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This post is all about creating delicious homemade ice cream for kids and everyone else in your life.
Raise your hand if your mouth waters at the thought of homemade ice cream. The fresh, creamy flavor is a summer staple that appeals to all ages – from backyard parties to weekend barbecues with friends.
My family has made homemade ice cream for as long as I can remember. It was and continues to be the culminating star of our summer meals.
I remember being at my grandmother’s house and manually churning it, taking turns with each of my cousins. We could not wait to dive in. Then as I grew older, we no longer had to churn it by hand because my mother would make it in an electric ice cream freezer.
I now make it for my family many times throughout the summer, and it is always a huge hit. In fact, it is one of our favorite desserts.
I cannot imagine life without this delectable treat. But many think that it is too complicated to make.
So in honor of national ice cream day, which was July 16th, I wanted to give you a helping hand with this step-by-step guide on creating this delicious treat in the comfort of your kitchen.
You will forget the store-bought stuff when you know how easy it can be to create delicious homemade ice cream from scratch.
Are you ready to create the best ice cream you have ever tasted? Let’s get started!
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
There is nothing better than homemade vanilla ice cream. It is the quintessential summer dessert.
Making homemade vanilla ice cream is not only a fun and easy activity but also tastes much better than any store-bought version. All you need are a few simple ingredients.
You can also involve your kids by letting them help mix the ingredients or churn the ice cream.
Essential for Making Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
There are just a couple of essentials that you will need to make creamy ice cream.
- Ice cream maker or machine
- 1 – 2 bags of cubed ice
- Rock Salt (sometimes called ice cream salt, not for use in the recipe) – when you sprinkle the rock salt on top of the cubed ice, it combines with the ice, melting it and lowering the freezing threshold.
- A bowl
- An electric mixer, hand mixer, or a big stirring spoon
- A good vanilla ice cream recipe
- Ice Cream Ingredients (whipping cream and/or whole milk, depending on the recipe, sugar, vanilla, salt, and flavorings)
What are the 3 most important ingredients of ice cream?
The simplest vanilla ice cream recipe is made with these three essential ingredients:
- Heavy Cream (sometimes called heavy whipping cream)
- Half and Half (a mixture of whole milk and cream)
- White Granulated Sugar
You will also need a small amount of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt (the salt is optional; sometimes, I leave it out depending on my guests’ dietary restrictions).
I use this vanilla ice cream recipe from Taste of Home, and my ice cream comes out perfect every time.
How to Make Ice Cream at Home Easily
Gather ingredients.
In a mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, half and half, white sugar, vanilla extract, and salt (if using).
Whip up ingredients until sugar dissolves and the mixture is frothy.
Pour the ice cream mixture into the ice cream maker canister.
Set bucket in sink to catch ice melting runoff.
Put the inner canister with the ice cream mixture inside the outer bucket.
Attach the motor and plug-in to ensure the motor works and the canister turns. Once you have assessed that the ice cream machine is working properly, unplug it.
With the inner bucket inside the outer bucket and the motor securely attached, pour the cubed ice around the interior canister containing the four ingredients.
When the bucket is half full of ice, pour the rock salt in generous amounts on top of the cubed ice, then fill the ice the rest of the way to the top of the bucket.
Again pour a generous amount of rock salt on the cubed ice.
Plug in the ice cream maker and let the freezing process begin. It will take approximately an hour to an hour and 30 minutes.
At this point, the ice cream is smooth and has a super creamy texture.
Churning Homemade Ice Cream
You don’t have to use an electric ice cream maker if you have an old-school churning model.
You need to take turns cranking the machine until you achieve the desired consistency. (Roughly an hour or so)
Churning homemade ice cream can be fun and satisfying, and the churning process can be pretty entertaining.
Tips for Making Homemade Ice Cream
Here are some tips for ensuring that you have fantastic ice cream:
Use heavy whipping cream.
Chill your cream and half and half before mixing.
Ensure sugar dissolves completely.
Ensure you have a good mixture of rock salt and cubed ice for the freezing process.
Place the finished product in the freezer for at least 24 hours.
Feel free to double the recipe.
Follow a recipe.
Homemade Ice Cream Recipe
Check out the recipe that I use here:
Easy, Delicious Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Is it Better to Make Your Own Ice Cream?
One word: ABSOLUTELY!
Why? Because of the following:
- You can control the ingredients.
- There will not be any fillers, additives, or preservatives.
- It tastes better than anything you would buy in the retail market.
- You can customize the ice cream flavor.
- Your children will have fun helping you make it.
- It is not filled with air.
- It is healthier than commercially prepared frozen treats.
What Not to do When Making Ice Cream
- Refrain from skimping on the cream; the best ice cream is heavy on the cream. It gives it that wonderful, super creamy texture, and the taste is unbeatable.
- Don’t be afraid of the sugar; you can always customize the recipe to your liking, but if you want that delicious creamy goodness, add the amount of sugar the recipe calls for.
- Remember to chill your mixing bowl; you want the ice cream mix to be as cold as possible when churning it.
- Don’t overfill the ice cream maker; you don’t want any creamy goodness wasted.
- Don’t get carried away with mix-ins; be sure and taste test for just the right amount of flavor.
- Take your time; it takes about an hour to freeze it to a soft serve consistency and another 24 hours in the freezer to freeze it to a scoopable ice cream cone consistency.
- Don’t use table salt; you must use ice cream salt or rock salt.
- Don’t leave out the vanilla extract; you cannot have creamy vanilla ice cream without adding vanilla extract. Even if you are flavoring your ice cream, you will want to add some vanilla.
What to Serve with Homemade Ice Cream
- You can serve anything with homemade vanilla ice cream. The best things to serve are freshly baked fruit pies and cakes.
- Scoop three or four scoopfuls into a blender, and add some fruit, such as fresh bananas, and a splash of milk for a delicious banana shake. You can also use any fruit that you have available.
- Fill a glass with Root Beer (or soda of your choice), add a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream, and make a tasty Root Beer float.
- If you have freshly baked cookies, you can make ice cream sandwiches by compressing a scoop of ice cream between two cookies and freezing them until ready to consume.
Optional toppings: strawberries, brownies, crushed Oreos, hot fudge, caramel sauce
Delicious toppings include (you could also use each of these as add-ins):
- Sauces (hot fudge, chocolate, or butterscotch)
- Nuts (walnuts, almonds, or cashews)
- Fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries, or peaches)
- Cookie crumbs (Oreos, Nutter Butters, Nilla Wafers, or your own freshly baked cookies)
- Brownies
- Sprinkles
- Chocolate chips
- Edible cookie dough (be sure to choose cookie dough that does not contain raw eggs or flour).
Final Thoughts
The best ice cream recipes are just a click away. Plus, this DIY guide provides the perfect solution for getting your sweet tooth fix without all the hassle.
There are many ways to make vanilla ice cream. Some recipes involve whole milk rather than heavy cream, various amounts of vanilla, and sugar. But my suggested recipe in the link above is the best vanilla ice cream I have ever tasted and the easiest of homemade ice cream recipes I have tried.
Even if you don’t think you can make ice cream at home, take it one step at a time – this DIY guide shows you the step-by-step process.
Show off your skills and impress your friends and family by having them try your delicious homemade creations! Let’s face it – there’s no better reward than saying something came from YOUR oven/freezer/table. So why wait any longer? Make some homemade ice cream today – your taste buds will thank you!
When you make this wonderful ice cream recipe, let me know how it turned out in the comments. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Homemade ice cream is the best. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Yes, I agree. Thanks for your comment, Sheenia Denae.