This homemade vanilla ice cream recipe is delicious, creamy, and rich without the hassle of making a custard! Make a batch and cool off today.
Homemade ice cream is one of my favorite treats! This homemade vanilla ice cream recipe is one of my favorites because the texture is out of this world and you don’t have to go through the hassle of making a custard base! Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about eggs over here but sometimes I just need homemade ice cream ASAP, and ain’t nobody got time to cook up a custard base when that happens.
My other favorite thing about this homemade vanilla ice cream recipe is that it is SOOOOOOOOO easy. Mix everything together and toss it in the ice cream maker! You can even customize it by adding berries or sprinkles or even cookie dough! Get crazy.
This recipe calls for half-and-half as well as cream. The cream should not be substituted, that is what gives the ice cream the majority of its structure.
The half-and-half can be substituted for milk, but the ice cream will be looser when it comes out of the ice cream maker. I always put batches made with milk into the freezer for a few hours before serving.
This homemade vanilla ice cream recipe gives a remarkably smooth textured ice cream for not utilizing a custard base, and using milk will alter that. The ice cream will be slightly icier – you’ll notice small ice fragments throughout the ice cream.
But it’s still delicious! I made a batch with milk just last week for some ice cream cookie sandwiches I’m posting soon {get ready for those!!} and it worked no problem.
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I love pairing this ice cream with summer desserts like cobbler, pie, or a fun ice cream toppings bar. The possibilities are endless!
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cups sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups half and half see note
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract OR the caviar from a vanilla bean +1 tablespoon vanilla extract (see note)
Instructions
- Combine sugar, vanilla, cream and half and half, mixing until sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Use in ice cream maker according to manufacture's instructions.
- The ice cream will be soft when it is finished in the ice cream maker. For more firm ice cream, place in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
Anonymous says
Delicious!
Katie says
Easy to make and has a great taste I would definitely recommend putting it in the freezer for an hour or so after making. But over all very good ice cream
Alli says
So glad you liked it, Katie!!
Juli Trysna says
Here nothing “Half and Half” just full cream milk, s wht i can do?
Alli says
Hi Juli! You can just use milk instead OR you can use 1 cup milk + 1 cup cream in place of the 2 cups of half and half. Does that help?
Alli says
Delicious and fast!