Easy Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe No Eggs Required

When the heat is on, this Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream recipe is the perfect way to cool down. I recently got a new ice cream maker and have been making ice cream of all flavors non-stop. After several attempts to find the PERFECT vanilla ice cream, I finally found one I absolutely love. It’s an easy and simple base recipe that is perfect to add any kind of mix-in that you would like. This recipe is one I adapted from the Food Network (I wish I could take credit for it but I can’t).

Ingredients in Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

This homemade vanilla ice cream recipe is so easy to make and comes together with just a few simple ingredients! No eggs, no custard, no messing with complicated temperatures. Just easy, creamy goodness. Here’s what you need:

Half-and-half – for this recipe you’ll need about two cups Heavy whipping cream – one cup of heavy cream. You stir in whole milk if the cream mixture seems to thick. Sugar – you’ll need three quarters of a cup + 2 tablespoons. Vanilla bean – one vanilla pod, split and scraped. You can also use vanilla bean paste and a little extra vanilla extract for deeper vanilla flavor. Dash of salt – optional

Getting the Ice Cream Mixture Ready

Before you start to churn the mixture in the ice cream maker, you’ll need to spend a little time at the stove. In a medium saucepan combine all the ingredients and start whisking over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a low simmer. As soon as you see a bubble hit the surface, remove it from the heat. Do NOT let it boil. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Remove the hull of the vanilla bean pod, pour the mixture into a lidded container and refrigerate overnight to mellow the flavors and texture.

Instructions for the Ice Cream Maker

Any ice cream maker works for this recipe. Just make sure to follow the unit’s instructions. A couple of notes to remember:

The mixture will not freeze completely hard in the machine. Once the volume has increased by about half and reached a soft serve consistency, scoop into a bowl with a lid or a loaf pan and harden in the freezer. Try to freeze it for at least an hour before serving. We did ours overnight and it was perfect.

Adding Flavors and Mix-Ins

Although this vanilla ice cream stands on its own, you can always add a variety of mix-ins to, well, mix it up. Crushed up cookies, pieces of candy, fruit, you name it. When it comes to adding them in, there’s really no right amount of specific items to add. Experiment. Have fun. You’ll find the flavors that are right for you and your family. Try some of these add-ins:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Fresh raspberries Strawberries Oreo cookies Chocolate Chips Sprinkles Peaches Blueberries Chocolate sauce Caramel sauce

What to Serve with Ice Cream

Try using homemade ice cream over brownies or inside these Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches for a delicious flavor and texture. The next time you make Traditional Homemade Apple Pie or our Pecan Pie, why not serve it a la mode? And when you enjoy the rich flavor of this Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake, ice cream on the side makes it even better.