One of the summer’s best treats is ice cream, and there is no better ice cream than Homemade Ice cream. This recipe is easy to make and delicious.

Four Simple Ingredients

For the basic recipe, all you need is whipping or heavy cream, half and half cream, sugar and vanilla. This is all it takes to make the basic recipe and if you like vanilla ice cream, then that is all you will need to make delicious homemade ice cream.

Add-Ins and Flavouring

If vanilla is not your favourite ice cream or you want to change it up a little, there are numerous add-ins and flavours you can add to the basic recipe.

To add flavour, all you have to do is add any liquid to the basic recipe. It is best to stick with extracts for flavour. Too much liquid could cause the cream to break down and the final product will be runny and won’t freeze properly.

Any solid add-ins get added after churning. Solids can be folded into the ice cream after churning and before freezing.

Bourbon Grilled Peach

One of our favourite ways to add flavour is to add grilled peaches and bourbon to the basic recipe. Grilling the peaches before adding them to the ice cream is the best way to soften them and bring out the sweetness of the peach. I usually grill them while the ice cream is churning.

Peaches only take a couple of minutes per side to grill so they are cooled in time to dice and add to the ice cream mixture after churning. Mashing the grilled peaches is an option for creamier ice cream.

Chocolate Chip Mint

Add some mint to the mixture before churning. You can also add a few drops of food colouring to make it like store-bought. Then fold in mini chocolate chips or even mint chocolate chips after churning.

Chocolate Cherry

This flavour is one of my favourites. After churning, I fold in chopped maraschino cherries and drizzles of chocolate syrup. I don’t mix in the chocolate syrup completely. I like to have ribbons of chocolate throughout the ice cream.

Apple Pie

Now, this flavour is different from what you would find in a store. Add some cinnamon to the churning process, then fold in a slice or two of crumbled apple pie. You can also just add apple pie filling. It is so good.

S’mores

A campfire favourite added to ice cream. After churning, simply add crushed graham crackers, mini marshmallows and small pieces of chocolate. You can also use chocolate chips. Marshmallow fluff folded into the ice cream also works well.

Equipment Needed to Make Homemade Ice Cream

To make this ice cream, an ice cream maker is used. I have made this recipe with two different kinds of ice cream makers.

The first is the Kitchenaid ice cream attachment. This is my go-to way of making any ice cream. The attachment bowl stays in the freezer so it is always ready when I want to make ice cream.

The second ice cream maker I have used this recipe in is the Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Bucket. Using this type of ice cream maker takes longer to churn. And it uses ice to make the ice cream. I have run out of ice while making the ice cream in the past, so I recommend that you have a lot of ice available if this is the type of maker you will be using.

Storing Homemade Ice Cream

Unlike store-bought ice cream, homemade ice cream won’t last in the freezer as long. There are no preservatives to keep the ice cream fresh for long.

We serve the ice cream on the same day we make it. Then store leftovers in the freezer for up to 5 days. After that, it starts to crystallize. To reduce the amount of crystallizing, a piece of plastic wrap placed over the ice cream helps. I place the plastic wrap right on the top of the ice cream then put the lid on the container. This keeps the air between the ice cream and the lid from hardening the top of the ice cream.