Old-Fashioned Strawberry Ice Cream

With real cream, fresh strawberries, and just a handful of quality ingredients, this is a classic done right. Don’t be overwhelmed by all the steps. Once you make homemade ice cream for the first time, it will all make sense. Really!

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Although the ingredients are simple, make sure you use fresh dairy products and ripe berries. You can use frozen berries, too, and you don’t have to thaw them out. Make sure you have your ice cream maker ready before starting this process, as it takes 24 hours for the canister to chill thoroughly.  (Unless you have one of the cool ones that you don’t have to pre-chill, in which case, ignore me.)

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Equipment

• 1.5-quart ice cream maker
• strainer

Ingredients

For the ice cream base:

• 1½ cups whole milk
• 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
• ¾ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• pinch salt

For the strawberry mix-in:

• 2 cups sliced strawberries, frozen works well
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

How to Make Strawberry Ice Cream

Step One: Prep Canister

Prepare the ice cream maker by freezing the canister. Many machines require at least 24 hours of chilling, so don’t forget to do this first.

Step Two: Make the Strawberry Syrup

Combine the sliced strawberries, lemon juice, and ¼ cup of 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 like a sauce with some berry pieces still intact. If you do not want pieces of berries in the finished ice cream, run it through a food processor or use a stick blender.

Step Three: Heat the Milk

Add the milk, cream, and ½ cup of sugar to a large saucepan. Over medium heat, warm the mixture until it is very warm (175℉), for about 5 minutes. It should be steaming but not simmering

Step Four: Beat the Eggs

While the mixture is heating, combine the egg yolks with the remaining cup of sugar. Beat until it turns a lighter yellow in color. (Save the whites and make meringue-topped key lime pie!) A hand mixer works well for this.

Step Five: Temper the Eggs

Remove the milk mixture from the heat, and add half a cup at a time to the egg mixture. Mix after each addition. Add until half the milk mixture is gone. Adding the warm milk slowly prevents it from cooking the eggs. Once you’ve added about half of the milk mixture into the eggs, pour the entire milk-egg mixture back into the saucepan. Heat over medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is 185℉, or has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not boil.

Step Six: Strain and Chill

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

Step Seven: Churn

Remove custard from fridge and set up ice cream maker, according to manufacturer’s instructions. Pour custard in and churn until it is the consistency of soft serve ice cream, then add the strawberry mixture. Let the machine run a few more minutes until the ice cream is pink and the berries are distributed throughout.

Step Eight: Freeze

Place in a freezer-safe loaf pan, cover, and refreeze for 2-4 hours until hardened. Scoop and serve. It will last up to one week in the freezer, stored in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed on top. Let the ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping.

Storing and What to Serve with Strawberry Ice Cream

Having a sweet, springtime party? Serve with these recipes:

• This Prosecco sangria with fresh berries is super easy, super pretty, and everyone will love it.
• My shrimp macaroni salad is make-ahead and serves a crowd.
• But deep-fried jalapeno poppers will be your favorite recipe at the party.

Make It Your Own

Here are some ways to make this taste even better!

• Mix in chopped dark chocolate in the final minutes of churning
• Swirl in some homemade strawberry jam for berry-packed pockets
• Try this same technique with different berries

More Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

Once you’ve mastered basic homemade vanilla ice cream, the world is yours. Add anything you’d like.

• Homemade cookies and cream ice cream is a simple vanilla base with big Oreo pieces.
• If you prefer a more natural sweetener, you’ll appreciate this honey ice cream recipe
• A basic vanilla with your favorite mix-ins: vanilla caramel fudge ice cream
• Almost exactly the same method with sugared fruit in this fresh peach ice cream.
• Candy cane ice cream is my personal favorite.

Questions and Troubleshooting

Printable Recipe