The Best (and Easiest) Ice Cream You'll Ever Make
An exceptionally smooth and velvety homemade vanilla ice cream that demands only five simple ingredients and minimal effort—perfectly suited for both beginners and seasoned dessert enthusiasts.
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean halved lengthwise
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1¾ cups heavy cream
- Optional: 2 cups of mix-ins such as soft brownie pieces chopped cookies, or blondie chunks
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup of the heavy cream with the sugar and salt. If using a vanilla bean, scrape its seeds into the pan and add the pod as well. Gently heat the mixture over medium flame, stirring just until the sugar is dissolved. Take off the heat and blend in the remaining heavy cream, whole milk, and vanilla extract if you're not using a bean. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.
- Once chilled, discard the vanilla pod if used. Whisk the mixture briefly, then pour into your ice cream machine and churn per the manufacturer's guidance. After churning, transfer to a sealed container and freeze until ready to enjoy.
Notes
For a quicker version, skip the stovetop step—simply whisk all ingredients together and pour straight into the ice cream maker. The result remains delightfully rich and flavorful either way.