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Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Homemade vanilla bean ice cream made the real way: a freshly churned stovetop vanilla custard. Simply the best vanilla ice cream recipe.

A homemade vanilla ice cream to rule them all: real cream, real sugar, and yes, real churning. Don’t shy away from making this recipe: it’s easier than you think and worth the effort.

3 scoops of vanilla ice cream in loaf pan

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Saves money: If you’re tired of paying a small fortune for tiny pints of ice cream, it’s time to get to work. Just a few dollars of ingredients can easily be transformed into a homemade ice cream that is better than any of them.
  • It’s delicious! This recipe is going to teach you how to make a fantastic homemade vanilla bean ice cream that tastes like the type you would buy in your favorite ice cream shop.
  • Simple (once you’ve tried it) The process is not as hard as you might think, but it does take some time and patience.

This is an overview of the ingredients. You’ll find the full measurements and instructions in the printable recipe at the bottom of the page.

cream, milk, sugar eggs vanilla bean on countertop

You’ll need the following for this creamy, delicious dessert

🍴Instructions

Step One

Heat the milk and cream. Heat the milk, cream, 1/2 cup of sugar, and vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat, until warm and steaming, or about 170 degrees.

Step Two

egg yolks in small bowll being beaten

Beat the eggs and remaining sugar. Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until light yellow in color and well combined. They will noticeably change color when mixed enough. (A hand mixer on low will work well.)

Step three

saucepan of custard on stovetop

Temper the eggs by adding half of the warm milk mixture, a half cup at a time. Then add the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and cream.

Step FouR

sauce pan with vanilla custard

Heat the custard. Heat the saucepan, which now contains all of the milk, cream, sugar, and eggs, over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches 185 degrees. The custard is ready when it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not boil. Once off the heat, add a pinch of salt, and the vanilla extract, if using.

Step Five

vanilla bean being dropped in custard

Strain the custard and add the vanilla and salt. Hold cheesecloth or a strainer over a bowl to strain the custard. Scrape the vanilla beans and add the vanilla bean and vanilla extract along with the salt and stir to combine. Immediately place the custard into in the refrigerator to chill. Chill for 4-24 hours, until very cold.

Step Six

ice cream maker churning

Freeze ice cream according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When it has reached the consistency of soft-serve ice cream, place into loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze until firm.

🥫 Storage instructions

Homemade ice cream will keep well, covered in the freezer for a week.. Be sure to keep it tightly covered with the plastic wrap right up against it.

🔍 FAQs

Can you make ice cream without a machine?

Yes! But it’s sort of a pain. Place the custard in the freezer and stir for 30 seconds once per hour. It will take a while to set up, but the results will be very similar.

Can you use artificial vanilla?

No, the flavor of this ice cream is highly dependent on having real vanilla.

Is it safe to eat ice cream with egg?

Yes, it is cooked before you churn it and it’s perfectly safe.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert tips

  • You can’t rush homemade ice cream. If your custard isn’t chilled or your insert isn’t frozen, it just won’t work. Be patient!
  • Use the best quality ingredients you can find.  The ingredients for this recipe are simple, so the freshness of your cream and the quality of your vanilla is essential.
  • Make sure everything is cold before you churn. The custard will take hours to cool in the fridge, or you can cool it quickly by transferring it into a bowl that has been set over an ice bath and stir it frequently until the temperature drops.
  • A thermometer is helpful, but not essential. Just make sure the vanilla custard thickens but don’t let it boil.

Serving ideas

Besides the obvious (scooping it into a giant bowl and loading it with toppings), this recipe is the perfect companion for so many desserts. You’ll love it on top of everything from strawberry rhubarb cobbler to peachy apple pie.

📘 Related Recipes

This vanilla ice cream is the base of every type we make. Here are some of our favorites:

homemade ice cream with red and white napkin

📖 Here’s the recipe

vanilla ice cream being scooped
5 from 2 votes

Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream

Print Recipe
Homemade vanilla bean ice cream made the real way: a freshly churned stovetop vanilla custard. Simply the best vanilla ice cream recipe.
Prep Time:30 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
cooling:12 hours
Total Time:12 hours 45 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 vanilla beans
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 egg yolks
  • pinch salt

Instructions

  • Heat the milk and cream. Heat the milk, cream, 1/2 cup of sugar, and vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat, until warm and steaming, or about 170 degrees.
  • Beat the eggs and remaining sugar. Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar until light yellow in color and well combined. They will noticeably change color when mixed enough. (A hand mixer on low will work well.)
    process shot showing color change of egg yolks and sugar
  • Temper the eggs by adding half of the warm milk mixture, a half cup at a time. Then add the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and cream.
  • Heat the custard. Heat the saucepan, which now contains all of the milk, cream, sugar, and eggs, over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches 185 degrees. The custard is ready when it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not boil. Once off the heat, add a pinch of salt, and the vanilla extract, if using.
    pouring custard into saucepan
  • Strain the custard and add the vanilla and salt. Hold cheesecloth or a strainer over a bowl to strain the custard. Scrape the vanilla beans and add the vanilla bean and vanilla extract along with the salt and stir to combine. Immediately place the custard into in the refrigerator to chill. Chill for 4-24 hours, until very cold.
    straining custard over glass bowl
  • Freeze ice cream according to manufacturer's instructions. When it has reached the consistency of soft serve ice cream, place into loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze until firm. Will keep well, covered in the freezer for a week.
    ice cream maker churning custard

Notes

Be sure to check your ice cream machine’s instructions before beginning: many have a freezer insert that needs to be frozen at least 24 hours before churning.
No ice cream maker? You actually can still make home-churned ice cream. Place the custard in the freezer and stir for 30 seconds once per hour. It will take a while to set up, but the results will be very similar.

Nutrition

Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 163mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 106mg | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 860IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: old fashioned vanilla ice cream, vanilla ice cream recipe with eggs
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 291kcal
Author: Katie Shaw
Did you make this recipe?If you loved it, please leave a review!

If you love the taste of ice cream but are not keen on how difficult it can be to make, then you should give this recipe a try. I’m confident that once you’ve tried it, there will no longer be any doubt about whether or not making ice cream at home is worth your time.

signature with strawberries

3 thoughts on “Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe”

  1. 5 stars
    So delicious and an easy to follow recipe. Loved your step by step photos… This will be my ‘go to’ vanilla ice cream recipe this summer ! : )

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    This was a really good ice-cream recipe! I replaced the vanilla extract with mint and added chocolate chips to make mint chocolate chip.

    Reply

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