Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream This genius recipe makes it simple to whip up vanilla ice cream at home—no ice-cream maker required. Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 6 hrs 10 mins Servings: 12 Yield: Makes 1 1/2 quarts Jump to recipe Our no-churn vanilla ice cream is rich, creamy, and impossibly easy. You’ll need just four simple ingredients and only 10 minutes of hands-on time to pull it together—and there’s no ice-cream maker required. We like adding a splash of bourbon, which helps prevent ice crystals from forming while adding a touch of extra depth, but you can use a different type of alcohol or skip it entirely if you’d prefer. Make the recipe as written for a classic vanilla ice cream that’s perfect for a sundae or topping a slice of pie, or stir in mix-ins like chocolate chips, pureed fruit, nuts, or sprinkles to make it your own. One taste and you may wonder why you’ve never made homemade ice cream before this. Everything You Need to Know About Making Ice Cream at Home Credit: Jason Donnelly What Is No-Churn Ice Cream? Making ice cream at home typically requires an ice-cream maker—a dedicated machine that slowly churns the base while freezing to incorporate air and prevent the formation of large ice crystals. To replicate the process without the need for specialty equipment, no-churn ice cream relies on a few key ingredients, like sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream, plus the use of a more accessible kitchen tool: the electric mixer. Like our recipe, most no-churn ice creams are frozen in a loaf pan. It's our vessel of choice as it allows for picture-perfect scoops and quick, efficient freezing (which also helps avoid ice crystals). The 4 Simple Ingredients for No-Churn Ice Cream Sweetened condensed milk: Made by heating milk to evaporate much of its moisture then adding a generous amount of sugar, this pantry all-star is thick and syrupy. Its high sugar content helps prevent large ice crystals from forming and adds plenty of welcomed sweetness. Heavy cream: Two cups of heavy cream form the base for our no-churn ice cream. Before combining it with the other ingredients, you'll whip it with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, which beats in air and lends the finished product a heavenly, fluffy texture. Vanilla extract: A couple teaspoons of pure vanilla extract gives this simple dessert its big vanilla flavor. If you have vanilla bean paste, you can swap in an equal amount instead. Bourbon: While not a traditional ingredient in ice cream, bourbon helps to lower the freezing point of the ice cream base, which keeps it from becoming overly hard as it sets up. Use an equal amount of rum or vodka if you'd prefer, or skip the alcohol altogether. Your ice cream may be slightly firmer, but it will still be plenty creamy and delicious. Directions Credit: Jason Donnelly Mix condensed milk, vanilla, and bourbon: In a medium bowl, stir together condensed milk, vanilla, and bourbon, if desired. Credit: Jason Donnelly Whip cream: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat cream on high until stiff peaks form, 3 minutes. Credit: Jason Donnelly Fold cream into condensed milk mixture and transfer to pan; freeze: With a rubber spatula, gently fold whipped cream into condensed milk mixture. Pour into a 4 1/2-by-8 1/2-inch loaf pan, then press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto surface of ice cream. Freeze until firm, about 6 hours. Credit: Jason Donnelly Credit: Jason Donnelly How to Store No-Churn Ice Cream If you're planning on eating your ice cream within one week, you can leave it in the loaf pan you froze it in; wrap it very tightly in plastic wrap to keep ice crystals from forming on the surface. For longer storage (up to one month), transfer it to plastic or glass airtight containers. Variations As with traditional homemade ice cream, there are so many ways to customize your scoop: Stir in mix-ins: Stir in up to one-half cup of mix-ins like candy pieces, cookies, sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts, or toasted coconut. Add a swirl: Try swirling in a few spoonfuls of pureed fresh fruit or preserves, or a dessert sauce like caramel or hot fudge. 5 Other Ice Cream Recipes to Try Fresh Spearmint Ice Cream Ice Cream in a Bag Buttermilk Ice Cream Martha's Strawberry Ice Cream Vegan Avocado 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.