Looking for the BEST Homemade Ice Cream Recipe?!
This is our favorite! I actually let my kids have this homemade ice cream for breakfast the other day, knowing that they'd be getting all those healthy fats and nutrients, and less maple syrup than if they'd had some on a pancake! (Find more healthy breakfast ideas here.)
First, in case you're looking for different flavors, see my other recipes for…
- Homemade lemon ice cream
- Homemade strawberry ice cream
- Homemade pumpkin pie ice cream
- Or try these Homemade ice cream sandwiches
***Also try a sundae bar with all of these yummy ice cream sundae toppings!
So we borrowed my friend Sonia's Ice Cream Maker last week and went crazy with that thing. After my friend, Julie, raved about the Nourishing Traditions recipe, I had to try it.
Wow, she was right, it was amazing. I would even venture to call this a low carb and healthy treat, just wait until you see these ingredients, it's full of nutrients. It only has a half cup of real maple syrup in 1 1/2 quarts of ice cream, so it's a natural sweetener AND there's not that much of it!
Here's the 2-quart Ice Cream Maker
The BEST Homemade Ice Cream Recipe
Nourishing Traditions VANILLA Ice Cream recipe (1.5 quart)
(Posted with permission from Sally Fallon.) See below for the 2 quart recipe.
Ingredients:
- 3 egg yolks (be sure you use good quality eggs from a local farmer who raises healthy pasture-fed chickens…I wouldn't recommend eating raw eggs from the grocery store.)
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup (I've been making it with 1/3 cup and it's still great!)
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon Arrowroot Flour
- 3 1/2 cups heavy cream/whipping cream, preferably from pastured cows and raw, but for sure NOT ultra-pasteurized (read why not at that link) — I also like to add in as part of that amount our grass-fed raw milk – it's not quite as heavy tasting that way.
- Dash of sea salt
- Optional: Add this extra superfood ingredient for gut health and for extra creamy flavor and texture: 2-3 Tablespoons colostrum
- Also optional: half-scoop of this grass-fed collagen–great for hair, nails, and also for your immune system.
Instructions:
Beat egg yolks and blend in remaining ingredients. Pour into ice cream maker and process according to instructions.
CHOCOLATE ice cream (1.5 quart)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup (See above, try it with 1/3 cup, it's still great!)
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 1/2 cups heavy cream (see above)
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons organic cocoa powder
- Dash sea salt
- Again, optional: half-scoop of this grass-fed collagen and 2 teaspoons of this colostrum for extra gut-building nutrients!
Instructions:
Same as above, I think I liked chocolate the best, but they're both dreamy.
UPDATE: I got the above ice cream maker for Christmas (yay!) and here are the amounts for the 2 quart recipes…
2 quarts CHOCOLATE ice cream:
- 2/3 cup real maple syrup (Lately I've been making it with only 1/2 cup and it's still great!)
- 4 egg yolks
- 4 2/3 cup cream (I use about 3 cups cream, 1 2/3 cups whole milk/raw milk if you like it with a bit lighter taste)
- 2 Tablespoons organic cocoa powder
- Dash sea salt
- Again, optional: half-scoop of this grass-fed collagen and 2 teaspoons of this colostrum for extra gut-building nutrients!
Instructions:
Same as above.
2 quarts VANILLA ice cream:
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup real maple syrup (Lately I've been making it with only 1/2 cup and it's still great!)
- 4 egg yolks
- 4 2/3 cup cream (or 3 cups cream, 1 2/3 cups whole milk/raw milk if you like it with a bit lighter taste)
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla (more to your taste)
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Flour
- Dash sea salt
- Again, optional: half-scoop of this grass-fed collagen and 2 teaspoons of this colostrum for extra gut-building nutrients!
Instructions:
Same as above.
2 quarts MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ice cream:
Instructions:
- Make vanilla as directed above, and add in 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract, and then put in some chocolate chips when it's almost done–it was the best mint chocolate chip ice cream we've ever had! (The kids ask for it all of the time.) NOTE: I think the mini chocolate chips are the best in this, and here's an allergen-free kind that has a good ingredient list.
Note, I asked on Facebook for ideas on how to make this green (for St. Patrick's Day!) without food coloring and got some good responses–see the comments below!
MORE GOOD STUFF:
- Try the Strawberry ice cream!
- If you'd like to make an unhealthy treat, but still not as bad as some out there, try this homemade organic chocolate hot fudge, Mmmmmmm…
Daniela says
Hi! Can I substitute arrowroot with organic cornmeal? I’m making the ice cream and don’t have any arrowroot left! Please let me know 🙂
KitchenKop says
No for sure not, that wouldn’t be good. But if you’re not sensitive to corn, you can use a little organic corn starch. OR just leave it out and it’ll be fine too!
Kelly
Lynn Marshall says
Has anyone tried using whole eggs?
KitchenKop says
Hi Lynn,
Egg whites are best cooked, read more here: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/are-raw-egg-whites-healthy/
Kelly
Sheila Bynum says
add some fresh baby spinach,it actually kind of sweet.
Amber Canaan says
Matcha will turn anything a lovely shade of green ☺
Lori Koester says
Maybe add avocado?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Ooh, that’s a great idea, Lori!
Sarah Kate says
Spirulina or a greens powder
Sara Dieleman Walkons says
Apparently I can’t add the pic to show you how. https://leitesculinaria.com/96672/recipes-natural-food-coloring.html
Sara Dieleman Walkons says
Use spinach. If you have it?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
But @SaraDielmanWalkons won’t that make our shakes taste like spinach??
Sara Dieleman Walkons says
According to the info it says it shouldn’t. You aren’t putting much in to make it green. Even the link Sheryl included said it shouldn’t. ?
Sheryl Senkiw says
https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/how-to-make-natural-green-food-coloring-for-st-patricks-day/
Sheri Youngquist says
Agree with Sheryl. We used to do this. It may be a little speckled but the green color is nice.
Maria Atwood, CNHP says
I just wondered why you are using cocoa powder (chocolate) – It is so not Sally/WAPF! – I think as chapter leaders it tends to lead people to using unapproved NT foods. Just my 2 Cents.
KitchenKop says
I drink coffee too, Maria! I think most people know that I’m certainly not perfect around here. 🙂
Kelly
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’m not always a “fun” Mom, oh well! What would you have done… I made the kids this homemade mint ice cream for St. Patrick’s Day today with a little homemade chocolate sauce too, and they asked for just a drop of green food coloring.
My answer: NOPE.
As a matter of fact, I decided not to keep the crap on hand even for crafts anymore.
To the dumpster it went. Buh-bye.
Here’s more on the “Ugly side of food dyes”: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/the-ugly-side-of-food-dyes/ (Besides I served it in a green bowl, right?! Lol)
Jacquelyn Lindsey Hoag says
I am drinking nettles infusion, the dusky, earthy green color tastes like the soakings of auld leprechaun boots!
It is emerald grren tho.
And speaking of evil dyes…..please readers no red dye in hummingbird feeders. It is not only un necessary but harmful.
Heather Chilton Wormsley says
I add either spinach for a vibrant green or an avocado for soft green (and extra creaminess). A Vita-Mix makes a breeze of integration.
Sara Sharp says
I don’t have the dyes in my house anymore either, and I don’t let them eat things with dyes at parties. That’s where I draw the line.
Mary Sheiko says
My girls asked for dyed homemade ice cream today too and I skipped the dye. We do plan I use it for Easter eggs, but we don’t eat them because they sit out.
Mary Sheiko says
I did think about using spinach purée, but they wouldn’t have eaten it, haha!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Mary Sheiko Darn it!!! I forgot I use it for Easter Eggs! I think I have to go dig it back out of the trash now…
Em Roehrman says
We use chlorophyll.
Linda says
Can I make this without the raw eggs?
KitchenKop says
Hi Linda, yes, you can, but it may not be as rich and creamy is all. 🙂
Kelly
Jenny says
I realize this negates some of the benefits of using healthy, raw egg yolks, but for those of us who don’t (yet) have a source of raw eggs we trust, is there any reason you couldn’t use pasteurized egg yolks? I’ve pasteurized eggs before for Ceasar dressing, and it seems to work fine.
KitchenKop says
Hi Jenny,
Well I’ve done it a lot in past years (cookie dough!), and it’s probably okay if they’re pasteurized, but I’m just not as comfortable with eggs from factory farms.
Kelly
Jen K. says
Hi Kelly –
I’ve been using this recipe for a few years. I had never tried to make it with Raw Cream until just now. I don’t know why but the ice cream didn’t fluff up the way it usually does. I have a Kitchenaid stand mixer ice cream attachment and in the past I have just used whatever heavy cream I could find. Do you have any insight as to why it wouldn’t have fluffed up and become really creamy now that I am actually using raw cream?? Thank you!
KitchenKop says
Jen,
I’m putting this on Facebook to see if we can find out more!
Kelly
Austin says
you find anything? I also tried to make the chocolate recipe using raw cream and it was more of an ice milkshake than ice cream.
KitchenKop says
Austin,
Here’s the Facebook conversation on that (copy and paste this link into your browser):
https://www.facebook.com/KellytheKitchenKop/posts/10152249667021262
Kelly
Sarah B says
I have never been big on ice cream. It’s okay every now and then. But, I received an ice cream maker for my birthday and made your strawberry ice cream. Oh. My. Goodness. I’m sad when it’s all gone! But, that’s okay, I just make more. It is SO GOOD! I’m eating it every night!
Monika says
Jenny on Nourished Kitchen (.com) has a recipe for a cinnamon ice cream. It calls for honey but since we live in maple syrup country, I used amber (grade b) syrup instead. It tastes fantastic, you can really taste the maple and cinnamon and it makes an awesome combonation.
Bobbi says
Great website! I’ve tried the NT vanilla ice cream and loved it! My son and I are partial to chocolate so, I was happy to find your chocolate version. I see that you didn’t use arrowroot in the chocolate recipe. Does it still come out with a nice, creamy texture?
KitchenKop says
The cocoa powder kind of does the same thing in the chocolate, so yes, it’s very creamy! 🙂
Kelly
JessMN says
I’m not a huge fan of maple flavor – do you have any recommendations for a substitute?
KitchenKop says
Sure! You could try honey or maybe some coconut sugar. 🙂
Yolanda says
What would happen if I used raw goat milk instead of the cream? I know it wouldn’t be as creamy, obviously, but would it work?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t work, & it would be extra nutritious too!
Christine says
I realize it’s been a while since this was posted, but I had to put in my two cents about these recipes. I’ve been trying to perfect my homemade ice cream for a few years now, mostly with high-maintenance custard recipes that tasted ridiculously eggy or froze too hard. I am never going back! I tried the vanilla just last night (doubling everything except the maple and vanilla, using store-bought cream), and hubby and I both agree it is, hands down, the best recipe we’ve tested yet! And it comes together so fast! Even straight out of the freezer today, I was able to scoop some out with a spoon, which means it’s not going to take forever to soften for dessert tonight. I can’t wait to play with the flavors. Methinks my ice cream maker won’t be going back into winter storage this year after all.
KitchenKop says
Well aren’t you a big sweetie for sharing this fun feedback?! We’re making vanilla again soon to use in root beer floats – I found some Blue Sky root beer with only 4 ingredients!
Thanks Christine!
Kel
Bonny says
Hi Kelly,
I have tried a couple of ice cream recipes lately, and just tried the chocolate one from this post last night. My whole family loved it! My mom said it was by far my best batch so far, and my kids even said, “It tastes just like the kind from the ice cream man!” (A HUGE compliment). Thanks so much!
Kathy says
I have made this vanilla ice cream using half coconut milk (the Thai Kitchen brand, which has about the same amount of fat as cream). It is really delicious. I didn’t care for ice cream using all coconut milk, although maybe I need to get a different brand. Thanks for all the suggestions… i’m planning to make Cheeseslave’s vanilla kefir ice cream for the 4th of July!
Jeanmarie says
Kelly, I just made this and am eating some right now. So good! I added an extra yolk, cut down the maple syrup slightly, added stevia liquid, and a big spoonful of almond butter. It worked well! Thanks for this. I’ve also tried cooked custard ice cream recipes, but this is so much easier, and I figure it has to be more healthful to get the yolks raw.
Jennie Paige says
Have you ever tried making the ice cream into a custard first? If you think that recipe is good, try making it into a custard prior adding raw milk cream to and then chilling it before putting it through the ice cream maker. You will swoon. And cry. Then eat some more. Especially if you do half only egg yolk and half using the whole egg. It’s yummy!
Dorsey says
Custard type is great. I wanted to keep the value of the raw egg yolks so I add 5-6 yolks to the recipe….. I also make coconut palm “simple syrup” and use that to keep the glycemic value low. I don’t bother with the arrowroot powder. I do add 1-2 Tbls vodka for the easy dipping.
For Thanksgiving, I added 1/2 cup pumpkin puree and some pumpkin pie spice to the “custard”. Boy was that awesome.
I used some of it to make Frozen Pumpkin Tarts. Made gingersnap crust for tart pans…. put in the ice cream….. then topped it with “caramel” flavored whipped coconut cream.
We thought it was to die for. 🙂
Diane Sperber says
Kelly, I love your website because I’ve finally found other ladies out there just like me who take the time to cook healthy meals for their family. It’s hard work and there were many times when I wondered if it was worth it. Now that my husband and I are at retirement age and not on some kind of medication I can only thank the Lord for His goodness in letting me discover good nutrition habits.
Here is a recipe I came up with as an ice cream substitute. If I don’t tell anyone they don’t know it’s not real cream. Basically you use coconut milk instead. Now you may double check but I believe coconut milk is very good for you and contains lauric acid. Here is my recipe:
2 cans coconut milk (I use whole vs lite)
3 teas. vanilla extract
1 teas. peppermint extract
1 teas. cinnamon extract
2 teas. chocolate extract
a pinch of salt
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 T coconut nectar (very nutritious)
I simply mix all above in a medium bowl with a hand egg beater. Put it in my Cuisinart ice cream maker and in 20 minutes it’s ready to eat or put in a container for freezing. Of course all my ingredients were organic. You can substitute coconut milk for the cream in any of your own ice cream favorites. Let me know what you think. God Bless! Diane
N
KitchenKop says
Wow, there’s a lot going on in that recipes, sounds yummy!!! Since we can do dairy fine, I might use part coconut milk and part cream so we get the benefits of both.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Kelly
olivia says
Thanks for the recipe:-) I’m really looking forward to starting making homemade ice cream but can’t decide on the ice cream maker. The cuisinart one which I’ve seen looks like it has an aluminium bowl. I thought it’s best to avoid aluminium but could not find any info on the actual material used. Anyone know or have any recommendations for a ‘healthy material’ ice cream maker? 🙂
KitchenKop says
Yes, that’s the bummer about that bowl. I actually just called the company to confirm it and it is made of aluminum. 🙁 I had figured as much, darn it.
olivia says
I wonder if there are ice cream makers made from other ‘safer’ materials?
I’m sure that homemade ice cream in aluminium is still healthier than shop ice cream though. Maybe not much metal leaches into the ice cream since it’s cold, perhaps it’s worse using aluminium hot?? I’m not sure.
Robin says
I’m currently trying my first batch of ice cream with raw cream I skimmed from our milk-I’m so excited! I purchased the cuisinart ice cream maker a couple summers ago and absolutely fell in love-it’s so easy to use!
Also, one of my favorite “cookbooks” has to be the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream book-there is a whole section in the beginning that talks the “whys” and science behind making ice cream, which comes in very handy when you’re trying to experiment. Today I’m just making their french vanilla ice cream which I’m trying with honey today instead of sugar (just 1/2 cup)-can’t wait to try it!
As for the chocolate-they have THREE recipes for chocolate in there and they are all AMAZING. Once uses just melted chocolate, and the other two use a combination of melted chocolate and cocoa powder (their “light” chocolate recipe has the least amount of chocolate and still uses a combination of 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 1/4 CUP cocoa powder, so LOTS more than what’s listed above. But yes, you DO need to chill the ice cream after mixing and before adding to the ice cream maker since it won’t be very cold from the melted chocolate.
Also, I find that I like tall, narrow plastic containers the best to store it in. Glass causes ice cream to melt, so I NEVER add ice cream to a glass container right after freezing (when it’s like “soft serve”) or it seems to melt almost instantly.
Hope this helps on the chocolate at least!
KitchenKop says
Hi Meagan,
How about just adding more organic cocoa powder?
Let me know. 🙂
Kelly
Meagan says
This is my second time making the Nourishing Traditions vanilla ice cream, using your measurements for 2 QT! I love it, it is soo good and I know that it is soo GOOD for you and it doesn’t leave me guilty. I use 4 cups raw cream and 2/3 cup whole raw milk- the farm I buy the cream from sells it in pints and it’s not cheap! I also made the chocolate recipe for my dad. He liked it, but it wasn’t as chocolaty… so I may melt the cocoa powder and butter in a double boiler and then add it to the ice cream. This might make the chilling tricky because everything has to be VERY cold before it goes into the ice cream maker, but I am sure I will figure something out. Does anyone have any ideas for making it more chocolaty?
Kelly says
Rose, thanks for that great scoop! (Bad pun, I know…)
Rose says
I just wanted to add that the reason homemade ice cream freezes up so much harder then store bought is the amount of sugar. The higher the concentration of sugar the lower the freezing point. So the less sweet you make it the harder it will get. One trick is to add a small amount of alcohol since that will also lower the freezing point. Also be generous with the pinch of salt because that will help too.
Do you know what the purpose of the arrowroot powder is? I’ve been curious what it adds to the recipe. So far I’ve made the recipe without the egg yolks since I’ve been afraid of the raw egg and it’s still yummy. I just got some eggs from a very trusted source so I may finally get brave enough to try it the real way.
Kathy says
I just made coconut ice cream last night. I used coconut milk, cane sugar crystals and a pinch of salt. It tasted delicious!! Can’t wait to try the chocolate and and the chocolate mint. I may be awhile since I don’t eat ice cream very often.
Kelly says
OH, and a link for the ice cream maker I have (and LOVE) is above – it’s a 2 quart, and we need the extra 1/2 quart that you can’t normally find, we still usually eat it all in one sitting! 🙂
Kelly says
Rebecca, if I had a good source of raw cream I’d love it (I leave the cream on our raw milk and shake it in), but since I don’t, I use Meijer’s cream that is pasteurized, but not ULTRA-pasteurized like most cream that you can find. (It’s in a pinkish purplish 1 c. carton.)
Rebecca from Michigan says
Where do you get raw cream? I am wanting to purchase an Ice Cream Maker, any suggestions?
Kelly says
Oh no, never never put the ice cream maker away, girl!
Hey, the kick the can thing sounds like a blast! There’s got to be a way to do that without using aluminum cans, we just have to put our heads together!
Local Nourishment says
Wow. Ice cream for breakfast. That’s REALLY thinking outside the box! I found a pretty good cookie recipe I made once and thought that was so “cool.” My friends’ moms were always giving them cookies for breakfast when I was growing up (or at least it seemed that way) and I thought it would be “cool” to do that for the kids, but they didn’t seem to get it.
When we went camping, we’d make ice cream in aluminum (!) coffee cans. A big, three-pound can held the ice and salt, then the little one-pound can in the middle, taped shut with the cream, milk, eggs and sugar. We’d play kick-the-can until it was done. Very fun. Wouldn’t dream of doing that now.
Hm, I have packed away my ice cream maker for the winter, perhaps I’ll get it out…
Elizabeth Quigley says
Hi Kelly,
This is great. I am adding it to my collection. I just bought a new ice cream maker.
Blessings,
Mama Turtle
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Sarah,
Yah, Kent’s not real happy with me. I ordered it and gave it to him to wrap. Aren’t I bad?? I can’t wait to try it out!!
Kelly
Sarah says
Yum! I want Ice cream for breakfast! I have “Nourishing Traditions” and was hoping to try out their ice cream recipe this summer . . . glad to know it is such a success!
Best,
Sarah
PS – That ice cream maker is on my wishlist too!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Sherry,
Let us know what you think after you try it!
Kelly
Sherry says
This sounds amazing and healthier for us, too! Thanks for sharing! I just got the Nourishing Traditions cookbook recently. 😀
[email protected] says
Thanks for joining us for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. We are glad to have you, Christmas recipe or not. Please, keep coming back!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Thanks Gina, now I have an excuse to make another batch!
Kelly p.s. I changed the amount in the recipe up in the post, too.
Gina says
I have NT as well as Shannon Hayes’ Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook, which has the NT recipe for vanilla ice cream as well, only she uses 3 Tablespoons of vanilla extract instead of one. It’s so much better with 3! With 1 it just tastes like maple syrup to me.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’m sure you all figured this out, but up a few comments where I said, “story”, I meant “store”…
cheeseslave says
My mother-in-law made the vanilla ice cream the other day. We followed your recipe exactly. It was SO DELICIOUS.
The night before, I almost fainted when I read the ingredients in my father-in-law’s favorite store-bought ice cream. Why do they have to put hydrogenated palm oil in there????
Anyway, my in-laws were VERY impressed. And Kate ate a ton of it. This is not just a delicious dessert — it’s a health food!
Anna says
I haven’t tried this but I’ve read you can freeze the ice cream mixture in your fridge freezer in a bowl, stirring it every once in a while to break up the ice crystals. it might be a bit icier, but it’ll taste great anyway.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Vicki,
That would be a great alternative to the coconut ice cream I’ve seen in the story – the ingredient list is so long!
Andrea,
You sneak cod liver oil in ice cream? Wow, you’re good! (I’m surprised the coconut oil doesn’t harden back up once it’s cold?)
Kelly
Andrea says
Hello, Kelly!
We have been making this recipe from Nourishing Traditions (and making variations of it) for about two years now. We use only two tablespoons of maple syrup. We will have a bowl of it in place of dinner a couple times a week in the summer. Recently, I have been trying to get coconut oil and cod liver oil into my husband whom is reluctant to take it voluntarily, so I add it to the ice cream and serve it as a side with breakfast! I have to melt the coconut oil first, then I add both the coconut oil and cod liver oil to the egg yolks and vanilla before adding the cream. Yum!
Vicki says
We’ve started making our homemade ice cream with coconut milk – which (obviously) makes it non-dairy. My husband says I should find some place to sell it – it is so yummy!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hi Beth,
You were just on my mind not 5 minutes ago!
I thought about the baggie method (until we get an ice cream maker), but I think I’m too lazy for all that. 🙂 I’ll bet the kids thought it was fun, though.
Kelly
Bamboo says
Kelly,
This sounds wonderful! We don’t have an ice cream maker but have made ice cream using the “baggie” method. In fact, we happened to make it a few days ago with fresh raw cream and it was the best ice cream I’ve ever had! The raw cream made the difference. Each child had their own sandwich bag and could flavor it however they wanted. I put some raw cacao powder in mine with a few chocolate chips and just a bit of rapadura. One child put some crushed peppermint in hers (okay, totally a compromise ingredient!) along with cacao and rapadura. We each had a gallon-sized baggie as well into which we put ice and rock salt, and the little baggie. Then squish, squish until it becomes ice cream. Eat immediately. Yum!
I don’t know how this would work with your recipe but I thought I’d throw it out there. I can’t think of a replacement for the plastic baggies though if you areavoiding all plastics.
Beth
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Woohooo!! I’m so excited that you like this dessert, Anna!
GREAT tip on whipping the cream first.
Love all your interesting stories, too. 🙂
Kelly
Anna says
Not this time, Kelly! I love making ice cream. It's one of my occasional indulgences and it's always a hit with the family. I often use maple syrup, too. Because of the fat and protein (& no other high glucose ingredients like in baked pastry desserts ), I find the sugars in homemade ice cream doesn't send my BG up as high or as fast (non-fat frozen yogurt is another story!). So, with moderation and a somewhat lower sugar content, I can do ice cream now and then. Most often I use the basic uncooked egg, cream, & milk base in the Ben & Jerry's ice cream book, but with reduced sugar. Espresso is our favorite flavor, even with my 10 yr old.
It only takes a few minutes to whip up the base, then get the freezer set up. In less than 30-40 minutes it is done, at the "soft serve" stage. If I start it at 4pm, then I can get to that stage before starting dinner (thought the 25-20 minutes of freezing time allows me to stay nearby but doing other things, too). I transfer the soft ice cream to a container (I like shallow wide open containers, like the large glass GlassLock container from Snapware – my newest food storage find) and by the time dinner is over, the ice cream is perfect for scooping.
The main problem I've had with homemade ice cream is that it is frozen so hard after the first day in the freezer, that it is sometimes impossible to scoop. That's because homemade recipes don't have all the gums and additives that commercial ice cream use to control texture. If I turn adjust my freezer temp, other foods get too warm. I can't tell you how many times I put ice cream in the fridge before dinner to soften a bit or on the counter afterwards, then forgot about it, and later find cream soup.
Now I whip half or all of the cream to a semi-whipped stage first, then fold it into the other ingredients (already mixed together) before adding to the ice cream maker. That adds enough air to make scooping much easier, even when it is super frozen (my separate freezer is set super cold).
I make sure to use a recipe that doesn't make too much (1-1.5 qts), because with the air whipped into the cream, the volume is higher and a big batch might result in overspill near the end of freezing (ice cream expanding as it freezes), at least in my freezer bowl setup. Larger capacity machines might not have that problem.
I make ice cream with a freezer bowl accessory for my Kitchenaid stand mixer. That way I don't have a separate motor base to store. But I think they all do a pretty good job. When I was looking for a in ice cream freezer device, Cuisinart got a lot of good reviews.
BTW, when we went to Italy for two weeks this summer (my husband was the organizer for an international science conference in Tuscany, plus we met up with his family from the UK & Norway for a celebration of his mother's 80th birthday) – small gelatos were one of my vacation indulgences. I didn't haven't gelato every day when we were staying at a farmhouse apartment in the countryside, but when we were in towns and cities I sure did. Servings were very, very small and I was choosy, looking for the remaining establishments that make their own gelato (increasingly even in Italy gelato is commercially made). I nearly always chose a coffee or hazelnut flavor (might only be my imagination, but they seemed less sweet, though honestly they were still too sweet for my tastebuds – but oh so smooth and creamy).
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Somehow I knew you’d like that idea! I wonder what Anna will think of this, though! Anna, let me have it! I always love your comments, they challenge me to keep doing better.
Julie says
Ice cream for breakfast? Now we’re talkin’!!!!!