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If you know me, you know I have a love for ice cream. And this love isn’t relegated to summer. No, any time of the year is the right time for good ice cream. But, there is a definite difference in ice creams and not all are created equal.
Growing up, we made ice cream in a White Mountain freezer for special occasions: birthday parties, family get-togethers, and Christmastime. Iowa is cold at Christmas, but one side of my family always has ice cream. Why mess with a perfect tradition, right? A White Mountain makes six quarts of ice cream, but you have to crush a lot of ice and pack it around the cylinder with salt.
Nowadays, many of us have smaller countertop ice cream freezers. You do not need to crush ice, but instead, freeze the canister for 24 hours. It’s easy and almost mess-free, especially when you have the perfect recipe!
What is a true ice cream?
Depending on where you are from, ice cream can have different meanings. In the United States, the most common type of ice cream is from a French custard base: a mixture of milk, cream, egg, and sugar, all cooked together. Once chilled, the mixture is churned at a below-freezing temperature. Air mixes in as it churns and creates… ice cream!
Using this method, the ice cream needs to be churned quickly enough and cold enough that the ice crystals stay as small as possible. Otherwise, the texture will seem grainy or icy.
How does ice cream thicken?
Traditionally, egg yolks are used to thicken the ice cream base, upwards of five to eight eggs for a single quart of ice cream. The egg yolk adds richness, but I find with the yolk alone, I never achieve the thick consistency and smooth texture I’m looking for.
Instead, I use a hybrid method consisting of some egg yolk mixed with cornstarch. The addition of cornstarch helps temper the egg yolks so they whisk into the hot ice cream base easily. The cornstarch also thickens the base to help create a perfectly smooth finish.
More Recipes to Try
- Easy hot fudge sauce – the perfect chocolate sauce to pair with this ice cream recipe!
- Strawberry rhubarb sauce – perfect to pour on top!
- Espresso brownie no-churn ice cream
- No-bake peppermint cheesecake
- Raspberry cheesecake ice cream
Watch how to make this vanilla bean ice cream
Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups + 2 tbsp whole milk separated
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp light corn syrup
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
To serve
- 1 recipe hot fudge sauce
- sprinkles
Instructions
- In a 4 quart kettle, combine the 2 cups milk, heavy cream, sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, 5-8 minutes.2 cups + 2 tbsp whole milk, 1 ¼ cups heavy cream, ¾ cup granulated sugar, 2 tbsp light corn syrup, ¼ tsp kosher salt
- While the mixture is heating, in a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tbsp milk, egg yolks, and cornstarch.2 cups + 2 tbsp whole milk, 2 large egg yolks, 1 tbsp cornstarch
- When the milk and cream mixture begins to simmer throughout, remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Return to medium-low heat and whisk until simmering throughout and slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat and add the vanilla bean paste. Whisk to combine and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. Cover and chill 6-8 hours.1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
- Once chilled, pour into the freezer and follow the manufacturer's instructions. This usually takes 20-25 minutes. After churning, the ice cream can be immediately enjoyed as soft serve or poured into a container and frozen for an additional 4-6 hours for a harder consistency. Serve with hot fudge sauce and/or sprinkles.1 recipe hot fudge sauce, sprinkles
Dear Kaled,
I love your approach to life. I follow your receipts and you gardening skills. It is a pleasure to watch your videos, specially during the difficult times your friend and companion is going thought.
I prey for the quick and smooth recovery of your little one.
Take care and best wishes.
Martha
Martha
I mean, I was wry sad during the the time your pet was sick.
This ice cream recipe is the BEST!
I doubled the recipe and made it in my electric White Mountain freezer.
My daughter said the chocolate sauce was almost better than the ice cream. I thought my hot fudge sauce was good but this recipe is also THE BEST! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
I have made many of your recipes and never have I had a failure! Keep them coming. I love your gardening ideas and canning recipes and of course your decorating ideas.
I enjoy your Facebook page very much, and I do cook and bake a lot but, i’ve been looking for oat meal raisin cookie , that stays soft I have tried more brown sugar less brown sugar, more eggs taking them out of the oven before cooked still can’t get texture.
Do you have any suggestions
Delicious taste! But it leaves a little bit of odd texture in your mouth- i do believe its the corn syrup. I may use less next time.
Best and easiest ice cream I have ever made! And the chocolate fudge, is just as fantastic. I have made this recipe multiple times and it is always a hit! TY TY TY for sharing this recipe. Can u imagine a world without ice cream?! Ugh – I’d rather not.
Made this ice cream coffee flavor tonight it was so good thank you!
Sonia, could you please tell me how you flavored the ice cream? I love coffee ice cream!
Hi, Kaleb,
I hope all is well! I love your recipes and gardening tips! Thank you for sharing! For this recipe is the cornstarch measurement 1 tablespoon? That is what I used but I feel it changed the flavor of the ice cream. I do like that it is easier to make than tempering the egg yolks but not loving the flavor.
Thank you,
Georga
Hey Kaleb, listen to, or read this book The Secret life of Nature. It will give you interesting information to pass on to your audience…
Trying your ice cream recipe for 4th of July. Is it possible to chill the mixture for a couple of days before freezing? Trying to save some time ahead. Thanks
Very tasty recipe. This is the only vanilla ice cream recipe that I now use. The flavour is rich and delicious.
This is THE best ice cream ever!!!! My absolute go to recipe!!! Thankyou Kaleb!!!!!
Just made the fudge sauce, came out perfect. Thank you!
I’ve tried a LOT of ice cream recipes and WOW. This is truly the best! It’s everything one could hope for in an ice cream! I will be making this on repeat!
Can I make the ice cream ahead of time and leave in the refrigerator for a couple of days before churning?
Love your recipes- made the blueberry pie ice cream last week. Excellent but very sweet!
Thank you.