Black Forest Ice Cream

Directions

1. 1
   Being with the ice cream. In a heavy saucepan, combine the cocoa powder and sugar.
2. 2
   Whisk in the eggs.
3. 3
   Very slowly, whisk in 2 3/4 cups of the half-and-half. It should start off like a chocolate paste, then end up like thick chocolate syrup.
4. 4
   Cook the mixture over medium-low heat stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon (170 degrees F / 77 degrees C).
5. 5
   Remove from heat immediately and add the remaining 1 cup of the half-and-half to stop the cooking. Place the saucepan into an ice bath to cool the custard rapidly.
6. 6
   Stir in the kirsch.
7. 7
   Chill overnight in the fridge.
8. 8
   While the ice cream is chilling, prepare the cherry compote. Combine the cherries, sugar, and water in a non-reactive saucepan.
9. 9
   Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the cherries soften. This should take about 7 minutes.
10. 10
    Mix the kirsch and cornstarch in a small bowl to create a slurry. Add to the cherries. Cook for another minute, until the compote thickens slightly.
11. 11
    Cool and chill overnight in the fridge. Don't worry, the compote will thicken up.
12. 12
    To finish, pour the custard into an ice cream maker and prepare according to the manufacturer's instructions.
13. 13
    Spread a quarter of the ice cream into a chilled dish. Spoon 1/3 of the compote in random dollops onto the ice cream. Repeat another two times (3 layers of ice cream, 3 layers of compote). Top with the remaining quarter of the ice cream.
14. 14
    Chill thoroughly in the freezer until firm.
15. 15
    Garnish with shaved chocolate, if desired.