Homemade ice cream is the ultimate summer treat, isn’t it?
This homemade ice cream recipe is also known as the easiest (and best!) ice cream you will ever make or taste.
I have been making this ice cream at least once a month for over 5 years now.
Can anyone ever turn down a scoop of rich and creamy vanilla ice cream?
This ice cream recipe is the easiest once I make it and can be modified for whatever toppings you want.
I try to keep a stash of crisp cookies, brownies, and other treats in the freezer so I can throw in a few handfuls when I’m making a new batch of ice cream.
Don’t miss our Ice Cream Maker Review for all the information you need to find the BEST ice cream maker for your needs!
Spoiler alert – our top-tier device under $50 might surprise you.
Although ice cream is a staple in our freezer year-round, the topping possibilities for this particular ice cream are endless.
I have filled this ice cream with brownie pieces, cookie dough pieces, oatmeal cookie pieces, and swirls of salted caramel sauce.
I also top this ice cream with warm chocolate sauce, and my favorite is this simple berry sauce.
I probably don’t even have to mention it, but this Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream is a dream for topping off Southern Peach Cobbler, Grandma’s Cherry Flop, Old Fashioned Apple Crisp, or this Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch .
How to make homemade ice cream
How to make homemade ice cream
With just five simple ingredients, you too can have this smooth and creamy vanilla ice cream at your fingertips.
When I first started making homemade ice cream, I followed the recommended recipes and tried several custard style ice creams.
While a custard base makes an amazing ice cream, don’t get me wrong, custard ice cream is rich as can be and I quickly discovered that it just isn’t my thing.
Philadelphia-style ice cream is simply ice cream made without eggs.
I have played with the basic ratios and method over the last few years and I can tell you now that this recipe is hands down the BEST plain vanilla ice cream I have ever made .
The most popular question I get is if it is possible to make ice cream without a machine.
You can make ice cream without a machine.
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
This ice cream is dead simple.
Mix everything in a saucepan, cook, stir, cool and freeze; less than 10 minutes of actual prep time.
However, if you are in a hurry, you can just mix everything cold and pour it into the machine.
I can’t deny that stirring it just long enough to dissolve the sugar and then chilling it again makes it even better.
This ice cream works beautifully in every ice cream maker I’ve tried.
Hand crank, electric crank, freezer bowl, and ice cream compressor.
Homemade ice cream turns out great in each one!
(And yes, I may have a bit of a thing for ice cream, because I have each of these machines and love them all!)
Ice cream recipes
Once you have an ice cream maker in your kitchen, get ready for the ice cream recipes you can handle.
Fresh Mint Ice Cream is like any other mint ice cream you’ve tried before.
Sweet chunks of edible cookie dough fill every scoop of this rich and creamy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.
Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream by The View from Great Island and Peanut Butter Ice Cream by Pint Sized Baker both look delicious too.
Homemade ice cream recipe
Pour 1 cup of the cream into a saucepan and add sugar, salt.
Drop the vanilla seeds into the pot and then place the vanilla pod into the pot. Warm the mixture over medium heat, until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat and add the remaining cream, milk, and vanilla.
Move according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the finished ice cream to an airtight container and place in the freezer until you are ready to serve.
The best (and easiest) ice cream you’ll ever make
A rich and creamy homemade vanilla ice cream recipe that only requires five ingredients!
Ingredients ▢ 1¾ cups heavy cream ▢ 1¼ cups whole milk ▢ ¾ cups sugar ▢ ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt ▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean split in half lengthwise or ▢ Optional: 2 cups addition – Soft brownies, cookies, and blondies work well
Directions Pour 1 cup of the cream into a saucepan and add the sugar, salt.
Scrape the seeds of the vanilla bean into the pot and then add the vanilla pod to the pot.
Heat the mixture over medium heat, until the sugar dissolves.
Remove from the heat and add the cream, milk, and vanilla extract (if using extract).
Stir to combine and chill in the refrigerator. When you are ready to churn, remove the vanilla pod, add the mixture again and pour into the ice cream maker.
Stir to combine and chill in the refrigerator. When you are ready to churn, remove the vanilla pod, add the mixture again and pour into the ice cream maker.
Move according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Transfer the finished ice cream to an outer container and place in the freezer until ready to serve.
Notes You can skip the mixing step and just mix everything together, then pour directly into the ice cream maker.
The ice cream is delicious this way, as well as when it is first whipped and chilled.
Have you tried this recipe? Comment @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!