Easy Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (No Ice Cream Maker Needed!)

Ice Cream

Hello, ice cream aficionados!

Are you ready to embark on a deliciously creamy adventure? Picture this: smooth, velvety vanilla ice cream that you made right at home without needing any fancy equipment. That’s right, no ice cream maker needed! Today, I’m sharing my favorite recipe for homemade vanilla ice cream along with some fun variations to keep things interesting. So, grab your mixing bowls and let’s dive into the cool world of homemade ice cream!

The Classic: Easy Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream

• 1 cup sweetened condensed milk

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• A pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Whip the Cream: In a large mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. This should take about 3-4 minutes.

2. Mix in the Condensed Milk: Gently fold the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt into the whipped cream. Be careful not to deflate the mixture too much; you want to keep it light and airy.

3. Freeze the Mixture: Pour the mixture into a loaf pan or a shallow dish. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent ice crystals from forming on the surface.

4. Chill Out: Place the dish in the freezer for at least 4 hours, or until the ice cream is firm.

5. Scoop and Enjoy: Once the ice cream is fully frozen, scoop it into bowls or cones and enjoy the creamy, homemade goodness!

Fun Variations: Spice Up Your Ice Cream Game

1. Chocolate Swirl Vanilla Ice Cream:

2. What You Need: 1/2 cup of chocolate syrup.

3. How to Make: Before freezing, drizzle chocolate syrup into the mixture and gently swirl it with a knife to create ribbons of chocolate.

4. Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream:

5. What You Need: 1 cup of fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped, 2 tablespoons of sugar.

6. How to Make: Toss the strawberries with sugar and let sit for 30 minutes. Fold the macerated strawberries into the ice cream mixture before freezing.

7. Cookies and Cream Vanilla Ice Cream:

8. What You Need: 1 cup of crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos).

9. How to Make: Fold the crushed cookies into the ice cream mixture before freezing.

10. Mint Chocolate Chip Vanilla Ice Cream:

11. What You Need: 1 teaspoon mint extract, 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, a few drops of green food coloring (optional).

12. How to Make: Stir the mint extract, chocolate chips, and food coloring into the ice cream mixture before freezing.

13. Caramel Pecan Vanilla Ice Cream:

14. What You Need: 1/2 cup caramel sauce, 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

15. How to Make: Gently fold the caramel sauce and chopped pecans into the ice cream mixture before freezing.

16. Add Toppings: Sprinkles, Nuts, Chocolate chips, candies, etc. The sky is the limit.

Tips for the Best Homemade Ice Cream:

• Keep It Cold: Make sure your mixing bowl and beaters are well-chilled before whipping the cream. This helps achieve the best volume and texture.

• Gentle Touch: When folding in ingredients, do so gently to maintain the airy texture of the whipped cream.

• Storage: Store your ice cream in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing any unwanted freezer smells.

Making vanilla ice cream at home is a breeze, and the best part is you get to customize it with your favorite flavors and mix-ins. Whether you stick to the classic vanilla or go wild with variations, you’re in for a treat that’s sure to impress.

Have you tried making ice cream at home before? What’s your favorite flavor combo? Share your tips and creations in the comments! And don’t forget to tag your icy masterpieces with #LambandOak – I can’t wait to see your scoops!

XO,

Marie