Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
Experience the rich, velvety texture of a classic custard-based vanilla ice cream made entirely from scratch.
Ingredients
- •2 cups heavy cream (480ml)
- •1 cup whole milk (240ml)
- •3/4 cup granulated sugar (150g)
- •4 large egg yolks
- •1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- •1 pinch fine sea salt
Instructions
- 1
In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, and half of the sugar. Heat over medium heat until the mixture begins to steam, but do not let it reach a boil.
- 2
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the remaining sugar and salt until the mixture is pale and slightly thickened.
- 3
Slowly temper the eggs by adding about half a cup of the hot cream mixture into the yolks, whisking constantly to prevent scrambling.
- 4
Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining cream. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon.
- 5
Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to ensure a smooth texture.
- 6
Cover the surface of the custard directly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely chilled, preferably for at least 4 hours.
- 7
Pour the chilled base into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.
- 8
Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours to firm up before serving.
💡 Chef tips
- For a deeper flavor, scrape the seeds from one whole vanilla bean into the cream while heating instead of using extract.
- Ensure your ice cream maker bowl is frozen for at least 24 hours before starting to guarantee the best churn.
- Store the ice cream in the back of the freezer to prevent temperature fluctuations, and consume within two weeks for the best quality.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished ice cream should be smooth, dense, and creamy with a distinct, aromatic vanilla scent and a perfectly balanced sweetness.