Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Name: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup sugar; 2 cups half and half; 1 tablespoon real vanilla extract or 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste; 2 cups heavy whipping cream

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This four-ingredient classic vanilla ice cream is the absolute easiest and creamiest. Once you taste it, you will be hooked on this homemade ice cream recipe. With no artificial ingredients and total simplicity, there isn’t any reason not to make homemade ice cream.

You know, I really don’t like to toot my own horn, but this ice cream is just scrumptious. Just ask my family, as they are some ice cream-eating fools. This recipe is one of my favorites, as it really takes less than five minutes to prep and get it into the ice cream maker. Unlike custard base, this ice cream mixture does not use egg yolks, nor does it need to simmer or boil in a saucepan.

Have you tried any of my other ice cream flavors? Chocolate, strawberry, and raspberry ice cream (no churn) are some of our favorites. After all, summer is here, and what better way to cool down than a scoop of homemade ice cream?

Let’s Spill The Tea

Cuisine style: American
Taste and texture: creamy, rich, and vanillay (not sure that is even a word)
Effort and skill: easy peasy
Pros: It is always a huge hit no matter what time of the year it is
Cons: someone always finds that scoop you hide in the back of the freeze

Once you taste this vanilla ice cream you will be hooked.

Four Ingredients For Great Vanilla Ice Cream

Granulated sugar
Half and half: which is half whole milk and half cream
Heavy cream: or whipping cream
Vanilla extract: the real thing

Recipe Variations

Vanilla Chocolate Chip: Add 3 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chopped very fine or shaved.
Cookies and Cream: Reduce sugar to 3/4 cup. When the ice cream has finished churning, stir in about 20 quartered chocolate sandwich cookies. I like to use Oreos because they are consistently delicious.
Cookie Dough: Add 1 1/2 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chopped very fine and about 1 1/4 cups of edible cookie dough.
Strawberry Vanilla: Add 1 cup of pureed strawberries to the mixture before churning and stir in 1 cup of finely chopped strawberries after churning.

This smooth and creamy rich vanilla ice cream takes less than five minutes to prepare for the ice cream maker.

Recipe Tips for Perfect Vanilla Ice Cream

Spend the money and use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. It is the naturally occurring vanillin that gives it that real vanilla flavor.
If adding chocolate, use a good-quality brand and chop it really fine, or better yet, shave it.
Cover ice cream with plastic wrap to prevent ice crystals from forming. Spoon it into an airtight container, and always store it in the back of the freezer so it stays consistently cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute other dairy products?

I have always used high-fat dairy products like heavy cream, whipping cream, half-and-half, and whole milk. Most non-dairy milks, such as oat, cashew, and soy, do not have enough fat. Coconut milk and coconut cream have enough fat, but I have never tried this recipe with them.

Can you over-churn ice cream?

Check on the ice cream after 25 minutes to see if it is churned enough, as it is possible to over-churn ice cream. Stop churning at soft serve consistency. If churned too long it will become dense with more ice crystals.

Let’s Recap

This is a quick and creamy vanilla ice cream that requires no cooking and no eggs.
It is made in an electric ice cream maker with rock salt.
Everyone loves this creamy vanilla treat.

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