Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

This easy homemade ice cream recipe makes the most delicious ice cream, and you can make it without an ice cream maker. Yes, really!

Plus it only has two ingredients for the base recipe, and no mystery substances! 😎🙌🏻

We have made this ice cream for years and years. And I have even posted several different flavors to the blog already. But I just realized that I have never posted the base recipe. 😱 I knew I had to share this immediately!

You need this little trick in your life, internet friends! We literally got rid of our ice cream maker when we started making ice cream this way.

How to use the base recipe

The base recipe is basically an easy homemade vanilla ice cream recipe. You can use this base recipe just as you would any vanilla ice cream. We have served this alongside strawberry cupcakes for family birthdays, or on our favorite cranberry apple crisp at the holidays.

We have served it with chocolate syrup or in banana splits, and we have enjoyed it plain in ice cream cones.

Or with sprinkles! 😍🌈

How to make ice cream without an ice cream maker

Making homemade vanilla ice cream without an ice cream maker very, very easy. First, you just need something to whip your heavy cream. I use either my KitchenAid stand mixer or my little hand-held mixer.

You could opt to use a blender to whip your cream. But I prefer using mixers because it makes it easier to see when the texture is just right. You want to beat it until those peaks start to form. It looks like this.

Some people actually beat the cream by hand. I would not recommend this. 😂🙅🏼‍♀️ Waaaaay too much work, in my opinion.

Next, pour in your sweetened condensed milk.

Then use a spatula or spoon to scrape it all out. Then gently fold it together until everything is well-combined.

Note: sometimes I use a splash of vanilla extract (about 1/2 teaspoon, or more to taste). You can taste test it to see. But you don’t have to have that, which is why I didn’t include it in the recipe.

Finally, transfer the mixture to container to freeze. It helps if your container has a lid, but you can use some aluminum foil in a pinch.

Freeze until the ice cream sets, about 7 to 8 hours. I usually freeze mine overnight. And voila! You have the most delicious, easy homemade ice cream recipe ever!

More easy homemade ice cream recipes

You can also use this base recipe to customize you own flavors. Just to give you some ideas, here are a few other flavors I have shared on the blog.

• Cookies and cream ice cream
• Key lime pie ice cream
• Strawberry ice cream
• Pumpkin spice ice cream

Note: All of these ice cream recipes, including the base recipe, are great for people who need an egg-free option.

Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

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3.75 from 4 votes

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Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

This easy homemade ice cream recipe makes the most delicious vanilla ice cream, and you can make it without an ice cream maker. Yes, really!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword easy homemade ice cream, easy homemade ice cream recipe

Prep Time 8 minutes

Freeze time 7 hours

Total Time 7 hours 8 minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 355 kcal

Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

• 16 ounces heavy cream (2 cups, chilled)
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1 can)

Instructions

1. Pour the heavy cream into a large bowl, and beat with a mixer on high to medium-high until peaks form. Mine took about 5 minutes, FYI.

2. Gently fold in the sweetened condensed milk until everything is well-incorporated.

3. Transfer to a freezer-safe dish, cover and freeze until set, about 8 hours. Tip: I usually make mine the night before we eat it.

Recipe Notes

You can make this with or without the vanilla, and it will still be great! If you want to add it, I suggest between 1/2 teaspoon - 1 teaspoon, to taste. Sweetened condensed milk already can contain some vanilla, FYI.

You can whip your cream with a stand mixer, hand mixer or even a blender. Careful not to over-whip it though, because it will turn into butter! Just beat it long enough until peaks start to form. With my hand-held mixer, it was about 5 minutes, FYI. It may be quicker than that in a blender.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 355 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Fat 25g38%

Saturated Fat 16g100%

Cholesterol 95mg32%

Sodium 85mg4%

Potassium 227mg6%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Sugar 27g30%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 965IU19%

Vitamin C 1.7mg2%

Calcium 178mg18%

Iron 0.1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.