One of the most popular ice cream flavors in Japan is black sesame. It’s not an intense dark black, but rather it has a deep rich black color with hints of brown and red from the black sesame paste. The flavor is nutty with a slight sweetness from the sugar. This Japanese black sesame ice cream can be made with just 5 simple ingredients and with or without an ice cream maker!
There are many different brands of black sesame ice cream, but none compare to homemade black sesame ice cream! The flavor is fresh and unique from other flavours you’ve tasted before making it a must-try for any fan of Japanese culture or creative desserts in Japan.
This recipe for black sesame ice cream is amazing, especially when you are craving both sweet and salty flavours. This is a refreshing and memorable dessert- perfect for your next hot summer day or as an after-dinner treat.
Be careful though – black sesame has been known to be addictive!
Table of contents
What Is Kurogoma?
Kurogoma means black sesame in Japanese. It is a common and key ingredient in Japanese and Asian cuisines for making sweet and savoury dishes. Kurogoma is often used to make black sesame ice cream. This is a popular dessert in Japanese/Asian restaurants. The black sesame seeds deliver a roasted nuttiness and an earthy but sweet flavour. It is so delicious and perfect to eat after a nice Japanese dinner.
Kurogoma ice cream is made from a vanilla ice cream base mixed with black sesame paste (neri goma) to give it a tasty flavour and dark grey/black colour. You can sprinkle some black or white sesame seeds on top and enjoy it on a hot summer day or just as a delicious snack!
Why You Will Love Black Sesame Ice Cream
Have you ever craved both sweet and salty at the same time? This is the perfect way to satiate both cravings at the same time. The cold and creamy ice cream is enriched by the nutty black sesame paste.
It’s the same combination of flavours that makes salted caramel so popular. Even if you have never tried these two tastes together, you have to try it. One taste will convert you to a true fan.
This ice cream is really easy to make; especially with an ice cream maker. You can make it without an ice cream maker, but you have to keep mixing it every few hours. That’s what I had to do after my KitchenAid ice-cream-making bowl got stuck on the stand mixer!
The ice cream does take a while to make because it needs to freeze and set for a few hours so it should be made in advance. You can just keep it in a container in the freezer or you can pour the ice cream mixture into popsicle moulds or a loaf pan.
These will make great treats on a hot afternoon during the summer. I always like to order Kurogoma ice cream for dessert when I go out to a Japanese restaurant, or sometimes matcha green tea ice cream because it’s always so delicious.
This recipe makes the ice cream taste just like the restaurant version and is much cheaper!
Ingredients In Kurogoma Ice Cream
There are five simple ingredients in this delicious dessert recipe. Here is a bit more information about what I used.
- Soy Milk: I used Bon soy milk. It has the best texture for the ice cream.
- Double Cream: This will make it taste extra rich and give it a creamier texture. Double cream contains more fat than heavy cream which makes the rich creaminess. However, it can be replaced with heavy cream.
- Egg Yolks: You need just the egg yolks (no whites) for this ice cream.
- Caster Sugar: This super-fine granulated sugar will dissolve the best in the ice cream.
- Black Sesame Paste: This is what gives the ice cream the nutty undertones. If you can’t find black sesame paste, you can make it yourself. Toast some whole black sesame seeds in a pan until they release a strong nutty aroma (make sure not to burn them). Transfer to a food processor or blender and mix on a quick pulse setting just until it becomes a fine powder. Add 3-4 tablespoons of honey to make a paste.
What To Serve With Japanese Ice Cream
This sweet and savory ice cream tastes the best with bright and fresh fruity flavours. You can also serve it with your favourite pastries!
If you are eating this at lunch, then serve it with a light fruit sandwich. It’s the perfect combination. Or, serve it with some kanten fruit jelly as a refreshing summertime dessert.
Raindrop cake is another one of my favorite types of desserts. It is crystal clear and melts in your mouth. It is very sweet and will complement the saltiness of this ice cream in the best way.
Black sesame ice cream is also a common and popular mochi ice cream flavour. You can easily make mochi at home and fill it with this delicious ice cream. Or sandwich a scoop of the ice cream between two soft cookies and make a nutty and sweet ice cream cookie sandwich.
Frequently Asked Questions About Black Sesame Ice Cream
Here are some questions people often ask me about this black sesame ice cream.
You can find black sesame paste (neri goma) in Japanese or Asian grocery stores. If you don’t have a Japanese grocery store near you, you can order it online have it delivered so you can make this delicious ice cream! Or you can make the paste yourself following the instructions above in the Ingredients section.
One of my favourite ones is matcha ice cream. There is also hojicha ice cream, miso ice cream and wasabi ice cream too!
Store your homemade ice cream in a freezer-safe food storage container and keep it in the freezer. It will stay fresh for up to 6 months.
More Japanese Dessert Recipes
If you enjoyed this black sesame ice cream, then here are some more Japanese desserts that you should try next.
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Black Sesame Ice Cream 黒胡麻アイス
Ingredients
- 500 ml Soy milk I used Bon soy milk
- 250 ml Double cream
- 5 egg yolks
- 150 g caster sugar
- 2 tbs Black sesame paste I used Kawari brand
Instructions
- Bring the soy milk and cream to a simmer over low heat in a sauce pan.
- Turn the heat off and set aside.
- Whisk 5 egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until the colour of the mixture becomes pale and fluffy.
- Add the black sesame paste to the sugar and yolk mixture and mix well.
- Gradually pour the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture and keep whisking until smooth.
- Strain the mixture into a clean sauce pan and place over low heat for 5 minutes, continuously stirring.
- Leave it in the fridge to chill.
- Pour the black sesame mixture into an ice cream maker (or you can place it in the freezer and mix it every 2-3 hours).
- Run the ice cream maker for about 20 minutes, and once the mixture has become thicker, pour it into a container and freeze it until set.
I can’t wait to try this one! thanks for all of your recipes 🙂 I love coming back to your blog over and over – I am always happy with the results 🙂
Thank you for keep coming back Heather 😀
i adore black sesame ice cream and order it every chance i get. now i have seen this recipe without eggs, so which one is the tradional Japanese recipe with or without eggs, is it a regional thing or doesn’t it matter? i have a churner and our favourite ice cream is boysenberry – bit hard to find in Brisbane – so my go to is either white chocolate Rasberry or salted caramel ice cream. but this would be so so yummmy. since hanomarkt have opened all over Brisbane ,the paste should be easy to get, and they stock black sesame seeds!!
Hi Barbara, I don’t think with or without egg does not matter. Yes, usually Asian/Japanese grocery stores stock black sesame seeds paste ;D which is great!
delicious dessert!
True xD thank you!
Hi Shihoko! Nice to meet you 🙂 Just stumbled upon your blog and think your recipes/photography are amazing!! Looking forward to more delicious recipes!
Hi Joleen, Nice to meet you too 😀
What an interesting dish! …one I’ll definitely be trying soon and can’t wait for that! 🙂
Thank you Sarah 😀
Love the color of the ice cream. And it looks relatively simple to make. I think I am going to have to make this!
Thank you Mark. Yes it is very simple and easy to make and it is yummy 😀
This is just what I need to beat the hot hot summer out here. Love the virtual treat
Thank you Fareeha. It is getting cooler here in Brisbane, Australia, but could not resist to make it.
wow! I have never tried ice-cream with sesame! This looks so good that I got to try now..
This is any Japanese restaurant staple dessert menu here in Australia 😀 really yummy
I am intrigued by the flavors of this ice cream, it sounds delicious! I love that its an easy recipe, too!
Thank you Jillian:D Black sesame flavour is one of my favourite and it is very easy to make.