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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}
For crying out loud- why do you always have to struggle through the entire text of “War and Peace” just to get to a recipe? Every recipe sight is incredibly frustrating this way.
Hi! There’s a large button at the top of the recipe page that says “Jump to Recipe”, right underneath the title before the text even starts. If you want to get to the recipe, all you have to do is click that button.
I actually love this feature. I can skip it later but really find the tips useful.
I know I get so discouraged bc I can never find the recipe. I wonder if they know we don’t really want to read about the history of each ingredient or their childhood. We just wanna make what recipe we are searching for. I’m on a time limit gahd.
Again, Seraphina, I’m aware that not everyone wants to read through everything. That’s why there’s a clearly labelled, large, bolded button at the top of the page which says “Jump To Recipe”. No matter what platform you’re using, it comes first before any of the “not helpful” text. Hopefully you found the recipe you were looking for. Happy cooking.
For crying out loud-why do people looking to obtain for free the fruits of labor from others hard work always seem to be so dog gone ungrateful and petty? IF you are so darned inconvenienced, perhaps you should go out and BUY RECIPIES!!!
figure it out! don’t be a jerk!
I have a small mug 1pt ice cream maker. Can I save the mixture and use next day? Only holds 1 cup of liquid. So excited to try this recipe!
Thank you
Hi, Ellen. You can save the mixture and mix/churn it later. Just keep it refrigerated until then. Enjoy!
You can adjust the # of servings on the recipe. If you adjust down to 2 servings, it uses roughly a cup of liquid. Although, given the amount of ice cream I eat, I would probably just make the full batch and refrigerate the mix – except today when I only have enough ingredients on hand for half. 😀
This was really good, I think that it melted I little to fast but it was still good I think if you want good Ice cream but you don’t want to buy it then do this. The vanilla taste is very strong but still good.
I’m glad the ice cream is a win for you, Emma.
Can you recommend accurate amounts for a gallon ice cream maker?
This recipe makes approximately 1.5 quarts, so doubling it or multiply by 2.5 should work nicely.
How much ice cream does this make? Will it fill a 4 quart ice cream maker?
You’ll need to double the recipe for that, Angela.
This was my first batch of ice cream in my new Kitchenaid Ice Cram bowl. It was really delicious and very easy. It was a wonderful dessert for Christmas Day 🎄
Thank you for the recipe
I’m glad you enjoyed the ice cream, Pam. Have fun with the new ice cream maker too!
How do I make this with no ice cream maker? TYIA
Here are the directions, Debbie: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/ice-cream-without-a-machine/
Thanks for this recipe
You are welcome, Tracy!
Thank you for the recipe, it’s my go to base. I found the skip to recipe button easily. You have to add content for search engines to digest but most people don’t understand how the internet works.
Note use heavy cream not heavy whipping cream like I did once. The colder your mixture the better it will churn so I freeze it for 30 mins before. You can also substitute a stevia based sugar for lower sugar.
You’re welcome, Cyn. I’m glad you’ve been loving the ice cream; that’s a great tip!
Oh my, thanks for pointing out heavy cream and not heavy whipping cream. I really didn’t know there was a difference.
While technically you can use either one for ice cream, my preference is heavy cream with the slightly higher fat content.
In my country we only get “cream” not heavy whipping. Will that also work?
Hi, Melani. Technically, heavy whipping cream and heavy cream are the same product; it’s just a brand/region difference. That should work in this recipe. I hope you love the ice cream!
Wow!!! This was the 1st batch I ever made, and it was so easy and the best vanilla bean ice cream ever. I didn’t taste it completely frozen yet, but the soft serve texture that just got churned in my kitchenaid freezer bowl was amazing!!! Can’t wait to try it when it’s thoroughly frozen. My family and friends will be lining up at the door. 😊
I’m glad to hear that the ice cream turned out so well, Karen! I hope everyone loves it.
just made this, so delicious and easy – thank you so much for posting!
I’m glad the ice cream is a hit, Amy.
Ive made this 5x now! Fantastic recipe, thanks so much for putting this out there.
I’m thrilled you’re enjoying the ice cream so much, Rachel!
Hi, Mary! When do I add the brownies/cookies during the process? Should I put them all together in the ice cream maker or just add them after churning? I am using the Cusinart brand.
You’ll add any additional ingredients after churning, when transferring the soft ice cream to a freezer safe container.
This ice cream was smooth and delicious! It stayed smooth even after putting in freezer. Thank you!
I’m thrilled you love it, Ashlie!
How far ahead can you make this and put in the fridge before you churn it? Also, how long will it last in the freezer? I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your recipes and knowledge. I am grateful.
You can prep the base a day or two in advance without any issues, Brenda. Just give it a quick whisk before pouring it into the machine. It will last as long as ice cream typically lasts in the freezer.
the best ice cream ever
I’m happy to hear you love it, Haylee!
we made this with chocolate berries
That sounds delicious, Kaiya. Enjoy the ice cream!
Use this every time . I change ingredients sometimes use coconut palm sugar or pancake syrup, or cherry pie filling , marmalade whatever takes the fancy
I’m glad you’ve found a way to make the ice cream your own, Colin. Enjoy!
Can you make this without a machine?
Yes, you can. Here’s how: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/ice-cream-without-a-machine/