Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Old-Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream 4.0 (130) You don't need an ice cream machine to churn this luscious frozen treat. Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 0 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Servings: 16 Yield: 2 quarts Jump to recipe This old-fashioned ice cream recipe produces a rich and smooth frozen treat brimming with vanilla flavor. You won't need an ice cream machine to whip it up (though you can certainly use one if you it handy). In fact, "churning" it by hand takes less than 10 minutes and is a fun activity to do with kids, especially in the summertime. You’ll only need a handful of basic ingredients to make it including milk, heavy cream, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Unlike custard-based recipes that incorporate eggs and need to be cooked first, this one just requires a bit of whisking before the freezing process can begin. Easy, fun to make, and so delicious, this ice cream recipe is a must try. Everything You Need to Know About Making Ice Cream at Home Credit: Jake Sternquist What Is Old-Fashioned Ice Cream? The term "old-fashioned ice cream" refers to ice cream made simply with milk, cream, and sugar. It differs from custard-based ice cream, also known as French-style ice cream or frozen custard, which uses egg yolks for an even richer flavor and consistency. Old-fashioned ice cream also goes by the names Philadelphia-style ice cream and American-style ice cream. Ingredients for Making Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Heavy cream: Most of the base of this ice cream recipe is heavy cream. it brings plenty of richness without the need for egg yolks. The fat is necessary for achieving a smooth, creamy texture so don't be temped to swap in light cream or half-and-half instead. Milk: Whole milk makes up the rest of the ice cream base and keeps the mixture from tasting too rich. You can use half-and-half instead for an even creamier result, though, if you'd like. Sugar: Besides contributing a delicious sweetness, sugar is added to ice cream to help maintain a smooth, soft texture by lowering the freezing point of the mixture. Vanilla: A generous amount of vanilla extract brings big flavor to this simple recipe. If you'd prefer to see specks of vanilla bean instead, swap in an equal amount of vanilla bean paste. Salt: Just like in baked goods, salt is added to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients and provide a subtle counterpoint to all that sweetness. Making This Recipe With an Ice Cream Machine If you own an ice cream maker, simply whisk together the ingredients, then pour it into the machine and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. After churning, transfer the ice cream to the freezer for at least 4 hours to allow it to become more solid before scooping and serving. Directions Credit: Jake Sternquist Whisk ingredients: In a large bowl, combine heavy cream and milk, then gradually whisk in sugar. Whisk in vanilla and salt. Credit: Jake Sternquist Add mixture to a zip-top bag and seal: Pour the mixture into a zip-top bag, then press out almost all of the air and seal. Fill a larger bag with ice and salt; place bag with the ice cream mixture inside: Fill a larger zip-top bag with ice and a few heaping spoonfuls of coarse salt. (The salt helps the ice stay colder longer.) Add the bag with the ice cream mixture inside the larger bag, press out the air, and zip the top. Credit: Jake Sternquist Place ice cream inside of ice-filled bag; shake until frozen: Shake the bag for 7 to 9 minutes to freeze the ice cream for a soft serve texture. For a firmer texture to the ice cream: place the bag in the freezer. Credit: Jake Sternquist Credit: Jake Sternquist How to Store Homemade Ice Cream Once it's been frozen, transfer the ice cream to a loaf pan and press a piece of plastic directly onto the surface, then use another piece to wrap the container. (While you can use a pint or quart container, we find that a loaf pan makes it easy to create picture-perfect scoops.) Store in the freezer for up to one month. Variations This delicious vanilla ice cream can be served simply as is, or used as a base for other flavors and mix-ins. Other Flavors: To flavor your ice cream without impacting its smooth, creamy texture, opt for extracts and powdered ingredients like peppermint extract, cocoa powder, and instant espresso. Whisk them in along with the other ingredients before churning. Chunky Add-Ins: To mix in chunkier ingredients using an ice cream maker, wait until your ice cream is nearly all the way churned, then mix them in. (Adding them too early in the process will cause them to sink to the bottom.) If making your ice cream by hand, simply stir them in after your ice cream is frozen to a soft-serve consistency. Try adding nuts, mini chocolate chips or chocolate shavings, crushed Oreos or pretzels, mini marshmallows, or chopped frozen fruit. 5 More Homemade Ice Cream Recipes to Try Buttermilk Ice Cream No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream Martha's Strawberry Ice Cream Vegan Avocado Ice Cream Banana-Caramel Ice Cream Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.