15 Best Homemade Ice Cream Recipes to Try This Summer (2024)

Looking for a delicious and easy-to-follow ice cream recipe? These recipes are sure to please everyone.

With just a few simple ingredients (milk, cream, eggs, sugar), you’ll be able to make your own delicious batch of ice cream at home. Simply follow the base recipe and add one of your favorite flavors from the list. Easy!

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Table of contents

  • 1. Simply the Best Vanilla Ice Cream
  • 2. Classic Chocolate Ice Cream
  • 3. Candied Pecan and Caramel Ice Cream
  • 4. Mint Chip Ice Cream
  • 5. Classic Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
  • 6. Fresh Peach Ice Cream
  • 7. Caramel Fudge Swirl Ice Cream
  • 8. Candy Cane Ice Cream
  • 9. Creamy Coffee Ice Cream
  • 10. Sweet Strawberry Ice Cream
  • 11. Cinnamon Spice Ice Cream
  • 12. Tropical Coconut Ice Cream
  • 13. Cookies and Cream ice cream
  • BASE RECIPE

1. Simply the Best Vanilla Ice Cream

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There are a lot of vanilla ice cream recipes out there, but this is the only one you will ever need. It’s the base of most of our ice cream recipes around here, but for extra vanilla flavor, try to get real vanilla beans and scrape out the inside.

FIND THE FULL RECIPE HERE

2. Classic Chocolate Ice Cream

There’s nothing quite like a classic chocolate ice cream on a hot summer day. This recipe is simple, and the results are delicious!

Add five ounces of chopped chocolate to step one and melt it. Easy!

3. Candied Pecan and Caramel Ice Cream

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This recipe is creamy and light, perfect for a summer night. It’s made with an ice cream maker, so it’s silky smooth. The caramelized sugar balances out the sweetness of the butter pecan flavor in this recipe. The pecans are toasted and coated in butter and sugar before being added to the ice-cream base.

You’ll add candied pecans and prepared caramel to your vanilla custard and gently swirl it with a butter knife before you freeze.

FIND THE FULL RECIPE

4. Mint Chip Ice Cream

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Mint chip ice cream is a type of ice cream that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Add mint extract and a few drops of green food coloring to the base custard before you chill it, then add chocolate chunks or chips at the final step.

5. Classic Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

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There’s nothing quite like a classic chocolate chip ice cream recipe, and this one is sure to please. This recipe uses a classic vanilla ice cream base, and is then studded with chocolate chips. The chocolate chips can be either milk chocolate or semi-sweet, depending on your preference.

If you want a really decadent treat, try making a Double Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. It’s made with a chocolate ice cream base, and is then loaded with both milk chocolate and dark chocolate.

GET THE RECIPE HERE

6. Fresh Peach Ice Cream

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What could be better than a bowl of homemade ice cream on a hot day? This recipe for Fresh Peach Ice Cream is made with delicious, juicy peaches.

The peaches are pureed and added to the ice cream base, resulting in a smooth and creamy finished product.

This recipe is best made with fresh peaches, but you can also use frozen peaches if they are not in season.

GET THE RECIPE HERE

7. Caramel Fudge Swirl Ice Cream

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This recipe is easy to follow and produces delicious results. Give it a try this summer! It uses store-bought or homemade fudge and caramel… your choice.

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8. Candy Cane Ice Cream

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This recipe for candy cane ice cream is perfect for the holidays! The peppermint flavor gives it a refreshing taste and makes it the perfect dessert to enjoy during Christmas time.

Simply add crushed candy canes to the machine after it’s finished churning.

FIND THE RECIPE HERE

9. Creamy Coffee Ice Cream

To make coffee ice cream, 2 tablespoons of instant coffee granules. This will give your ice cream a delicious, rich flavor. Look for decaf unless you want a little jolt with your dessert!

For an extra special treat, try adding some chocolate chips or espresso beans to the mix!

10. Sweet Strawberry Ice Cream

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This recipe for strawberry ice cream is a real crowd-pleaser. It’s easy to make and only requires a few ingredients. The result is a delicious, creamy, and refreshing ice cream that’s perfect for summer.

This recipe uses fresh strawberries, so be sure to use them when they’re in season for the best flavor. If you can’t find fresh strawberries, you can also use frozen ones.

GET THE RECIPE HERE

11. Cinnamon Spice Ice Cream

For cinnamon spice ice cream, you’ll want to add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to step one of the base recipe. You can also substitute up to 1/4 teaspoon of cloves or ginger.

This recipe is perfect for fall, especially with apple desserts.

12. Tropical Coconut Ice Cream

Made with rich and creamy coconut milk, this ice cream is a real treat for any coconut lover. You’ll change the ingredients to the following:

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 (14 ounce) can cream of coconut. (do not substitute coconut cream or coconut milk)

You don’t need to heat or strain anything, just mix and process in your ice cream maker.

For an extra special treat, try toasting shredded coconut and sprinkling on top. This will give it a nice, nutty flavor.

13. Cookies and Cream ice cream

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Cookies and cream ice cream is a classic flavor that everyone loves. It’s easy to make at home, and only requires a few ingredients. Just use the base recipe listed and add crushed Oreo cookies at the very end.

GET THE RECIPE

BASE RECIPE

Use this as a base to customize. Add candy pieces, swirls of flavor, or just about anything you’d like.

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15 Ice Cream Recipes (Master Recipe + Customization Tips)

Ice cream made the real way: custard-based and churned. Follow the technique and basic recipe but customize the ingredients to your liking.

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

cooling 12 hours hours

Total Time 12 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Serving Size 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • pinch salt

Instructions

  • Heat the milk and cream. Heat the milk, cream and 1/2 cup of sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, until warm and steaming, or about 170 degrees.

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  • Beat the eggs and remaining sugar. Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until light yellow in color and well combined. They will noticeably change color when mixed enough. (A hand mixer on low will work well.)

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  • Temper the eggs by adding half of the warm milk mixture, a half cup at a time. Then add the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and cream.

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  • Heat the custard. Heat the saucepan, which now contains all of the milk, cream, sugar, and eggs, over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches 185 degrees. The custard is ready when it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not boil. Once off the heat, add a pinch of salt, and the vanilla extract, if using.

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  • Strain the custard. Hold cheesecloth or a strainer over a bowl to strain the custard. Immediately place the custard into in the refrigerator to chill. Chill for 4-24 hours, until very cold.

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  • Freeze ice cream according to manufacturer's instructions. When it has reached the consistency of soft-serve ice cream, add any mix-ins place into loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze until firm. Will keep well, covered in the freezer for a week.

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Notes

Be sure to check your ice cream machine’s instructions before beginning: many have a freezer insert that needs to be frozen at least 24 hours before churning.

No ice cream maker? You actually can still make home-churned ice cream. Place the custard in the freezer and stir for 30 seconds once per hour. It will take a while to set up, but the results will be very similar.

Swirls will do best if you add them to the loaf pan and gently swirl them in by hand. The machine will mix them up too much and flavor the whole batch

Homemade ice cream is a delicious and easy-to-follow treat that everyone will love. These recipes are perfect for any occasion and only require a few simple ingredients. Be sure to try one of these recipes this summer!

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15 Best Homemade Ice Cream Recipes to Try This Summer (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient to ice cream? ›

The cream cheese helps create an ice cream with a denser, smoother texture. As explained by TASTE, cream cheese acts as a stabilizer in ice cream, preventing water from seeping out of the milk and cream as well as preventing the formation of ice crystals that detract from ice cream's creaminess.

What is the secret to making ice cream very creamy? ›

When it comes to great ice cream, cold temperatures and speed are your friends: the faster you bring your base from liquid to solid, the creamier it'll be. In a 2-quart unit, a typical batch of ice cream will take between 18 and 25 minutes to churn.

How to make homemade ice cream soft and fluffy? ›

Sugar, corn syrup or honey, as well as gelatin and commercial stabilizers, can all keep your ice cream at a softer consistency. Ice cream also stays softer when you store it in a shallow container, rather than a deep tub, and cover the surface of the ice cream with plastic wrap to keep ice crystals from forming.

What are the 3 most important ingredients of ice cream? ›

If you have ever made ice cream, you already know what goes into it, ingredients such as milk, cream, and sugar. But there is one main ingredient that you may not have thought about, probably because you can't see it—air.

What sugar is best for ice cream? ›

Most home ice cream recipes call for simple table sugar, which is chemically known as sucrose. But in pro kitchens you have more options. Liquid sugars like invert sugar, corn syrup, honey, and glucose syrup all add body, creaminess, and stability to ice cream, and a little goes a long way.

Why put eggs in homemade ice cream? ›

Eggs add rich flavor and color, prevent ice crystallization and help create smooth and creamy ice cream. But adding raw or undercooked eggs can cause a Salmonella infection and it's usually the ingredient responsible for a foodborne illness outbreak associated with homemade ice cream.

What thickens homemade ice cream? ›

Egg Yolks: The most traditional thickening agent, egg yolks contain natural proteins and fats that contribute to a rich and luxurious texture in custard-based ice creams. Cornstarch: Often used in non-custard ice creams, cornstarch mixed with milk helps thicken the base and create a smooth mouthfeel.

Why should we not drink water after eating ice cream? ›

No. You can drink water after eating ice cream. Its a common myth and the reason behind it might the fact that if we drink water immediately after eating ice cream, there will be a fluctuation in temperature (due to temperature difference in water and ice cream).

Why did my homemade ice cream turn out icy? ›

The more water there is in your ice cream, the more likely it will be to form ice crystals. You can normally swap out water for coconut milk or heavy cream.

Why does my homemade ice cream freeze so hard? ›

the amount and/or type of sugar used in the recipe. From what I've experienced and also understand from others involved in ice cream making, concentrated sugar depresses the freezing point of ice cream, so too little an amount of sugar in the recipe makes it too hard and too much makes it too soft.

What is the best stabilizer for ice cream? ›

The most common ones used in ice creams are guar gum, cellulose gum and carob bean gum. They are used to reduce ice crystal growth, deliver flavour cleanly, increase smoothness, body and creaminess and slow down melting. They also help hold the air bubble structure together and give the ice cream a better texture.

How do you make homemade ice cream less dense? ›

"You have to churn it very slowly. The faster you go, the more air is whipped into the ice cream." In the ice cream business, that extra air pumped in during churning is called overrun, and the more overrun you bring to an ice cream, the lighter and airier it'll feel on the tongue.

What is the most important ingredient in making ice cream? ›

Of course, the main ingredients in ice cream come from milk–and the most important part of that is milkfat, which gives ice cream its smoothness and creamy texture. In fact, in order to be called ice cream, the USDA requires it to contain at least 10 percent milkfat, which can come from milk or cream.

What makes the perfect ice cream? ›

Fat. A great ice cream owes its smooth, creamy mouthfeel to fat, which helps keep ice crystals small. As Bauer explains, fat is also extraordinarily effective at carrying flavors, so when ice cream melts in your mouth, you are hit with the taste of your ingredients.

What is so delicious ice cream made of? ›

Organic Coconutmilk (Filtered Water, Organic Coconut), Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Pea Protein, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Vanilla Bean Specks.

What ingredient keeps ice cream from melting? ›

The most common ones used in ice creams are guar gum, cellulose gum and carob bean gum. They are used to reduce ice crystal growth, deliver flavour cleanly, increase smoothness, body and creaminess and slow down melting.

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