This four ingredient Vanilla Ice cream is the absolute easiest and creamiest. Once you taste it you will be hooked too. With no artificial ingredients and total simplicity there is absolutely no reason not to make your own ice cream.
You know I really don’t like to toot my own horn but this ice cream is just scrumptious. Just ask my family because they are some ice cream eating fools. This recipe is one of my favorites as it really takes less than five minutes to prep and get it into the ice cream maker. Unlike custard this ice cream does not use any egg yolks.
Do you like homemade ice cream? Have you tried any of my other ice cream flavors? Chocolate Ice Cream, Strawberry Ice Cream and Raspberry Ice Cream (No Churn) are some of our favorites. After all summer is here and what better way is there to cool down?
How to make this Vanilla Ice Cream
First grab a big bowl and whisk together the sugar and half and half. Keep whisking until the sugar is dissolved. Now whisk in the vanilla extract and the heavy cream. Pour the cream mixture into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. I have a rock salt ice cream maker. I always check the ice cream after 25 minutes as it is possible to over churn the ice cream. When done it should be the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. Spoon the sherbet into a freezer safe container like a bread loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap or wax paper directly on the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Freeze for several hours.
Recipe additions and variations
- Vanilla Chocolate Chip – add 3 ounces of semi sweet chocolate chopped very fine or shaved.
- Cookies and Cream – reduce sugar to 3/4 cup. When ice cream has finished churning stir in about 20 quartered chocolate sandwich cookies. I like to use Oreos because they are consistently delicious.
- Cookie Dough – add 1 1/2 ounces of semi sweet chocolate chopped very fine and about 1 1/4 cups Edible Cookie Dough.
- Strawberry Vanilla – add 1 cup pureed strawberries to the mixture before churning and stir in 1 cup finely chopped strawberries after churning.
Helpful tips for this Vanilla Ice Cream
- Spend the money and use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. It is the naturally occurring vanillin that gives it that real vanilla flavor.
- For a creamy texture always use dairy with a high fat content. Heavy cream, half and half, and whole milk are my go to choices.
- Check on the ice cream after 25 minutes to see if it is churned enough as it is possible to over churn ice cream.
- If adding chocolate use a good quality brand and chop it real fine or better yet shave it.
- Cover ice cream with plastic wrap because it prevents ice crystals from forming. Spoon it into an airtight container and always store ice cream in the back of the freezer so it stays consistently cold.
More summer desserts you will love!
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
This smooth and creamy rich vanilla ice cream takes less than five minutes to prepare for the ice cream maker. It has no artificial ingredients and is made with only wholesome natural ingredients. Be sure to read the section on recipe variations.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes plus chill time
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: dessert
- Method: ice cream churner
- Cuisine: Americen
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 tablespoon real vanilla extract or 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In large bowl whisk together sugar and half and half; until the sugar is dissolved. Whisk in vanilla and whipping cream. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers recommendations.
- Check on ice cream after 25 minutes to see if it has churned enough. Do not over churn.
Notes
- Spend the money and use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. It is the naturally occurring vanillin that gives it that real vanilla flavor.
- For a creamy texture always use dairy with a high fat content. Heavy cream, half and half, and whole milk are my go to choices.
- Check on the ice cream after 25 minutes to see if it is churned enough as it is possible to over churn ice cream.
- If adding chocolate use a good quality brand and chop it real fine or better yet shave it.
- Cover ice cream with plastic wrap because it prevents ice crystals from forming. Spoon it into an airtight container and always store ice cream in the back of the freezer so it stays consistently cold.
Keywords: best vanilla ice cream, homemade vanilla ice cream, how to make vanilla ice cream
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Peter
I’ll never understand why anyone would replace pure vanilla bean with extract, when the alcohol taste in it is overwhelming and unpleasant. Extracts are best when used in baking, for a good reason. I’ll always favor pure vanilla bean: nothing beats the real thing.
Tisha
Love making homemade ice cream!!! It’s perfect for a summer treat!
★★★★★
Gail Montero
My family loves ice cream and I can. just imagine how all of us will enjoy a scoop or three of this! Need to make soon!
★★★★★
Tara
Love how the ice cream comes together with only four ingredients! Looks so good and love all the ideas for additions and variations too.
★★★★★
Irina
What a beautiful classic your recipe is. I made it, and it is the best ice cream I have made and tried. Now this recipe is in my recipe collection. Thanks.
★★★★★
Bintu | Budget Delicious
Such a creamy and delicious dessert! I love that you only need a handful of ingredients.
★★★★★
Melissa
Wow – amazing recipe! I used it over the weekend and it turned out so good!
★★★★★
Emily
This vanilla ice cream recipe is so easy! Love the short list of ingredients. Yum!
Natasha
First homemade ice cream I loved! This recipe is clean and delicious with the perfect texture. My kids enjoyed the ice cream so much.
★★★★★
Laura Reese
This is so creamy!! We loved it and it was so easy to make!
Natalie
Homemade ice cream is the best! It’s so creamy & my kids love that they can add all their favorite toppings!
Sandra
Everyone at my house loved it!! Such a delicious summer treat!
★★★★★
Laura
I can’t believe how easy this recipe is to make! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
wilhelmina
This is such a great, classic ice cream recipe! It is so easy an totally delicious!
★★★★★
Lindsay Cotter
This ice cream turned out perfect! Such a fun summer treat!
★★★★★
Sara Welch
Such a delicious way o cool down on another hot summer day! Excited to enjoy this again this afternoon!
★★★★★
cathy
You’re right…it was absolutely the easiest and delicious to make and eat!
★★★★★
Toni
This was really amazing!! So good and delicious! Planning to make it again!
★★★★★
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
My kids would love this ice cream!! Can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
katerina @ diethood.com
My favorite ice cream flavor! Looks SO delicious!!
★★★★★
Suzy
Such a delicious and creamy ice cream! It was so easy to put together and tasty too!
★★★★★
Catalina
Vanilla Ice Cream is a classic and goes well with a lot of toppings! Love it!
★★★★★
Cathy
Homemade makes ALL the difference with ice cream!
Lauren k
Nothing beats homemade ice cream! Thank you for this yummy recipe!
★★★★★