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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.
Video
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}
Icecream was absolutely delicious and so easy to make! thank you! I used golden caster sugar.
I’m so glad you like it!
I nade this ice cream and it was so very good. The easiest recipe I have ever found. it’s light and refreshing. Thank you so much for sharing.
I’m so happy that you like it!
I don’t have a churn. Can I use my mix master to whip the final ingredients.
Hi Yvonne, you can make almost any of my recipes without a machine using this method: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/ice-cream-without-a-machine/
I used your recipe for my first attempt at homemade ice cream and it was so simple! It turned out delicious! I also used it to make strawberry the second time. My family is hooked! For the strawberry, I reduced the vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon and added some partially thawed frozen strawberries that I smashed up a bit.
Thank you for sharing!
I’m so glad you loved it!
Easy and delicious! Definitely a hit in my home, just made my second batch!
I’m thrilled to hear that!
I’ve made this ice cream before and I finally found it & made a full canister with peaches! Delicious 🍑
I’m so happy you love it!
This is perfect! I have started to use this as a base for all of my other ice cream flavors. Want a cheesecake vibe? Add in a bit of cream cheese. Chocolate? Melt in some chocolate and add a bit of cocoa powder. It’s so yummy. I make it in a Whynter machine and it comes out perfectly every time.
I’m glad you like it so much, Mark!
Hello
Are you sure the it makes 1.5 quarts
That seems bigger than what the input ingredients would create
Air will be incorporated into the ice cream during the churning process, Chuck. This recipe will fill a 1.5 QT machine.
how long do i chill in the fridge before churning?
It simply needs to be cold before churning.
I am really eager to try all these recipes.
I hope that you enjoy them!
adjustments if adding protein powder?
I’ve never tried that.
Absolutely unbelievable how delicious this recipe is!!! I will use this recipe always ♥️👊🏼🇺🇸
I’m happy to hear the ice cream is a hit!
I cannot get it to freeze in ice cream maker!! HELP please
It sounds like there may be an issue with the machine. This mixture wouldn’t be causing an issue like that.
Absolutely amazing! Delicious and super simple to make.
I’m thrilled that you’re so happy with the ice cream!
Could this be made ahead and stored in fridge for vacation? Or best to combine day of churning?
Sure thing, I often mix it up a day or so ahead of time and then churn it when I’m ready later.
Takes a whole night to chill would not recommend
I’m not even sure what to say here. If you heat something on the stove, it will take a while to cool down. I usually just pop it in the fridge overnight, because I find that easiest, but it’s typically cool enough to churn in about 4-6 hours. That said, I even provide an alternative method of simply stirring everything together without even using the stove to hear it.
How about using honey or maple syrup for sweetener? And cacao powder for chocolate?
They aren’t 1:1 swaps, but yes, you can make ice cream with all of the above! Here are some recipes to try: Maple Ice Cream, Honey Ice Cream, and Chocolate Ice Cream.