This Classic Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream recipe is a summer staple that will keep you cool all season long, no matter how you top it!
Are you looking for a delicious homemade vanilla ice cream recipe? Well, you've come to the right place. This recipe is super simple to make and has fantastic texture and taste. Dare I say it's better than the store-bought kind. I mean, homemade is always better!
My husband LOVES ice cream. He and our oldest can sit down together and eat an entire container in one sitting between the two of them, lol. They both love all the flavors, but they love a good classic vanilla, too, since they also love adding all the fun toppings to it.
I think it's time we all make some homemade ice cream!
Ingredients in Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
- Eggs
- Milk
- Heavy Cream
- Sugar
- Vanilla
How to Make Homemade Ice Cream
- Warm the heavy cream and sugar until it's dissolved.
- Mix the eggs and milk together.
- Temper the egg mixture with the sugar and heavy cream mixture.
- Add the vanilla.
- Let the mixture cool.
- Process in your ice cream maker.
- Chill and Enjoy!
Can you make this without an ice cream maker?
The short answer is yes, you can. However, I prefer the texture with an ice cream maker. I find it much creamier and has less potential to become harder or icy as it chills.
If you want to make this without an ice cream maker, let the mixture chill; instead of processing it in an ice cream maker, whisk or stir the mixture and place it in a freezer-safe container. Every 30-45 minutes, stir or whisk the mixture again until it becomes thick, leaving it to sit lightly covered in between. Once the mixture is thick, you can let it chill for 4-6 hours and then enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Do NOT let your cream and sugar mixture come to a boil.
- Carefully temper the egg mixture to not end up with scrambled eggs in your final ice cream.
- Allow the mixture to completely cool before processing it in the ice cream maker. (If the mixture becomes thick in areas while chilling, just whisk it back together before processing.)
- Store your ice cream in freezer-safe containers to help prevent it from getting hard. I like to use these containers whenever I make ice cream.
- Having an easy-to-use ice cream maker makes this recipe even easier to do. This is the ice cream maker that I have, and I find it makes the perfect creamy ice cream in no time without all the salt and ice of some machines. I also have extra bowl inserts, so I always have one frozen to make ice cream when the craving hits someone in the family.
Favorite Things to Eat with Vanilla Ice Cream
- Fresh Fruit
- Fudge Sauce
- Brownies
- Whipped Cream
- Sprinkles
- or your favorite crushed candy like these Homemade Peanut Butter Cups
- You could even make homemade ice cream sandwiches!
More Frozen Treats to Enjoy
📖 Recipe
Classic Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the heavy whipping cream and the sugar over medium heat stirring just until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- While the sugar is dissolving, combine the milk and eggs into a bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined and no eggs are easily visible.
- Slowly add the warm cream and sugar mixture to the eggs, whisking so you do not cook the eggs and create scrambled eggs.
- Once all the cream and sugar mixture is combined, add the vanilla and whisk again.
- Place the mixture into the fridge to allow it to cool about 4 hours. You do not want to proceed until the mixture is cool.
- Follow the instructions on your ice cream maker to churn the ice cream or see notes above on how to make this recipe without an ice cream maker.
- Once the ice cream is formed, place it in a freezer-safe container to set up and enjoy!
Notes
- Do NOT let your cream and sugar mixture come to a boil.
- Carefully temper the egg mixture so you do not end up with scrambled eggs in your final ice cream.
- Allow the mixture to completely cool before processing it in the ice cream maker. (If the mixture becomes thick in areas while chilling just whisk it back together before processing.)
- Store your ice cream in freezer-safe containers to help prevent it from getting hard. I like to use these containers whenever I make ice cream.
- Having an easy to use ice cream maker makes this recipe even easier to do. This is the ice cream maker that I have and I find it makes the perfect creamy ice cream in no time without all the salt and ice of some machines. I also have extra bowl inserts so I always have one frozen to make ice cream when the craving hits someone in the family.
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