Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe
I had no idea ice cream this easy to make could taste so delicious. And, I’ll be honest, it’s one thing I never really had an interest in making at home. Probably due to the fact that somewhere in my memory is some very hard, icy (like…actual ice crystals??) homemade ice-cream that tastes like the back of the freezer.
This ice-cream is nothing like that. It has a rich, creamy consistency, I would compare to Dairy Queen or another nostalgic dairy joint. Just…damn good.
easy, 3 ingredient ice-cream recipe
And what I love even more, is how simple the ingredients are. Just three ingredients! No fancy ice-cream machine needed for this, all you will need is a stand-mixer or electric beater.
I love having easy recipes like this in our family’s arsenal that the kids can help out with. Just be warned, waiting for that cream to freeze is haaaaard. (prepare for the kids to ask every 5 minutes if it’s ready, you’ve been warned)
Easy, homemade ice cream (no ice-cream maker needed)
It all starts with good, quality ingredients. I would say that’s what sets this apart from so many other ice-creams I’ve tried (even the home-made ones). I buy grass-fed, organic heavy cream when possible. Trust me, it’s worth it!
Use a stand-mixer or electric beater on high to whip the cream to stiff peaks. The key here is to work quickly once you have the cream stiff. I made the mistake of taking mine out to the hot patio to get the kids involved, and as you might already guess, that was not the best idea. LOL
easy home-made ice-cream recipe using heavy cream
Next, gently fold one 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk into your stiff cream with a spatula or spoon (see my favorite brand in the actual recipe below).
easy, homemade ice-cream recipe using sweetened condensed milk
Add 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract until just combined.
simple, vanilla ice cream recipe
Put the mixture into a storage container right away and place in your freezer to harden up (2-4 hours).
That’s it! How can something be this easy? And y’all, vanilla get’s a bad rap, but sometimes simple is just so good. I’m telling you, you’ll never buy store-bought again.
This recipe makes 2-3 servings so I will usually double if I’m making it for the whole family. You’ll be glad you did.
easy, homemade ice cream recipe
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Recipe
1 pint organic, grass-fed heavy cream
1 can organic 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (I like this brand)
1 tsp organic pure vanilla extract (or you can use the seeds from half a vanilla bean)
Process
Use a stand mixer or electric hand beater to whip cream on high until stiff peaks form. See notes.
Use a spatula or spoon to gently fold in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. See notes.
Place in a container with tight fitting lid and pop into your freezer for 2-4 hours, or until desired consistency is reached (shorter will make soft serve consistency which is our favorite). Makes 2 servings.
Optional add-ins:
mini chocolate chips
peanut butter
berry jam (not jelly)
caramel sauce (small amount, chilled)
butterscotch chips
peppermint extract
peach preserves
chocolate sauce (small amount, chilled)
cacao powder
Notes:
You should expect this to take about 4 minutes depending on the power of your mixer. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s sticking to your beater and looks like “mountain peaks”.
You can add other flavorings you like at this step, but be careful using liquid as it can make the cream runny. Everyone in my family seems to like different things so I serve mine with toppings on the side.
Don’t waste any time getting it into your fridge as doing so might make you lose the “whipped” part of your cream which is really what makes this ice-cream and not just frozen milk!
homemade ice cream recipe with toppings using muffin tin as server
Hi. I’m Katherine.
I like whipping up tasty treats like this in the kitchen, but my day job is helping people beautify their homes via my online design service.