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This iconic Canadian tiger tail ice cream recipe is NO-CHURN so it can be made without an ice cream machine! You’ll love the orange ice cream mixed with black licorice. Don’t let another summer go by without trying this no-churn tiger tail recipe!
Please note: This post was originally published in 2017. I’ve since redone the text but the recipe remains the same.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! I’m so glad my usual day to post something new landed on this spooktacular holiday. Obviously, I had to do something Halloween-themed. You wouldn’t typically think of tiger-tail ice cream when you think of Halloween – but – it’s orange and black, so to me, it fit right in.
I’ve always been a big fan of tiger-tail, although I think it might be one of those flavors that you either HATE or LOVE. It really comes down to whether you’re in the black licorice camp or not. I’ve always been that weird kid who preferred black to red licorice, and would get pretty excited about my grandparents’ bowl of licorice allsorts.
What flavor is tiger tail ice cream?
I know it sounds weird, but tiger tail ice cream is a mix between black licorice and orange ice cream. It is seriously so good!!!
The licorice flavor in this no-churn ice cream (that’s right – NO-CHURN!!!) is thanks to pure star anise extract. It has a strong licorice flavor and you can buy it at almost any grocery store in the bakery aisle. The complementary orange flavor? Pure orange extract, of course. Also in the bakery aisle!
How do you make the black and orange colors?
To achieve that signature orange and black coloring, I used a few drops of gel color from Wilton’s line. I find gel colors are so much easier to use when you’re trying to get a strong shade without an entire bottle of food coloring! The gel also incorporates into icings and (ice cream) very well, without making it too runny. Funny, but I really should have listened to my own advice when I tried to make Oscar a red fire truck cake and ended up with a hot pink one. SO – I highly, highly recommend using gel coloring for this recipe!
These Wilton Gel-Based Food Colors
How do you make no-churn tiger tail ice cream?
No-churn ice cream couldn’t be easier to make!!
BUT – just because it isn’t summer, it doesn’t mean you can’t indulge on the cold creamy stuff! Especially when it’s this easy to make. Whip up some cream, fold in condensed milk, freeze, and voila! Ice cream. Of course, if you want tiger-tail, you’ll need to add in the colors and flavors 😉
Once the condensed milk is folded into the whipping cream, you’ll want to divide the mixture into 2 equal parts: one for black coloring and the star anise, and the other for orange coloring and orange flavor.
To swirl them together, first layer half of the orange ice cream into a freezable container (I like using a loaf pan), and drop spoonfuls of the black ice cream on top. Use a spoon to swirl the two together, and then repeat.
The ice cream will need to be frozen for 5-6 hours before it’s ready. If you’re reading this on Halloween morning, you’ll have just enough time to make a batch of this for a special Halloween dessert! And still have time to sew some spider legs onto a giant black onesie for your husband to wear. 😉
Happy Halloween guys!! Today we’re handing out some Halloween cake pops to Oscar’s pre-school class and going for a quick trick-or-treat run around the neighborhood after dinner. I can’t wait to do a quality check on the kids’ candy bags once they’re in bed…
And then follow up with a scoop of this tiger tail no-churn!
If you’re as big of a fan of no-churn recipes as me, then you HAVE to try these other ice cream flavors:
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No-Churn Tiger Tail Ice Cream
- Total Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 pint 1x
Description
ice cream made without an ice cream machine! Delightful orange ice cream mixed with black licorice. The best tiger tail recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream, cold
- 1 – 300 mL can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tsp pure orange extract
- 2–3 drops orange gel food colouring*
- 4 tsp pure star anise extract
- 3–4 drops black gel food colouring
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or using an electric handheld mixer, whip the heavy cream on high speed until stiff peaks begin to form, about 5 minutes. Using a spatula, fold in the sweetened condensed milk until incorporated.
- Pour half of the mixture into another large bowl. In one of the bowls, add the orange food colouring and orange flavouring, using a spatula to combine until the mixture is fully saturated with orange. Do the same with the other bowl, using the black colouring and anise extract.
- Pour half of the orange mixture into the bottom of a freezer-safe container, such as a standard loaf pan. Drop half of the black mixture in spoonfuls on top of the orange. Using a spoon or a knife, create gentle swirls between the two colours. Repeat with the remaining orange and remaining black mixture.
- If using a loaf pan, gently press a piece of parchment paper on top of the ice cream. Freeze the ice cream for 5-6 hours. The longer the ice cream is in the freezer, the harder it will become.
Ice cream will last in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- I strongly, strongly recommend using gel food colourings for this recipe, rather than the liquid bottles you can buy at any grocery store. The gel won’t add additional liquid to the recipe and you need much less of it than the liquid version.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Category: ice cream
- Method: no-churn
- Cuisine: canadian
I have never been a huge fan of licorice. I’m fine with a subtle aftertaste in the background, but having candy or chocolate? No, thanks (I traveled to Finland and Sweden few times, and licorice is quite popular thing here. I always needed to reed the list of ingredients as this sneaky licorice could easily be found everywhere haha). Anyways, last year I saw this ice cream first time ever, and skeptically decided to give it a try. Besides, this flavor is manufactured only in Canada, so it’s kind of a must, right? It was amazing! Licorice and orange flavors do go well together. I was even thinking of making it at home this summer. But having browsed some recipes, it looked a little time-consuming as they require real licorice candy to be melt first. I would have never thought of star anise extract – it’s so simple and genius, Katherine!
Oh yes, they LOVE their black licorice in Sweden!! I find their black licorice is even more intense than what you’d taste over here! I’m so glad you enjoyed tiger tail the first time you tried it!! I actually had no idea it was only a Canadian thing until after I posted this!! Canadians have some great ideas, don’t you think? 😉 I love star anise!! Thanks Ben!
Oh my gosh!! I love black licorice, I always eat way too much!! This ice cream is wonderful and I love the orange with the licorice flavor!! The color combo can’t be beat. Take care. 😉
I love it too!! It’s so good. Thank you! It’s such a great flavour combo. Have a great weekend!!
That color combo is bang on perfect for halloween! I haven’t tried licorice ever :P, I know I am missing something… But I so want to try this freaking awesome Tiger tail Ice-cream!
Never!? Can you hear the shock in my voice from way over there? Haha – I hope you get a chance to see what you’ve been missing! Thanks!!
I looooove that color combo, can’t get more Halloween than that. So pretty and creamy! Hope you had a great Halloween with the kids:)
Thanks Maria!! I love, love the colours too! We had a great time even though it was raining!! Hope you did too!! XO
I hope you had a great Halloween and that your quality check went well 🙂 This ice cream is perfect for Halloween! Licorice ice cream is new to me, but I need to try it now!
Oh Thao, the quality check went very well 😉 Thank you!! You definitely gotta check it out. Cheers!!
Oh hello Tiger Tail No-Churn Ice Cream!! This is SO cool Katherine. I love that you used pure star anise extract to get that licorice flavor. I’m not the biggest fan of licorice, but I am HUGE fan of ice cream and orange so I am sure I would love this! 🙂
Thank you Alia!! I’m glad you like it! Totally understandable you’re not a big fan of licorice – it’s one of those love or hate flavours!! You could totally change out the licorice for chocolate too 🙂 Have a great weekend!!
Thanks for posting all your ice cream recipes, Katie! I went for this one to be able to use the extracts i already had at home. I also added mini chocolate chips 😋. Everyone loved it!
Woohoo! I’m so glad you liked the recipe – the picture you posted looked delicious. Easiest ice cream ever, right!? XO
I’m so happy I came across this recipe! Tiger icecream was my favorite flavor as a child but we moved to Texas in 2000 and it doesn’t exist here. Can’t wait to try it out.
That’s awesome!! I’m so happy to hear that – I didn’t realize it was a Canadian thing until I had posted it. Hope you love it!