Homemade Ice Cream (2 Vanilla)

Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

Homemade ice cream is one of those old-fashioned treats that never goes out of style. This page features two classic vanilla recipes — a quick “country” freezer-style version and a richer cooked custard-style ice cream.

Both come from traditional community cookbooks and make plenty for summer gatherings, cookouts, and family desserts.

Recipes on this page

✨ Jump directly to a classic recipe:

🍦 Country-Style Vanilla Ice Cream

A rich, velvety classic that relies on high-quality cream and eggs for a traditional, homemade taste. Perfect for churning in a large-batch freezer for your next summer gathering.

🍦 Servings: 16 🍳 Equipment: 2-Gallon Freezer

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, well beaten
  • 2 ½ cups sugar
  • 6 cups milk
  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 1 ½ tbsp vanilla
  • ½ tsp salt

Preparation Instructions

  1. Whisk Eggs: Gradually add sugar to your well-beaten eggs, whisking continuously after each addition until the mixture is very stiff.
  2. Combine: Stir in the milk, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt until thoroughly combined.
  3. Freeze: Pour the base into a 2-gallon freezer container and freeze according to your freezer's instructions.

🍮 Custard-Style Vanilla Ice Cream

A cooked custard base ensures an ultra-smooth and stable texture. This timeless method creates a delicious gallon of ice cream, ideal for hand-cranked or electric freezers.

🍦 Yield: ~1 Gallon 🍳 Equipment: Double Boiler & Ice Cream Freezer

Ingredients

  • 2 quarts milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • ½ tbsp salt
  • 1 pint heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp vanilla

Preparation Instructions

  1. Heat Base: In a double boiler, gently heat the milk and sugar.
  2. Temper: Beat the eggs, then whisk in the flour and salt. Add this egg mixture to the hot milk and cook until slightly thickened.
  3. Finish: Strain the custard to ensure it is perfectly smooth, then stir in the heavy cream and vanilla.
  4. Freeze: Chill and process in a hand-crank or electric ice cream freezer.

Ice Cream FAQ

What’s the difference between the two vanilla ice cream recipes?

Country Vanilla is a simple no-cook freezer mix. The second recipe is cooked (custard-style) until slightly thickened for a richer, smoother texture.

Do I need an ice cream maker to make these recipes?

Both are written for traditional freezer-style ice cream makers (hand-crank or electric). Without one, you can freeze the mixture in a shallow pan and stir every 30–45 minutes until firm, though the texture will be less creamy.

How can I customize homemade vanilla ice cream?

Near the end of freezing, stir in mix-ins such as chocolate chips, crushed cookies, fruit, or nuts. You can also replace some of the vanilla with other extracts like almond or peppermint.

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