10+ Ice Cream Recipes to Cool You Down This Summer

Ice cream recipes are a fun way to create your own tasty treats at home. Whether you like classic flavors or want to try something new, making ice cream lets you enjoy a cool dessert anytime.

You don’t need fancy equipment or many ingredients to get started.

Making ice cream at home gives you control over your dessert. You can make it rich, creamy, and full of flavor.

It’s a great activity to share with family or friends. Simple ingredients can turn into something special.

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Ingredients

• Cream
• Milk
• Sugar
• Eggs (optional)
• Flavorings like vanilla or fruit

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix cream, milk, sugar, and flavorings.
2. Beat eggs and sugar if using a custard base.
3. Combine all ingredients well.
4. Freeze the mixture, stirring occasionally or using an ice cream maker.
5. Chill until firm, about 4 hours at 0°F (-18°C).

1) Classic Vanilla Ice Cream

Classic vanilla ice cream is a simple and creamy treat you can make at home. It uses a rich custard base with eggs, cream, and vanilla for a smooth texture.

Use real vanilla beans or vanilla extract for flavor. Gently heat the ingredients, then chill before freezing.

This recipe needs just a few basic ingredients. It’s a great starting point if you want to try homemade ice cream without fancy tools.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract or seeds from 1 vanilla bean

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat milk and cream in a saucepan until hot but not boiling (around 180°F / 82°C).
2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale.
3. Slowly add hot milk mixture to yolks while whisking.
4. Return to low heat and cook, stirring, until it thickens enough to coat a spoon (170°F / 77°C).
5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
6. Chill the mixture in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
7. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

2) Roasted Strawberry-Vanilla Ice Cream

Roasting strawberries brings out their natural sweetness. The vanilla adds a smooth, creamy flavor that balances the tartness of the berries.

Roast the strawberries until they are soft and slightly caramelized. Mix them into a creamy vanilla base made with milk, cream, and egg yolks.

Let the mixture chill in the fridge for a few hours before churning. This helps the flavors blend well.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 vanilla bean pod
• 6 large egg yolks
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 pint strawberries (roasted)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Roast strawberries for 20 minutes until soft.
3. Split vanilla bean and scrape seeds into cream and milk; heat until warm.
4. Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
5. Slowly pour hot cream mixture into yolks while whisking.
6. Return mixture to heat; cook, stirring, until it thickens.
7. Cool mixture; stir in roasted strawberries.
8. Chill in fridge for 4 hours or overnight.
9. Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

For more details, visit Roasted Strawberry-Vanilla Ice Cream.

3) Honey Lavender Ice Cream

Honey lavender ice cream has a gentle floral flavor. The lavender adds a subtle scent, and the honey gives a smooth sweetness.

Heat milk and cream with dried lavender to let the flavor steep. Mix in honey and egg yolks for creaminess.

Chill and freeze the mixture to get soft, tasty ice cream. Enjoy it on its own or with fruit.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• ¾ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions:

1. Warm milk, cream, and lavender in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Remove from heat and let lavender steep 15 minutes.
3. Whisk egg yolks in a bowl.
4. Slowly add warm cream mixture to yolks while stirring.
5. Return to heat and cook until thickened (170°F / 77°C).
6. Stir in honey and salt.
7. Chill mixture completely.
8. Freeze in an ice cream maker as per your machine’s instructions.

4) Coffee Ice Cream

Coffee ice cream combines rich coffee flavor with creamy ice cream. You can make it with milk, cream, sugar, and strong brewed coffee or instant coffee.

This ice cream has a bold coffee taste. The process is simple, even if you don’t have an ice cream maker.

Some recipes use a no-churn method with just a few ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee, chilled (or 1.5 tablespoons instant coffee)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix milk and sugar in a bowl until sugar dissolves.
2. Stir in cream, coffee, and vanilla extract.
3. Chill the mixture for 1 hour in the fridge.
4. Pour into an ice cream maker and churn according to the machine’s instructions.
5. Freeze for another 2-4 hours at 0°F (-18°C) to firm up before serving.

5) Banana Bourbon Ice Cream

Banana Bourbon Ice Cream is smooth and creamy with a sweet hint of bourbon. Roast ripe bananas to bring out their natural sweetness.

Blend the roasted bananas with cream and a touch of bourbon. The bourbon gives it a mild warmth.

This ice cream uses simple ingredients. It’s a tasty way to enjoy banana in a cold dessert.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups half and half
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon bourbon
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Roast bananas with brown sugar and butter until soft.
2. Blend bananas until smooth.
3. In a saucepan, heat half and half and heavy cream gently.
4. Whisk egg yolks and sugar; slowly add hot cream mixture.
5. Cook on low until thickened.
6. Mix in banana puree, bourbon, vanilla, and salt.
7. Chill the mixture, then freeze in an ice cream maker.
8. Freeze until firm before serving.

For more tips, see Roasted Banana Bourbon Ice Cream.

6) Dark Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Dark chocolate chunk ice cream is rich and full of chocolate flavor. It combines creamy ice cream with chunks of bittersweet chocolate.

Use a custard base made with egg yolks, cream, and milk. Slowly heat everything until it thickens, then chill in the fridge.

Add chunks of dark chocolate at the end for texture. You can add espresso powder to boost the chocolate flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 6 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
• 1 tsp espresso powder (optional)
• 6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chunks

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat cream, milk, and sugar in a pot until warm but not boiling.
2. Whisk egg yolks in a bowl, then slowly add some warm cream mixture to yolks.
3. Pour egg mixture back into pot and cook over low heat until thickened (about 170°F/77°C).
4. Stir in cocoa powder and espresso powder until smooth.
5. Chill custard in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
6. Freeze custard in your ice cream maker per instructions.
7. Add chopped chocolate chunks in the last few minutes of churning.

7) Simple No-Cook Vanilla Ice Cream

You can make creamy vanilla ice cream without cooking or eggs. It’s a quick way to enjoy homemade ice cream with simple ingredients.

Start by mixing heavy cream and whole milk with sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then add vanilla extract.

Chill your base in the fridge until cold. Pour it into an ice cream maker and churn until thick.

If you don’t have a machine, freeze the mixture in a shallow container and stir every 30 minutes to prevent ice crystals.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine cream, milk, and sugar in a bowl.
2. Stir until sugar dissolves completely.
3. Add vanilla extract and mix well.
4. Chill the mixture for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
5. Pour into an ice cream maker and churn until thick.
6. Or freeze in a container, stirring every 30 minutes until creamy.

Learn more about easy no-cook vanilla ice cream at The Prairie Homestead.

8) Egg Yolk Custard Ice Cream

Egg yolk custard ice cream is smooth and creamy because of the eggs. Start by heating milk and cream gently.

Whisk egg yolks with sugar until the mix is light and thick. Slowly add warm milk to the yolks while stirring to avoid cooking the eggs.

Cook the mixture on low heat until it coats the back of a spoon. Cool it down before adding vanilla and churning in your ice cream maker.

This method gives you a rich texture and classic vanilla flavor. You can use it as a base for many variations.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 6 large egg yolks
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat milk and cream until warm but not boiling.

2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar until pale and thick.

3. Slowly add warm milk to yolks while stirring.

4. Cook mixture on low heat until it thickens (about 170°F / 77°C).

5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

6. Cool completely, then churn in an ice cream maker.

7. Freeze until firm before serving.

You can find more details on this method at AddaPinch’s Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe.

9) Vegan Coconut Milk Ice Cream

You can make creamy vegan ice cream using coconut milk. It’s a simple recipe that uses a few ingredients but still tastes rich.

The natural fat in coconut milk gives it a nice texture without dairy. Start by blending coconut milk with a sweetener like cane sugar or condensed coconut milk.

Add vanilla for extra flavor. Chill the mixture before churning it in an ice cream maker.

If you don’t have a machine, freeze it and stir every 30 minutes to keep it smooth.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (14 oz each) full-fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup organic cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of sea salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Chill the coconut milk cans in the fridge overnight.

2. In a bowl, whisk coconut milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth.

3. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and churn per the machine’s instructions.

4. Transfer to a container and freeze for at least 4 hours at 0°F (-18°C).

5. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, freeze the mixture and stir every 30 minutes for 3-4 hours.

For more details, see this vegan coconut milk ice cream recipe.

10) No Machine Strawberry Ice Cream

You can make strawberry ice cream without an ice cream machine. This recipe uses just a few simple ingredients.

First, whip heavy cream until it forms soft peaks. Mix in sweetened condensed milk and chopped ripe strawberries.

Add vanilla extract if you want more flavor. Once everything is combined, put the mixture into a container and freeze it.

Stir it every hour or two for the first few hours to keep it creamy. After about 6 hours, your strawberry ice cream is ready.

Ingredients

• 2 cups ripe strawberries, chopped
• 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Whip the heavy cream until it forms soft peaks.

2. Fold in the sweetened condensed milk. Add the vanilla extract.

3. Gently mix in the chopped strawberries.

4. Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container.

5. Freeze for 6 hours. Stir every 1-2 hours.

6. Serve and enjoy.