Old-Fashioned Creamy Peach Ice Cream

This homemade peach ice cream is perfect sweet and creamy, with lots of real peach flavor. The secret is cooking down the peaches with a little sugar first, which concentrates that sweet peach taste and prevents icy chunks. I’ll walk you through every step.

This is a great way to use fresh peaches when they are in season. Don’t be intimidated by ice cream making. I’ve laid out all the steps for you. The important thing is not to rush and make sure your eggs get tempered, NOT cooked, so that your custard turns out well.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Use good-quality ingredients, including ripe peaches. For the best flavor, buy the best fresh peaches locally during peach season. For easy peeling, briefly blanch peaches in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then immediately transfer them to ice water. The skin will slip off easily. You won’t need a blender or food processor, just your trusty ice cream maker!

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I recommend doubling or tripling the batch. Depending on the size of your family, this will go fast! You can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, and it will convert the amounts for you.

Equipment

• ice cream maker
• strainer

Ingredients

For the Ice Cream Base

• 1½ cups whole milk (can use coconut milk for dairy-free option)
• 1½ cups heavy whipping cream (can use coconut cream for dairy-free option)
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• pinch salt

For the Peaches

• 2 cups sliced peaches, peeled and very ripe (3-4 peaches; blanch and ice bath for easy skin removal)
• ¼ cup sugar

How to Make Peach Ice Cream

Read the instructions for your ice cream maker in case you have the kind that has a canister that needs to be pre-frozen. Not all ice cream makers are like this, so be sure to know which you have.

Step One: Make The Sugared Peaches

Combine the sliced peaches and ¼ cup sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and mash with a potato masher or fork until it is the consistency of chunky applesauce.

Step Two: Warm The Milk, Cream, And Some Of The Sugar

Add the milk, cream, and ½ cup of the sugar to a large saucepan.  Over medium heat, warm the mixture until it is very warm (175℉), about 5 minutes.

Step Three: Beat The Eggs And Remaining Sugar

While the mixture is heating, combine the egg yolks with the remaining ¼ cup of sugar.  Beat until it turns a lighter yellow in color.  

Step Four: Temper The Eggs

Remove the milk mixture from the heat, and half a cup at a time, add roughly half of it to the egg mixture.  Mix after each addition.  This keeps it from cooking the eggs.  Once you have blended half of the milk into the eggs, pour the entire milk-egg mixture back into the saucepan.  Place it all back on the heat, heat over medium, and cook.  Stir constantly and cook until the mixture is 185℉, or has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.   Do not boil.

Step Five: Chill The Custard

Remove the custard from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.  Strain the mixture using a strainer or cheesecloth set over a large bowl.  Allow to cool at room temperature, then cover and place in fridge until very cold- at least 6 hours, up to overnight.

Step Six: Churn And Add Peaches

Remove custard from fridge and set up ice cream maker, according to manufacturer’s instructions. Churn until it is the consistency of soft serve ice cream, then add the peach mixture.

Step Seven: Freeze To Set

Cover and refreeze 2-4 hours until hardened.  Scoop and serve.  It will last up to a week in the freezer.

Serving & Storing Peach Ice Cream

Serve with pound cake, whipped cream, and homemade iced tea.

Store in a freezer-safe container. Take a piece of plastic wrap and press it directly onto the surface of the ice cream. This helps prevent ice crystals and keeps the ice cream moist.

This won’t last as long as store-bought, so make sure to write the date and the flavor of your ice cream on the container. This will help you keep track of how long it’s been in the freezer. It will last about a week.

Questions and Troubleshooting

If you nail the custard portion of the ice cream, the rest is flexible!

Recipes for Peach Season

Some things are meant to be made when peaches are in season. You’ll enjoy all of these summertime favorites.

• My famous sugar cookie topping paired with cinnamon peaches. It’s the best peach cobbler!
• There’s nothing better than a glass of raspberry peach lemonade on a super hot day.
• If you’re feeling more ambitious, my peach apple pie is the best of summer and fall all in one.
• Preserve peaches this summer to enjoy all year! If you only can one thing this summer, let it be this!
• Simple and beautiful, this peach Bundt cake is perfect to bring to a potluck.

Printable Recipe