Making your own ice cream at home as incredibly easy with this super simple vanilla ice cream recipe. This rich and creamy ice cream requires no cooking, just a few minutes of prep, and then the ice cream maker does the rest!
Ice cream is a beloved dessert enjoyed by people, big and small, all around the world. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy this simple treat.
We all have a favorite flavor – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate chip, cookie dough. There are so many ways to enjoy this creamy, sweet dessert – the flavor options are endless.
Of all of the flavors out there, vanilla ice cream is easily one of the most popular options. Right up there with chocolate. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s simple vanilla flavor is delicious on its own, but lends itself to so many toppings and mix-ins. A scoop of vanilla ice cream in itself is the perfect topping for other sweet treats – scooped onto a warm brownie, a slice of pie, or sandwiches between cookies. Any way you serve it, it instantly adds joy to the taste buds.
This simple vanilla ice cream recipe is easily my family’s most frequently enjoyed frozen treat. Since buying an ice cream maker, it has replaced our need for any store-bought ice creams. You really can’t beat this ultra creamy, perfectly sweetened treat made with simple ingredients (and no questionable preservatives).
We always have vanilla ice cream stashed in our freezer and you definitely should too!
Why we love this recipe
- This simple vanilla ice cream recipe is ultra creamy, perfectly sweetened, and downright delicious.
- Homemade vanilla ice cream is incredibly easy to do. You only need 5 minutes of prep time.
- This simple vanilla ice cream recipe does not start with a custard base, so it is egg-free.
- There is no stove-top cooking required for this recipe.
- You can easily change things up to suit your tastes. You can mix-in so many different flavorful ingredients to the vanilla ice cream to make a brand new flavor. Stir in caramel sauce, chocolate chips, crushed Oreo cookies, chocolate fudge, praline, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Ingredients in Simple Vanilla Ice Cream
- Whole milk: Whole milk is used to make a creamier ice cream. Lower fat milks can be substituted but they will affect the texture of the ice cream (less creamy). In Canada, homogenized milk (3.25%) can be used.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar sweetens the ice cream. While many recipes call for more sugar, I find a half cup of sugar adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the ice cream. Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your own tastes.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream is what gives ice cream its ultra rich, creamy texture. The higher fat content is essential to a creamy ice cream. Lower fat content results in an icier texture.
- Vanilla extract: Use real vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavor.
**Note: Ingredient quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card at the end of this post.**
How to Make Simple Vanilla Ice Cream
- Mix milk and sugar. To a mixing bowl, add the whole milk and sugar. Whisk together for a couple of minutes to help the sugar dissolve.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt to the mixture and stir to combine.
- Churn. When you are ready to churn the ice cream, give the ingredients a quick whisk and then add them to the ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer instructions to churn the ice cream.
- Serve or store. Serve immediately (the ice cream will have a soft-serve consistency at this stage) or place in a freezer safe container and freeze until ready to scoop and serve.
Optional Mix-Ins
Vanilla ice cream is the perfect base for adding in all sorts of other delicious ingredients. Depending on what ingredients you wish to add to it, you can add the mix-ins in the last couple minutes of churning. Some of our favorites include:
- Oreos
- Chocolate fudge swirl
- Chopped nuts (praline, pecans, almonds, peanuts)
- Caramel sauce
- Fresh fruit- finely diced or even pureed and swirled in
- Edible cookie dough
- Brownie bits
- Mini chocolate chips
Whether we are enjoying a scoop of simple vanilla ice cream on it’s own, topping it with sprinkles and caramel or chocolate sauce, or adding a generous scoop on a pie or brownie, this ice cream always satisfies that sweet tooth craving.
If you are a fan of ice cream, be sure to also check out my Simple Chocolate Ice Cream recipe.
Looking for treats to top with this vanilla ice cream? Check out:
Mini Blueberry Galettes
Homemade Brownies
Classic Apple Pie
Apple Pie Bars
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Did you love this recipe? Please consider leaving us a comment and a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below.
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Simple Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl, add the whole milk and sugar. Whisk together for a couple of minutes to help the sugar dissolve.
- Add the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt to the mixture and stir to combine.
- When you are ready to churn the ice cream, give the ingredients a quick whisk and then add them to the ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer instructions to churn the ice cream.
- Serve immediately (the ice cream will have a soft-serve consistency at this stage) or place in a freezer safe container and freeze until ready to scoop and serve.
Note: Metric ingredient measurements are provided as a courtesy using a third-party calculator and are rounded to the nearest unit. The recipes provided on this site have not been tested with metric measurements and their accuracy cannot be verified.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is based on third-party calculations and is an estimate only. Accurate nutritional facts will vary based on the particular brands used, portion sizes, measurement accuracy and more.
