Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Fresh and creamy homemade vanilla ice cream is a simple four-ingredient dessert that is incredibly delicious!
Servings: 10
Equipment
- Ice Cream Churn
- rock salt
- ice
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine all ingredients, stirring to dissolve the sugar completely.
- Pour into an ice cream maker, filling no more than two-thirds full. (If you have extra mixture, just store it in a container in the refrigerator until you can churn it.)
- Freeze cream mixture according to the manufacturer’s directions. For those whose ice cream makers use ice, adding rock salt to the ice in your ice cream maker can lower the temperature and speed up the freezing process. Serve immediately or store in covered containers in the freezer.
Video
Notes
No ice cream maker? No Problem! To make this without an ice cream maker, place a shallow container (glass or metal works best) in the freezer to pre-chill. Prepare cream mixture as described above and pour it into the chilled container. Store in the coldest part of your freezer until almost firm but still soft enough to be stirred, about 1 hour. Stir mixture with a spoon or hand mixer, then return to the freezer. Over the next 3 hours, mix the ice cream with a spoon or hand mixer every 30 minutes to help it stay aerated and creamy. After 3 hours, serve or store in covered containers in the freezer.
Variations. There are so many ways to change up this ice cream—just make sure any add-ins are cold, and mix them in during the last 2 minutes of churning in the ice cream maker.
Here are some of our favorites:
o Cookies and Cream: Add 1½ cup coarsely chopped Oreos.
o Vanilla Malt: Add ¾ cup malted milk powder.
o Salted Caramel: Add ¼ teaspoon salt, and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
o Peaches and Cream: Add 1 (15-ounce) can sliced peaches (drained and diced) or 3 medium peaches, peeled and sliced.
Favorite toppings. Whipped Cream, Hot Fudge, Strawberry Sauce, sprinkles, sliced banana, chopped candy bar, and a cherry on top.
STORE. For best results only store homemade ice cream in the freezer for 3-4 weeks.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 43mg | Potassium: 111mg | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 871IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 0.1mg