Coffee Liqueur for Ice Cream

Asked by mummills68. Answered on 9th October 2012

Full question

I would like to make Nigella's No Churn Coffee Ice Cream from Nigellissima. Is Tia Maria a good substitute for Illy Liqueur?

Can I buy the espresso liqueur used by Nigella for her No Churn Coffee Ice Cream in a supermarket? If not, where can I get it? Thank you, Wendy

Our answer

The Illy Coffee Liqueur is available on-line from various sources though you may also like to search for it as "Illy Liquore Di Caffe". If you have a good off licence or liquor store in your area then you may be able to order it via them and in London Gerry's Wines and Spirits in Soho stock this liqueur.

However it is possible to use other coffee flavoured liqueurs in the ice cream. The liqueur adds some coffee flavour but the alcohol also helps with the soft, smooth texture of the ice cream as the alcohol will inhibit the formation of hard ice crystals. Tia Maria or Kahlua would both be good substitutes.