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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}
I do not have an ice cream maker. How can I make ice cream without one? Is double cream (thick) heavy cream as mentioned in the recipe.
I tried whipping it with sweet condensed milk and then freezing it – but it is solid!
There are methods for making ice cream without a machine, but this isn’t a recipe that works for that method. I’m sorry that I can’t be more helpful with that particular method.
To make my homemade ice cream recipe without an ice cream machine, you start by whipping up 1 pint cold heavy cream for about 2-3 minutes until the cream forms soft peaks. Once whipped, you add in 1 can condensed milk. Both ingredients should be very cold when combined so that they come together in a perfect marriage. Add in 1 tsp vanilla extract, which is optional, at this stage and whip until you have stiff peaks, about 2-3 minutes. Vanilla extract supports the sweetened condensed milk in keeping your ice cream scoopable after it freezes. The alcohol found in extracts keeps the ice cream from freezing hard and makes it soft enough to scoop into your favorite bowl.
I’ve made it twice and the family loves it.
I’m so glad that you are enjoying the ice cream, James!
What size is your ice cream maker?
There are a few links above to my actual ice cream makers. They are 1.5 QTs.
who is the owner of this website
he or she is a good baker .
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the recipes, Sam!
can this recipe be used in the kitchen aid ice cream maker?
That should work fine, Geoff.
This is simply the absolute best ice cream recipe EVER
easy peasy and delicious
We have been making Matcha Ice Cream
So glad we don’t have to make a custard base
or even heat up the ingredients and then wait for them to cool down !!!!!!
THANK YOU
I’m glad you like the ice cream so much. Ginerva!
You talk about Phillidelphia cheese but it’s not in the ingredients?hmmmm
Hi Cheryl! This is Philadelphia style ice cream. (As explained above – this means the ice cream is made without eggs or a custard base.) There is no cream cheese in the recipe.
thx for the ice cream recipe because I’m doing an essay about ice cream and I will make it when i come home
I am 12 years old and I make it for my brothers and sister I also have 14 siblings they all say that I am a good baker
Wow, Sam that’s incredible! It is such a good feeling to cook for others, isn’t it! Your family is lucky <3
How does this ice cream recipe freeze?
When you pour the ice cream mixture into the machine, it will freeze as it churns.
How long does it typically take to freeze while churning? I froze the tub that goes in the ice cream machine, and have had it churning for about 20 minutes now and it’s still super liquidy. Any tips?
It can take anywhere from 25-55 minutes depending on the machine. It’s hard to guess, Amanda.
Thank you Mary! I bought a vintage ice cream maker at a thrift store hoping to recreate my favorite childhood memories, your simple ice cream recipe made all my dreams come true! * the vanilla bean was worth the investment even though it cost more than the ice cream maker.
I am SO happy that you love the ice cream, Sherri!
This recipe works in an electric ice cream maker ? Thank you I’m going to try it just need to see how much more needs to be added to suggested ingredient amounts
Yes, I make this ice cream in my electric ice cream maker, Belinda.
I have a 6qt hand churn ice cream maker. Should I 4x the recipe? Thx!
I’d probably just triple it to be sure it all fits. The machines are rarely exact. Happy ice cream eating!
I will be trying soon
I hope you love it, Christina!
Can sugar substitutes be used
I’ve never tried this with any sugar substitutes, Tessie. However, if you scroll through the comments, you may see where others have adapted the recipe in different ways.
I’m new to ice cream making. I decided to try your recipe. Oh yummy! I’m glad I did try it. Even though I am new to ice cream making I varied the recipe slightly. I have several flavors of dessert salts, one is Espresso salt…I used that and also added a bit of instant espresso powder. Just before the churning time was up I added chopped chocolate…. so yummy and creamy. Thank you for posting this recipe.
I love that variation. It sounds delicious, Alicia. I’m glad you liked the ice cream!
This recipe makes no sense:
“This ice cream is dead simple. Stir everything together in a saucepan, simmer, Stir, Chill and Freeze;”
OR
“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.”
I get that you are probably an ‘artsy’ person; but what’s the actual method???
Hi Jumper, you made me grin. I couldn’t be less artsy if I tried. However, you may use either method that you described. You may also follow the shortcut method described at the bottom of the recipe: Just stir everything together and pour it directly into the machine. Happy ice cream making!
GDAY MARY
thank u for the recipes, my mouth was watering as I read through the ingredients, got that, got that, even I should be able to make this “easy recipe”, ok now how to do it, put all ingredients as per, where and what is an ice cream maker, I thought that was what i was doing, simple, easy ice cream, not dump everything in a machine, if I wanted to do that, I would BUY ice cream. I wanted to make ICE CREAM as they did BEFORE A MACHINE DOES IT, otherwise, would read the instructions on theICE CREAM machine instead of wasting time reading a “homemade recipes” article
sorry rather disappointed
Regards Shane
Hey Shane, you can make this ice cream in an electric machine or an old fashioned hand crank ice cream maker with rock salt. However you choose to make it, you’ll just need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Shane, all ice cream, absolutely all of it, whether made at home or bought at a store, must be churned in a container surrounded by ice in order to freeze from its liquid form. There are electric ice cream churns (called “ice cream machines”) or hand-cranked churns if you’re really feeling like a pioneer and want to give your arm a workout. But without putting the ingredients in a churn, there will be no ice cream, only liquid cream.
Wow seen some negative Nellie’s on here.. we absolutely loved your recipe for the ice cream. Tastes wonderful and was very simple to follow. Had to double it and and everyone still wanted more.. Thanks for sharing.
I’m thrilled that you are enjoying the ice cream, Gina!
Is this for a 4 or 6 quart freezer? Six servings? How bid are servings?
This is a recipe for a 1.5 QT ice cream maker. It’s 4-5 servings, depending on size, Patty.
Can’t wait to try this recipe! If I was to make this for a 6qt machine how many times would I need to double the recipe? Thanks for posting!
I would probably quadruple the recipe. Enjoy!