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I have a well-established love of ice cream, with over 150 ice cream recipes here on the website, and yet I still make this simple ice cream recipe at least once a month. There’s a reason why we call this the easiest (and best!) ice cream you will ever make or taste.
How To Make Homemade Ice Cream
Can anyone ever turn down a scoop of rich and creamy homemade ice cream? With just a handful of ingredients, this vanilla ice cream is beyond easy to make and it’s adaptable for whichever add-ins you’re craving.
While ice cream is a staple in our freezer year round, the add-in potentials for this particular ice cream are endless. I’ve filled this ice cream with chunks of brownies, bits of cookie dough, pieces of oatmeal cookies, and swirls of salted caramel sauce.
I have tried many ice cream recipes with many levels of difficulty, but my husband has deemed this recipe his favorite! Thank you so much for your hard work! I love the endless possibilities!
I try to keep a stash of crumbled cookies, brownies, and other treats in the freezer so that I can toss in a few handfuls whenever I’m churning a batch of ice cream.
I’ve also topped this ice cream with warm chocolate sauce, salted caramel sauce, or my favorite of all, this simple berry sauce. There has yet to be a combination that we didn’t love.
Homemade Ice Cream Recipe
When I first started making homemade ice cream, I initially followed recipes for traditional custard-style ice creams. And while a custard base does make for an amazing ice cream, don’t get me wrong, custard ice creams tend to be rich as can be.
And I quickly found that most custard ice creams just aren’t my thing. Besides, I’ll be honest, I like to make things simpler and not more complicated in the kitchen wherever possible.
The Ice Cream That Changed Everything
When I discovered Philadelphia-style ice cream, it was a complete game changer. You’ll need just 5 ingredients to make this ice cream: cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Philadelphia style ice cream is simply ice cream made with no eggs. I’ve played with the basic ratios and the method over the past few years and I’m telling you now that this recipe is hands down, the BEST simple vanilla ice cream I have ever made.
The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!
How To Make Ice Cream
This ice cream is dead simple. Just combine some cream, milk, sugar, a pinch of salt, and a splash of vanilla in a saucepan. Give it a stir and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Then cool, chill, and churn; less than 10 minutes of actual prep time. If I put the mixture together in the morning, refrigerate it, and then churn it in the afternoon, we will happily scoop this ice cream into bowls or cones for dessert the same evening.
Want To Make It Even Easier?
If you are in a rush, you can simply stir everything together cold and pour it into the machine. I can’t deny that simmering it just long enough to dissolve the sugar and then cooling it again does make it even better.
Truthfully though, I’m impatient most of the time, so I skip the simmer step frequently. This is fantastic ice cream, however you make it.
The ice cream works beautifully in every ice cream maker I’ve tried. Hand crank, electric crank, freezer bowl, and ice cream compressor are all terrific options, but don’t worry, you can make ice cream without a machine too!
Ice Cream Recipes
Once you have an ice cream maker in your kitchen, get ready for all the ice cream recipes you can handle. Two kinds of chocolate and real cream make this the best and easiest homemade chocolate ice cream. The deliciously rich chocolate flavor of this recipe comes from the combination of both cocoa powder and melted chocolate chips.
Strawberry Ice Cream is an old-fashioned favorite made simply with strawberries, sugar, cream, and milk. Just a few ingredients add up to a summer ice cream treat that everyone loves.
Fresh Mint Ice Cream is like no other mint ice cream you’ve tried in the past. Sweet chunks of edible cookie dough fill each scoop of this rich and creamy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.
This creamy, rich Blueberry Ice Cream is filled with chunks of dark chocolate that will melt in your mouth. Oh, my friends, make this. You won’t regret it – and I’m willing to bet that you’ll fall in love with it at first bite. I know I did.
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-rated machine under $50 just might surprise you. It sure surprised me!
The Best (and Easiest) Ice Cream You’ll Ever Make
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups heavy cream
- 1¼ cup whole milk
- ¾ cup sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean split in half lengthwise
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup of the cream into a saucepan and add the sugar and salt. If using a vanilla bean, scrape the seeds of the bean into the mixture and then add the vanilla pod to the saucepan.
- Warm the mixture over medium heat, just until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and add the remaining cream, milk, and vanilla extract (if using extract). Whisk to combine and chill in the refrigerator.
- When ready to churn, remove the vanilla pod, whisk the mixture again, and pour it into the ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Serve immediately or transfer the finished ice cream to an airtight container and place it in the freezer until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 5/22/18 – recipe notes and photos updated 9/14/25}
This was delicious ice cream!! Perfectly creamy not icy at all!! Even the leftovers in the freezer were delicious!!
This will be my recipe From now on!! Thank you!!
YAY! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Was very easy to make banana ice cream. I freeze bananas and use 2 small ones. Came out great!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the ice cream!
this is so good. I made chocolate ice cream and added fruit.
I don’t have a ice cream maker so I poured the mixture into a container and stored it in the freezer and served it the following day. oh my goodness how yummy was that!
I’m so glad you are enjoying the ice cream, Carlana!
If I use almond milk, will it turn out the same?
Unfortunately, it will not, as there won’t be nearly the same fat content in the almond milk to make it creamy. You can likely make an “ice milk” that way, but it won’t be the same.
Yummy! Me first time tried this recipes with guide, and I loved it!
I’m glad you enjoyed the ice cream
!
so yummy
I’m glad you like the ice cream!
how do I churn it without an ice cream maker…looks so easy..
Here you go: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/ice-cream-without-a-machine/
Super easy and delicious!
I just made a batch and added 1T instant coffee, will see how it turns out.
Let me know what you think!
OMG the tablespoon of instant coffee is soooo good! I was having a hard time restraining myself from eating too much right out of the ice cream maker. I think the coffee flavor is great, but I would say to go to 1 1/2 T if you want a strong coffee flavor.
I added a heaping 1/2 c of mini chocolate chips to it too, although I’m not even sure if that was needed (also I would not add more than 3/4 c if I use the chocolate chips unless you really want a lot of chocolate in it). I am going to do another batch of no chocolate chips and see what I think.
YAY!!! Thanks for coming back to tell me. That sounds awesome!
Can I use heavy whipping cream?
Yep. Same thing here. Happy ice cream making!
So easy and yummy! Only ice cream I make now. Keeps well with no ice crystals. Have made regularly and now trying to add flavours. I have had success reducing sugar and melting in some good quality chocolate, just a couple of squares then stirring in a couple of chopped squares at end of churning. Latest dark chocolate with raspberry- delicious.
I’m glad to hear it’s a favorite!
Fantastic it was so good I am making another one
I’m so glad you like it!
It turned out really well! My wife passed a little over a year ago. I depended on her. So your recipe was a tremendous help!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the ice cream!
really appreciate the help. thanks. the boys love it.
I’m happy it’s a hit!
I received a Kitchen Aid ice Cream attachment for Christmas and was looking around the internet for an easy vanilla ice cream recipe. I found this one and decided to give it a try. WE LOVE IT! I simmered it since I use organic cane sugar that’s a bit grainier than regular granulated sugar. The ice cream wasn’t grainy but incredibly fluffy. It’s flavored well and is the best ice cream we’ve ever had. I think I might reduce the amount of sugar next time but this recipe has become an instant family classic. Thank you, Mary!
I’m thrilled that you loved the ice cream, Alex! That’s awesome. I love playing with homemade ice cream flavors! I can’t wait to hear which flavor you try next.
This is the best ice cream I have ever had!
YAY! I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying the ice cream.
Can I substitute milk for the heavy cream?
While you can make “ice milk” that way, it won’t be nearly as rich or creamy as traditional ice cream.
I am hypoglycemic and do not use sugar. I made this with Splenda and it is excellent.
I’m thrilled it worked well for you, Mark!