Homemade Ice Cream

This simple homemade ice cream recipe features just five ingredients for a creamy and delicious treat that you can customize with your favorite mix-ins.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 2

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 320

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

Base Ingredients

2 cups Heavy cream This is what makes it creamy instead of icy.
1 cup Whole milk Evens things out for a smooth scoop.
3/4 cup Sugar Just enough to keep it sweet.
2 teaspoons Vanilla extract Use good extract or scrape a real bean for more flavor.
1 pinch Salt Balances the sweetness.

Method

Preparation

Pour 1 cup of the cream into a saucepan. Add sugar, salt, and vanilla. Heat gently until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat.
Add the remaining cream and all the milk to the mixture. Whisk until well combined.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.

Churning

Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually for 20 to 30 minutes.

Serving

For soft-serve style, serve immediately. For firmer ice cream, scrape it into a container and freeze for a few hours.

Notes

For variety, consider adding chocolate chips, cookie dough, caramel swirl, or fresh fruits. If you don't have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a shallow pan and freeze, stirring every 30-45 minutes until frozen.