Homemade Creamy Ice Cream

Here’s a Homemade Creamy Ice Cream recipe that’s simple, ultra-smooth, and made with real ingredients—no ice cream machine required (but it works beautifully with one too!).

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🍦 Homemade Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream

🍨 What You Get:

A luxuriously smooth, rich, and creamy ice cream base you can customize with any mix-ins—vanilla bean, chocolate chips, fruit swirls, cookie chunks, or caramel.

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🧾 Ingredients:

Custard-Style Base (Super Creamy):

• 2 cups (480ml) heavy cream

• 1 cup (240ml) whole milk

• ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar

• 4 large egg yolks

• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean

• Pinch of salt

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👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Make the Custard Base:

1. In a saucepan, combine milk, cream, half the sugar, and salt. Heat over medium until hot but not boiling.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks with the remaining sugar until pale and thick.

3. Slowly pour some hot cream into yolks to temper (about ½ cup), whisking constantly.

4. Pour yolk mixture back into saucepan with remaining cream mixture.

5. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon (170–175°F / 77–80°C).

6. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

2. Chill the Base:

• Strain through a fine sieve into a clean bowl to remove any egg bits.

• Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.

3. Churn or No-Churn Options:

🍦 With Ice Cream Maker:

1. Pour chilled mixture into your ice cream machine.

2. Churn according to manufacturer’s instructions (usually 20–25 min).

3. Transfer to a container and freeze for 2–4 hours to firm up.

❄️ No-Churn Method:

1. Whip 2 cups of cold heavy cream to stiff peaks.

2. Fold in a chilled mixture of:

   • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

   • 1–2 tsp vanilla extract

   • Optional mix-ins (cookie bits, fudge swirls, etc.)

3. Freeze in a sealed container for at least 6 hours, or until scoopable.

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🍓 Flavor Variations:

• Strawberry: Add 1 cup of puréed fresh strawberries before churning

• Chocolate: Mix ½ cup cocoa powder into custard before heating

• Cookies & Cream: Fold in crushed Oreos after churning

• Caramel Swirl: Swirl in homemade or store-bought caramel before freezing

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Would you like a vegan, low-sugar, or fruit sorbet version as well?