Homemade Ice Cream is the quintessential summer treat, isn’t it?
This homemade ice cream recipe can also be called the easiest (and best!) ice cream you will ever make or taste. I’ve 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 and it’s adaptable for whichever add-ins you’re craving.
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 making a fresh 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-rated machine under $50 just might surprise you. It sure surprised me!
HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
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’ve also topped this ice cream with warm chocolate sauce, and my favorite of all this simple berry sauce. There has yet to be a combination that we didn’t love.
I probably don’t even need to mention it, but this Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream is a pretty much dream come true for topping Southern Peach Cobbler, Grandma’s Cherry Flop, an Old Fashioned Apple Crisp, or this Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch.
How To Make Homemade Ice Cream
With just five simple ingredients, you can have this smooth and creamy vanilla ice cream at your fingertips as well.
When I first started making homemade ice cream, I initially followed the recommended recipes and tried several custard-style ice creams. Traditionally, many ice creams begin with an egg custard.
While a custard base does make for an amazing ice cream, don’t get me wrong, custard ice cream is rich as can be and I quickly found that it just isn’t my thing.
Besides, I’ll be honest, I like to make things simpler and not more complicated in the kitchen wherever possible.
When I discovered Philadelphia-style ice cream, it was a complete game changer. 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!
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
This ice cream is dead simple. Stir everything together in a saucepan, simmer, Stir, Chill and Freeze; 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 are easily having this for dessert the same evening.
However, 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 makes it even better.
Truthfully though, I’m impatient about half the time, so I skip the simmer step frequently. This is fantastic ice cream however you make it.
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 wee bit of a thing for ice cream, because I have each of those machines and love them all!)
Ice Cream Recipes
Once you have an ice cream maker in your kitchen, get ready for all the ice cream recipes you can handle.
These recipes for Rocky Road Ice Cream, Cinnamon Ice Cream, Blueberries and Cream Ice Cream, and Cafe con Leche Ice Cream all need to be on your list to try. 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.
Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream by The View from Great Island and Peanut Butter Ice Cream by Pint Sized Baker both look delicious as well.
Homemade Ice Cream Recipe
- 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.
- Warm the mixture over medium heat, just until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and add the remaining cream, milk, and vanilla. Stir to combine and chill in the refrigerator.
- When ready to churn, remove the vanilla pod, whisk mixture again and pour into ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Transfer the finished ice cream to an airtight container and place in the freezer until ready to serve.
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 or
- Optional: 2 cups of add-ins – soft brownies, cookies, and blondies work great
Instructions
- 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. 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). Stir to combine and chill in the refrigerator.
- When ready to churn, remove the vanilla pod, whisk mixture again and pour into ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the finished ice cream to an airtight container and place in the freezer until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 5/22/18 – recipe notes and photos updated 7/1/21}
Maggie says
This is the best ice cream!!! I have been making it since last summer, usually adding the same stuff and it’s always good…..I am now the official ice cream maker of the family and everyone want’s me to bring my ice cream!! At Christmas I made it with egg nog instead of cream and man oh man, it was out of this world good!!! Even the kids ate it up!! Thanks again for the fabulous recipe!!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad that you like the ice cream so much, Maggie!
Lisa Luxton says
How can you make ice cream slightly harder
Mary Younkin says
The ice cream will firm up in the freezer, Lisa.
Andi says
We made this with some left over whipping cream and it was delicious! The ice cream freezer didn’t work so we did the mixer/freezer method and it worked just as well. I’m curious to try adding cocoa and perhaps a touch more sugar to counteract the cocoa and see if it can be modified to make chocolate ice cream.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you like the ice cream, Andi.
Alissa says
When do you add the add-ins? I wanted to add brownies and caramel. Should I do that when the ice cream maker is done, before the freezer?
Mary Younkin says
Yes, you’ll stir them in after it finishes churning, Alissa.
Jasmin says
Omg It is like summer like right now like this is the best like delicious ice cream like in the World
Mary Younkin says
I am so happy that you are enjoying the ice cream, Jasmin.
Dottie says
Can you swap out the sugar for a sugar substitute like monkfruit?
Mary Younkin says
I’ve been told you can, but haven’t tried that myself, Dottie.
Dottie says
One other question, is this I cream scoopable if frozen overnight?
Mary Younkin says
Yes, this ice cream will remain firm but scoopable after freezing.
S.T. says
How do you make this with out an ice cream maker?
Mary Younkin says
There are tips in the above post for making without a machine.
Lana Phillips says
This is absolutely the best (and easiest) vanilla ice cream ever. We substitute Swerve for the sugar and it’s still super awesome every time! We’ve tried the recipe with some peppermint extract to make mint chocolate chip ice cream and it was equally as good as plain vanilla. This is a keeper recipe and very simple.
Mary Younkin says
I am thrilled that you are enjoying the ice cream, Lana! Thanks for the heads up on the different variations.
DIANNE says
Thanks for the thorough reviews!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you like the ice cream.
Elizabeth Boot says
Love the ice cream but it was far too sweet for me. Would it be ok to leave out some sugar or would that ruin the consistency? I added some coffee to it when I had taken it from the freezer to taste and it did supress the very sweet taste Will try with less sugar next time Certainlynthe easiest recipe I have ever tried !!! PS Coffee ice cream is actualy my favourite so was not much of a sacrifice !
Mary Younkin says
I adore coffee ice cream as well. You can reduce the sugar a good bit without sacrificing flavor or texture. I typically reduce it when I know that I’ll be adding sweet ingredients at the end or when I’m making it to top a cobbler or something like that.
Tracey Owens says
I dont have an ice cream maker – will a whisk do? Xx
Mary Younkin says
Unfortunately, this recipe can’t be made without a machine, Tracey.
Victory says
Wow so easy
Mary Younkin says
I hope you love the ice cream, Victory.
Brenda says
Can you clarify what size ice cream maker this recipe will fill? 2 quart or 4 quart?
Mary Younkin says
This makes approximately 1.5 QTs of ice cream. You’ll want to double the recipe for a 4 QT machine.
Dorothy Fredrick says
I want to start making simple ice cream
Mary Younkin says
I hope you love it, Dorothy.
Debra Krause says
Hello. Can. I. Get. The. Recipes. Sent. To. My. Address. Is
Debbie. Krause. (edited by moderator to remove address) Would. Be. Happy. To. Get. It. In. The. Mail
Yours truly love recipes Debra Krause
Mary Younkin says
Hi Debra, I am happy that you are enjoying the recipes. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that I am able to do.
Lori says
Loved the recipe!! Do you have a chocolate version? Thank you, Lori
Mary Younkin says
You bet, Lori. There are several chocolate ice cream recipes on the website. Just search “chocolate ice cream” in the search bar or go to the recipe index to see all 60+ ice cream recipes.
Becky says
My kids and I have loved this recipe! So easy and yummy! Thanks for posting for us to enjoy!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you like it, Becky.
Bob says
Cool recipe! Pretty excited to try it! One suggestion to the article though. It really did hurt my head with how many times the word “homemade” is in this. Maybe in the title and a couple more times but not almost every paragraph
Mary Younkin says
I hope you love the ice cream, Bob.
Tim O’Malley says
This recipe is a hit. Too bad about Bob’s comments. “You said homemade too many times”. You handled that like a pro, Mary.