry Pits

Place the cherry pits in a 1-quart saucier or saucepan with the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Once it reaches a simmer, remove it from the heat and let it steep.

4. Chop and Cook the Cherries

Roughly chop the pitted cherries using an immersion blender or food processor. Transfer the chopped cherries and their roasting juices back into the skillet, and simmer on the stovetop until the mixture is thick and jammy, about 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Strain the Cherry Mixture

Strain the cherry mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing down to extract as much liquid as possible. You should end up with approximately 20 ounces of cherry concentrate and about 15 ounces of cherry pulp.

6. Combine Ingredients for Ice Cream Base

Strain the infused cream to remove the pits. Whisk this cream into the cherry concentrate, then add the fresh lemon juice and kosher salt.

7. Cool the Ice Cream Base

Place the bowl with the ice cream base in an ice water bath and stir until it is no warmer than 40°F (4°C).

8. Chill the Ice Cream Base

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the base for about 4 hours, keeping it at a temperature no warmer than 40°F (4°C).

9. Churn the Ice Cream

Once the base is thoroughly chilled, churn it in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.

10. Freeze the Ice Cream

Transfer the churned ice cream to a 1-quart container, smoothing the top with a flexible spatula. Freeze the ice cream until it is firm, about 4 hours, or until it reaches 0°F (-17°C).