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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}
Best and easiest ice cream recipe ! If u are short on time and need a recipe that is quick, this is it! So delicious!
I’m thrilled it’s a hit!
Ice cream was delicious!
I’m so happy to hear it!
to difficult to locate actually recipe measurements. poorly put together webpage. I can’t recommend this site because of the difficulty in finding the actual recipe measuring
Hey Greg, you’re just a ray of sunshine, aren’t you? Did you try clicking that handy dandy “jump to recipe” button at the top of the page? For future reference, that’s a fairly standard feature on most recipe websites now, just in case you don’t want all of the other information that is being provided.
I get it Greg. The page is running ads. That are insanely invasive. I have 2 screen shots were they are the only thing on the page. That jump button is covered with ads most of the time. SO Greg is Right. That f-ing Ford Commercial. Screw this hope you make money. Page isn’t functional
Hey Jay, if you’d like the send me the screenshots, I’d appreciate it. There shouldn’t be any ads covering that much of the content.
I agree! Took too long to find the actual recipe.
Mary, dont listen to these negative Nancy’s! I had no problems finding the measurements and this website has the same amount of ads as any other website 😊
I had no problem at all finding the recipe. Yes there were ads but I scrolled past them down to the recipe. My husband just got an ice cream maker and I can’t wait to try this recipe.
I hope that you love it, Vonda!
What size freezer did you use? This would need to be a least doubled if not tripled to fill my ice cream freezer……I have the old fashioned, but electric style. Would that work if doubled or tripled?? thanks in advance!
You’re likely safe to double the recipe in your machine. (It’s possible it could hold more, but I’d play it safe with a doubled recipe for now.) All of the recipes here are designed to work in the 1.5qt electric machines that are sold today.
I haven’t tried this yet but I can’t wait to. It seems really easy. I want to know before I make it, can I add in to this recipe? Crushed cookies, etc.
You bet. Add in whatever makes you happiest!
Can’t wait to try this this weekend for the 4th!
I hope you love it as much as we do!
I doubled this recipe and it made about half a gallon. My grandkids all gobbled it down (8 of them) and pronounced it every superlative that boys between ages 8-13 could come up with. My husband and daughters and I loved it too. This recipe is definitely a keeper, I love how few ingredients it needs. Next time I think I’ll chop up some peaches or put blackberries in it.
I’m so glad you like it!
I’m making this right now for the special week ahead.
I hope that you love it as much as we do!
Hi, I want to make this with an alternative sweetener like Allulose or MonkFruit. Do you know if that will work out okay?
While I haven’t tried that myself, several people have commented that it works for them. I think the most commonly used alternative is stevia.
Delicious and easy! Idk what’s wrong with Gregory and Jay. I’ve never had any issues find the “jump to the recipe” button, nor did I see a lot of adds. Carry on!
Thanks, Vanessa! And I’m glad you’re enjoying the ice cream!
Your recipes are simple and delicious! I use the ice cream maker for my Kitchen Aid mixer and it turns out great. My neighbor loved the pineapple ice cream and tonight I made the chocolate chip ice cream using chopped up mini peanut butter cup candy. Thank you!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes!
perfect ratios, except I add a bunch more vanilla — homeade extract or paste
I’m so glad you enjoyed the ice cream!
Such a great recipe as is! Can I make it lower fat by replacing the cream with 2% milk or whole milk?
You certainly can make it with whichever dairy you like, however with those changes, you’ll have ice milk, not ice cream. Still tasty, but the texture will be very different.
I tried this ice cream recipe and it turned out amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing – it’s simple, tasty, and perfect for summer.
I’m glad it’s a win for you!
Could you use vanilla bean paste?
Sure thing.
I am trying this tomorrow for a family cookout! I’d like to add crushed strawberries….how much should I add?
We love strawberry ice cream! Here’s our recipe: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/strawberry-vanilla-ice-crea/
Hey Mary I’m going to try this today. Have you ever used peaches?
I sure have. Here’s my peach ice cream recipe: https://barefeetinthekitchen.com/peach-ice-cream/
Great recipe! (Not sure how anyone couldn’t find it or how it seemed complicated…). It was quick but delicious and even had a middle schooler compliment that, “it was bussin’ “ so you know it was great! Made it a few days ago and he finished it off so we are about to make some more!
That’s awesome, Stephanie. Glad it is a hit.
You make me want to try this
I hope you enjoy it too!
Waaaay better than store bought ice cream and very easy to make!!!!
I’m so glad you like the ice cream!