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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}
One of my favorite homemade ice cream recipes. I often make it for my family and they just love it :-). I get inspired by your wonderful recipes and the gorgeous images you make help a lot too. By the way, do you know if this recipe can be made into a gluten free version,? I would really like to try and make a gluten free version of this delicious vanilla ice cream, as one of our kids is gluten intolerant.
Thanks a lot in advance!
This vanilla ice cream is naturally gluten free, Jessica.
In this recipe, have you tried substituting sweetened condensed milk instead of sugar? That would eliminate the simmering over the stove. If so, how much?
Hi Bill! As I mentioned in the post, I often make this without the simmering step. I’m sure it would work with condensed milk, but I can’t speak to how much you’ll need.
I am dairy free except whole creme. Can I make this w nut milk and creme? Can I use Stevie rather than sugar?
I have no idea how that might work, but it is worth a try, Teri.
This reminds me of breyer’s vanilla before Unilever bought it and ruined it! Its the first time I’ve made eggless ice cream that gets cooked on the stove. And wow, properly dissolving the sugar is KEY! It makes such a huge difference. Just mixing it together and throwing it in the ice cream maker wont cut it.
I’m so happy that you love the ice cream, Rachel!
Yum! We used this recipe as a base then added 1 mashed banana, 3/4 C cacao powder and a few generous scoops of chunky peanut butter to make banana, chocolate, peanut butter ice cream. Yum.
That sounds delicious, Tracy!
I am making this ice cream as I’m writing. In the past when I have made homemade ice cream and place in the freezer it becomes so hard to scoop! Will this recipe do the same? I have heard if you put a small amount of vodka as its churning it will prevent this from happening. Do you know if that will work? Just not sure if I should try or if you have another suggestion besides leaving on counter to soften and melt. I guess i just want it to have a nice consistency. Like real ice cream not a milk ice cube.
This ice cream is soft right out of the freezer, Lisa.
I came across this when searching for a quick and easy vanilla ice cream recipe and boy did it deliver! Reminded me of icedream soft serve from Chick fil a! Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that you are enjoying the ice cream, Melissa!
Fabulous! I don’t care for custard either, and since I use Aguave syrup instead of sugar I just put all the ingredients together and turned on the compressor ice cream machine. Great! We made turtle sundaes….hot fudge, caramel, nuts & whipped cream. Thank you! I wanted something really good and equally easy and fast to make because we make ice cream often.
Turtle Sundaes sound delicious, Ginger!
If you don’t have an ice cream maker then you can’t make it and I read nearly the whole long article before I realized.
Sorry about that, Mary. It sounds like you’re looking for a “no-churn ice cream recipe” – luckily there are plenty to choose from!
based it off this recipe. altered to fit i the glass dish. 2 cups heavy whipping cream, 2 cups half and half cream, 1 cup sugar, 2-3 tsp vanilla or ½ a vanilla bean, 1/8 tsp salt. — In a chilled 13×9 inch glass flat casserole dish, Combine until sugar is dissolved using a hand mix. Chill 20-30 mins, starting to ice up, hand mix again don’t overdo it or will end up tasting like sweet butter. Freeze again 20-30 mins. Beat again. Now (fold in or layer in 2 layers and on top add Any mix of 2 cups diced Soft brownies & candy bars or Short bread & White chocolate, Chocolate cookies & caramel. Oreo & cream cheese, and or Drizzle Chocolate, Strawberry, any preserve syrup mix with some Cream to prevent became a solid rock. Diced cream cheese and any refrozen fruit is great to.
Thanks for all the no-churn tips, Amber!
THIS WAS SOOOO GOOD! MADE as directed with the simmering step – It dissolves the sugar and OH-MY-GOODNESS!! YUMMO!! Thank you!!
I’m so happy that you like it, Teresa!
This is up there with “best” and certainly wins as “easiest.” I’m sharing with picky eaters so just made plain vanilla, once my guests are gone, I will try with modifications 🙂
I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the ice cream, Michelle!
Hi, can this ice cream be made with lankanto monk fruit sweetener or stevia?
I have no idea how that might work, Jean. I’ve never tried it myself, but if you scan the comments, you’ll see some alternatives that others have tried.
Hi Mary…
Just wanted to know if almond milk will work with this recipe? I have friends that are lactose intolerant and would love to make them some…But today I am going to use whole chocolate milk for this recipe…maybe throw in a little chocolate syrup….can’t wait to try it…
Thanks ;o)
You definitely won’t have the same creaminess without heavy cream. You could make an “ice milk” using almond milk, but it really won’t work the same way. If you enjoy coconut, there is a dairy-free coconut ice cream recipe here on the site that many people love.
This was amazing! I wouldn’t change anything at all.
I’m so glad you like it, Angely!
ty love my ice cream do you have any non dairy options: allergic to dairy. Please and Thank you
found the recipe here on coconut milk thank you. Giving it a go 🙂
Yes, we do! I see that you found the coconut milk recipe already. I hope you love it too!
Hello sweet friends! Yesterday I had so.e friends over for lunch, I had made this delicious ice cream and mixed in Oreo cookies. I served it in a martini glass garnished with Oreo crumbs and an Oreo cookie. It was wonderful! I wish I had gotten a picture, but I was too busy. Thank you, thank you for this recipe!
That sounds lovely, Fay!
For the longest I had an ice cream machine sitting in my closet. I decided to give it a try and chose your receipe. This is the best vanilla ice cream I have ever made. It’s a keeper forever. Sorry, no more store bought ice cream for me. Thank you.
I’m so happy that you love the ice cream, Jennifer!
This recipe looks simple to make. My hubby wants root beer ice cream. Anyone half any recommendations on how to change this recipe up. Do I leave out the vanilla extract entirely and use Watkins Root beer extract? How much Watkins Root beer extract would I use. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 😃
ooooh, that’s worth trying! Let me know how it turns out.
How long do you normally chill in the fridge before putting it into the machine?
It’s completely up to you. It will be fine for a day or two, or sometimes I don’t take the time to chill it at all.
what if you dont have a icecream maker
I’d recommend a no-churn recipe in that case. These recipes aren’t designed to be adapted that way, Bruce.