Ice Cream Making Tips

How to Make Vanilla Ice Cream

Learn how to make vanilla ice cream with these easy, step-by-step directions. You’ll be enjoying this ice cream treat in no time!

Would you like to learn an easy method for making vanilla ice cream? Follow these simple steps and you’ll be making delicious homemade vanilla ice cream in no time.

First we have Instructions for making it without an ice cream maker – then we have instructions for making it with an ice cream maker. Choose the method you want to use.

Making Vanilla Ice Cream without an Ice Cream Maker

• * An ice cream maker stirs and churns the ice cream while freezing so that ice crystals do not form inside and around the ice cream.
• * Making ice cream without the machine is still possible, but requires that you continually check on and mix the ice cream.
• * If you add other ingredients to the ice cream, such as nuts or cookies, the time needed for your ice cream to freeze completely will be longer.

Equipment:

• Whisk
• Mixing Bowls

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Sugar (can reduce to 1/2 cup for less sweet ice cream) 1 cup Half-and-Half (or milk for a less creamy ice cream) 2 cups Heavy Cream 1-2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Step-by-Step Directions for How to Make Vanilla Ice Cream:

1. In a large bowl, combine the half-and-half cream with the sugar.

2. Whisk this mixture until blended and the sugar is completely dissolved. You can whisk this mixture by hand or you can speed things up a little by using an electric mixer at a low speed. The sugar should be completely dissolved within several minutes.

3. Add the whipping cream to the milk mixture.

4. Add 1-2 tbsp of vanilla extract.

5. Combine completely.

6. Pour ice cream base into a container (metal works best – but anything is okay) and put in the freezer.

7. After the first half hour in the freezer, the ice cream should be freezing around the edges, but not in the middle. Stir the frozen parts into the center until smooth again.

8. Continue to remove the ice cream from the freezer and beat with a whisk every half hour. This removes the ice crystals that may form during the freezing process.

9. After removing and stirring 3 or 4 times, return the ice cream to the freezer to harden.

Making Vanilla Ice Cream with an Ice Cream Machine

Equipment:

• Ice Cream Maker
• Whisk
• Mixing Bowls

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Sugar (can reduce to 1/2 cup for less sweet ice cream) 1 cup Half-and-Half (or milk for a less creamy ice cream) 2 cups Heavy Cream 1-2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Step-by-Step Directions for How to Make Vanilla Ice Cream:

• 1. In a large bowl, combine the half-and-half cream with the sugar.
• 2. Whisk this mixture until blended and the sugar is completely dissolved. You can whisk this mixture by hand or you can speed things up a little by using an electric mixer at a low speed. The sugar should be completely dissolved within several minutes.
• 3. Add the whipping cream to the milk mixture.
• 4. Add 1-2 tbsp of vanilla extract.
• 5. Combine completely.
• 6. Pour this ice cream base into your ice cream maker and then churn it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually takes about 25-30 minutes.
• 7. Remove the ice cream from the machine and put in a separate container for storage or firming up. Ice cream will come out of the ice cream maker about the consistency of soft serve ice cream.

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