Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream that is perfectly creamy, only requires 3 basic ingredients, and doesn’t require an old-fashioned ice cream maker! It is the easiest creamy ice cream recipe ever! With just 15-ish minutes of hands-on prep time, you can’t beat it.

If you are looking for me, I will be in my kitchen eating spoon after spoon of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. It is so much better than any store-bought ice cream you could ever buy! Forget going to the grocery store and purchasing tons of ingredients.

You are going to love this easy ice cream! It is:

• Perfectly creamy
• Sweet
• Vanilla-y
• So refreshing!

Traditionally, ice cream base is made with cooked custard from egg yolks, milk and other ingredients, then by churning the custard base to make ice cream.

This is a shortcut ice cream version that doesn’t require eggs or an electric ice cream maker. It also doesn’t require you to break out a medium saucepan or a fine-mesh strainer because no cooking is needed. Yep, that’s right: it is a no-cook, no-churn ice cream!

I don’t know who came up with this idea, but it is totally ingenious and such a great recipe! I truly believe it is one of the best homemade ice cream recipes to exist.

And you can use this same simple method as a base to make different a different ice cream flavor, like chocolate ice cream or mango ice cream. Experiment with the custard mixture and try recreating your favorite ice cream recipes with this technique!

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Ingredients

Don’t worry if it is your first time making ice cream. One of the good things about this recipe is how approachable it is. For this easy homemade vanilla ice cream recipe, you only need 3 simple ingredients. They are:

1. Heavy whipping cream. Heavy whipping cream, also known as heavy cream or cream is a dairy product, like whole milk, but it has a higher fat content, which is what good ice creams need. Because of its fat content, heavy whipping cream makes this ice cream super creamy.

2. Sweetened condensed milk. Sweetened condensed milk provides sweetness in the ice cream so there is no need to add any extra sugar. It gives you that old-fashioned vanilla ice cream taste and creamy texture. It’s one of those dairy products that is incredibly rich and silky.

3. Vanilla extract. Use high-quality, pure vanilla extract (not imitation vanilla) so the flavor can really shine! If you want to get extra fancy, get vanilla bean paste or a vanilla pod and scrape the powder out and add to the ice cream. That will add black specks of vanilla to the ice cream.

Below, you can find the exact quantities needed for the ingredients, as well as the nutrient information for the recipe.

If you follow a low-calorie diet or are trying to consume less sugar, you can always enjoy a smaller amount, and the available nutrient data can help you determine the best portion size for you.

How To Make Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

1. First thing, beat cold, heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.

2. Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract to the whipped cream.

3. For the next step, whip everything together until smooth.

4. Pour the mixture into a loaf pan or other freezer-safe, large bowl.

5. Freeze for 7 hours or until completely frozen.

6. Scoop and enjoy the creamy vanilla ice cream!

Variations and Toppings

My favorite way to serve this ice cream is by making an ice cream bar for special occasions, loaded with a bunch of good stuff that you can top the ice cream with. This sweet treat pairs with various garnishes, and you can also add mix-ins. Here are some ideas:

• Dessert Sauce: Drizzle the ice cream with a little bit of caramel sauce or hot fudge for a delicious finish. You can even melt some peanut butter and use it as a sauce, too.
• Chocolate: Sprinkle on chocolate chips. If you don’t have any, you can always run chocolate bar pieces through a food processor to create chocolate chunks.
• Fruit: Top the ice cream with fresh fruit, such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries, or even mango.
• Ice Cream Cones: Serve the ice cream on cones! Your kids will certainly love it.
• Corn Syrup: If you add a small amount of this when making the ice cream, it adds sweetness and also makes the ice cream incredibly silky smooth.
• Cream Cheese: For a tangy twist, consider whipping some cream cheese into the heavy cream when making the ice cream. You’ll be impressed by how delicious it is!

Tips For The Best Vanilla Ice Cream

1. Make sure you use heavy whipping cream that is cold, straight from the fridge. Cream that isn’t cold enough might not form stiff peaks, so avoid room-temperature cream. As long as you properly whip it, you don’t need a stabilizer like xanthan gum.

2. Once the heavy whipping cream forms stiff peaks, stop beating. If you continue beating it, it will turn into butter.

3. Taste the ice cream mixture before pouring into a pan to freeze. Let your taste buds guide you! If the vanilla flavor is not present enough, add more vanilla. Also if it is too sweet, add a pinch of salt to offset the sweetness (some brands of sweetened condensed milk might result in ice cream that is too sweet).

4. Freeze the ice cream in a loaf pan. A loaf pan provides a large surface area for scooping the ice cream. There are also special airtight containers for ice cream you could get, which prevents ice crystals from forming.

5. If you want to make this ice cream for an event, I suggest freezing it overnight and serving it the next day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Watch How To Make Easy Vanilla Ice Cream

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More Ice Cream Recipes You’ll Love!

Love ice cream? Check out these recipes:

Mango Ice Cream

No Churn Coconut Ice Cream

No Churn Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream

Watermelon Ice Cream

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