The Ultimate Guide to Making Ice Cream
Updated: Jan. 15, 2023
From professional tips to the sweetest recipes on the block, get ready to scream for ice cream! We cover everything you need to know about making this indulgent treat.
Say hello to the coolest treat around. Sweet and creamy ice cream is beloved by all ages—and there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy it. Read on to learn everything (yes, everything!) you need to know about ice cream; including recipes, products and tips for mastering it at home.
How to Make Ice Cream: Methods
Making homemade ice cream is not as complicated as it sounds. And, while you definitely can invest in gear and gadgets to streamline the process, it’s not necessary. We’ll show you how to make ice cream a myriad of ways—you just pick the one that works best for your family.
How to Make Ice Cream without an Ice Cream Maker
To make ice cream without an ice cream maker, you’ll need a handful of common kitchen tools, including a mixing bowl, 13×9 pan and a spatula. Time and patience are other key ingredients, since this method relies on a slow, meticulous churning process.
How to Make Ice Cream with an Ice Cream Maker
If you plan on making a lot of frozen treats, it’s worth it to invest in an ice cream maker. These sleek machines yield professional-quality results and less hands-on time. You’ll still need to prep your ice cream base and, in some machines, the maker’s canister before reaching for the scoop.
How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag
Do memories of summer camp come flooding back at the mere mention of making ice cream in a bag? You’re not alone. This kid-friendly, hands-on approach uses salt and muscle power to create silky smooth ice cream.
How to Make Ice Cream in a Coffee Can
Similar to the bagged method, coffee can ice cream relies on rock salt and movement to yield a frozen treat. Except instead of mixing with your hands, you can roll or even (gently!) kick the can around. This method is great if you want to get a little exercise in before indulging!
Tips for Making Homemade Ice Cream
Just like any skill, practice makes perfect. But we have a few ice cream-making tips to get you started, including:
- Reach for quality ingredients. A basic ice cream base has very few ingredients, so make sure you’re including top-notch items, like fresh cream and pure vanilla extract. Trust us—you’ll be able to taste the difference!
- Ward off ice crystals. One of the biggest challenges you’ll face when making homemade ice cream is ice crystal formation. These mini ice pieces can ruin the texture of your ice cream and affect the flavor. Keep them at bay by sticking to your recipe’s sweetener amounts and taking steps to store the ice cream in an airtight container. Our Test Kitchen has plenty of ice cream tips to ensure success to check out before you start churning.
- Experiment with flavors. Pink Peppercorn and Sake Ice Cream? Coming right up. How about London Fog or Dark Chocolate with Paprika & Agave? Feel free to go wild with your ice cream flavor choices. You might just create a new favorite!
Ice Cream Recipes
Now that you know the basics of how to make ice cream, put your skills to the test with these homemade ice cream recipes! We have tons of ideas for every type of sweet tooth.
Classic Ice Cream Recipes
You can’t go wrong with these tried-and-true flavors:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Chocolate ice cream
- Strawberry ice cream
- Mint chip ice cream
- Rocky Road ice cream
- Coffee ice cream
Unique Ice Cream Recipes
Craving something a little less traditional? We’ve got you covered:
And for even more ideas, consult our collection of unique ice cream flavors. Trust us—you haven’t tried these yet!
Ice Cream-Based Desserts
A scoop tastes delicious on its own (or packed into a cone), but you can also use ice cream to make next-level desserts.
Milkshakes
The 1950s called—and they said this sweet sipper is never going out of style. A classic milkshake blends milk, ice cream and your favorite mix-ins until smooth, then is topped with whipped cream.
Sundaes and Splits
Another classic treat, ice cream sundaes are laden with sauces, fresh fruit, nuts and other tasty toppings. We love an old-fashioned banana split, as well as this decadent turtle sauce that blends smooth chocolate and sweet caramel. And, to make your sundae even sweeter, serve it in a homemade ice cream bowl.
Ice Cream Cakes
For a show-stopping dessert, you can’t go wrong with an ice cream cake. These novelties combine all of the good stuff—ice cream, cake, cookies, whipped cream, sprinkles and more—into an easy-to-slice dessert. Try this pretty birthday ice cream cake or our DQ ice cream cake copycat recipe.
Ice Cream Novelties
Growing up, there was no sound more exciting than that of the ice cream truck. And these eat-with-your-hands options will take you right back to childhood:
Ice Cream Products and Tools
If making ice cream is your new favorite hobby, we won’t judge! In fact, we rounded up the best ice cream products and tools for dessert lovers. Here are some of our essential picks:
- Ice cream makers. These helpful machines take the guesswork out of homemade ice cream and guarantee smooth results every time. Find picks for the countertop, a KitchenAid and more.
- Ice cream scoops. Raise your hand if you’ve ever hurt your wrist trying to scoop too-hard ice cream. These top-rated scoops cut through even the densest dessert and will last you way longer than your favorite pint.
- Ice cream cookbooks. Once you’ve mastered vanilla, try something new with these ice cream cookbooks. You’ll find recipes from chefs and industry pros alike, including Salt & Straw and Ben & Jerry’s.
The Best Ice Cream Brands
When an ice cream craving hits, there’s not always time to make it from scratch. That’s why we recommend these top-notch ice cream brands you can buy online or at a specialty grocer, including Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. For a less indulgent (and more cost-conscious) treat, check out the winners of our vanilla and chocolate ice cream brand taste tests.
Up Next: Desserts That Get Better with Ice Cream
Fudgy Peanut Butter CakeI clipped this easy peanut butter cake recipe from a newspaper years ago. The house smells fantastic while it's slow cooking. My husband and son enjoy the cake with ice cream and nuts on top. —Bonnie Evans, Norcross, Georgia
Chocolate CobblerIt's impossible to resist the flavorful chocolate cobbler sauce that appears when this delightful cake bakes. —Margaret McNeil, Germantown, Tennessee
Slow-Cooker Berry CobblerI adapted my mom's yummy cobbler recipe for slow cooking. With the hot summers here in Arizona, we can still enjoy this comforting dessert, and I don't have to turn on the oven. —Karen Jarocki, Yuma, Arizona
Nutty Apple Streusel DessertMany people don't think of using a slow cooker to make dessert, but I like having this hot, scrumptious apple treat waiting to be served when we finish up our dinner. I start it in the morning and don't think about it all day. —Jacki Every, Rotterdam, New York
Peach PieI acquired this delicious peach pie filling recipe some 40 years ago, when my husband and I first moved to southern Iowa and had peach trees growing in our backyard. It's been a family favorite since then and always brings back memories of both summer and those happy early years. — June Mueller, Sioux City, Iowa
Apple Butterscotch CrispI give this classic dessert a rich twist with butterscotch pudding. The warm apple filling bubbles to perfection in a mini slow cooker. —Jolanthe Erb, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Chocolate-Stuffed Peanut Butter Skillet CookieA surprise chocolate filling makes this peanut butter chocolate skillet cookie extra delicious! Serve warm from the oven with a scoop of your favorite ice cream. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin
Cinnamon-Raisin Banana Bread PuddingMy family likes to change the toppings for this luscious dessert. We use berries, chopped nuts or fruit, ice cream, whipped cream or caramel topping. If I'm making the dessert for adults only, I love to add a little rum to the milk mixture to give the pudding extra flavor. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho
Burgundy PearsThese warm spiced pears elevate slow cooking to a new level of elegance, yet they're incredibly easy to make. Your friends won't believe this fancy-looking dessert came from a slow cooker. —Elizabeth Hanes, Peralta, New Mexico
Double Cherry PieThe combination of tart canned cherries and dried cherries make this so yummy. This is the best cherry pie I have ever raised on a fork to my lips! —Jerri Gradert, Lincoln, Nebraska
Skillet Banana FrittersThis delicious banana treat is sure to be a hit in your home. They are so yummy served with ice cream on the side. For an extra special treat, add chocolate syrup!—Sharon Yonts, Scottsboro, Alabama
Grilled Honey-Balsamic Glazed FruitOne summer my mother-in-law made us grilled peaches basted with a sweet and tangy sauce. These are so good I'm always tempted to eat the whole batch. —Kristin Van Dyken, West Richland, Washington
Peach Cobbler for TwoEveryone notices a special taste in this cobbler. It's orange peel, which enhances the color and gives this traditional dessert a delicious distinction. Cobblers usually serve a large group, so it's convenient to have a recipe that makes just enough for two.
— Betty Clark, Mount Vernon, Missouri
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Originally Published: July 08, 2021
