Smooth and creamy vanilla ice cream that tastes just like the old-fashioned ice cream you get at a fancy ice cream parlor! Load up this easy ice cream with all your favorite ice cream toppings!
It’s FRIDAY, FRIDAY eat-ice-cream-til-you-die day.
Die from happiness, that is. And I can tell you firsthand that it has been done before. I pretty much died within seconds after my first taste of this beyond-all-compare vanilla ice cream.
My family was recently complaining that I NEVER make homemade ice cream enough and that summertime is make-and-eat-ice-cream-every-single-day time.
That’s my family for you in a nutshell. Weirdos.
Well after that conversation went down, it dawned on me that A: It’s August now. B: I let National Ice Cream month slip through my fingers without sharing a single ice cream recipe with you guys.
Bringing us to C: That’s just sadness. And therefore, I am apologizing from the bottom of my ice-cream-loving heart how sorry I am for not participating in the best month of the year.
It is definitely time for some catch-up. Heeeeeere we go. 😀
We’re going all the way back to the classics today folks, with pretty much the most basic ice cream on the planet.
I know, I know, everyone and their brother claims to have a “foolproof” and “best-ever” homemade vanilla ice cream recipe, but today I’m sharing my take on vanilla IC that just so happens to be foolproof and pretty much the best vanilla ice cream out there.
P.S. I haven’t tried EVERY single version of vanilla ice cream yet, but I’m just being realistic here. 😉
This ice cream is just about as simple and classic as it gets, people. No fancy tricks. No weird ingredients. There aren’t even any eggs in this ice cream either, keeping the calories waaaaay lower than most vanilla ice creams. (I purposely left the eggs out for this reason AND because I dislike an “eggy” flavor in my ice cream)
But it yields the PERFECT scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream every time.
Super-smooth and creamy. Spot-on vanilla flavor. Oh-so cold and refreshing. Basically EVERYTHING a classic vanilla ice cream should be. Definitely no ho-hum flavors here!
This ice cream reminds me of gourmet ice cream parlor ice cream. You know, those places that have a million flavors to choose from, but always have an absolutely perfect vanilla ice cream that tastes like a piece of frozen heaven.
That also always comes with a pretty hefty pricetag too. Ouch.
Good news, people! You don’t have to break the bank, just to get a perfect scoop of vanilla ice cream. All you’ll need is an ice cream maker, 5 ingredients, and a few minutes of your time.
Sounds like an EPIC way to spend a muggy-hot August afternoon, if you ask me. 😉
Oh, and do NOT forget the toppings on this ice cream. The sky’s the LIMIT as far as ice cream toppings go. Me? I’m usually up for either a fresh, fruity topping or something totally decadent and preferably chocolate-y covering my 1000 scoops of ice cream.
Heck, let’s just pile it BOTH on!
P.S. Hot fudge sauce recipe coming soon. 😀
Trust me when I say you’re gonna want to lick your bowl clean. Possibly even going back for another scoop or 20.
It’s Friday, so I say GO FOR IT!
Classic Vanilla Ice Cream
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Ingredients
- 2 cups milk divided
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2/3 cup xylitol or sugar
- 2-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk 1-1/2 cups milk, cream, and xylitol (or sugar) until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk remaining 1/2 cup milk and cornstarch until smooth. Add to saucepan mixture, whisking until combined.
- Bring milk mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool slightly, then transfer to a 2 qt container and let chill until completely cold, several hours. (or overnight)
- Once mixture is cold, transfer to an ice cream maker. Churn ice cream according to manufacturers directions.
- Transfer churned ice cream back to container and let freeze until solid before serving. (about 3 hours)
Notes
P.S. My family gave this ice cream their stamp of approval by eating all of it and only saving me one tiny scoop. WAAAHH.
Looking for more ways to beat the heat? Gotcha’ covered!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
Vanilla ice cream is so good! I love the simple ingredients here! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Such beautiful pictures Sarah! I’d love a bowl of this ice cream!
Sarah says
Thanks, Christin!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
Wow Sarah this ice-cream looks AH-MAZING! I love you sentence “It’s Friday… eat-ice-cream-tip-you-die day”… hahhahaha! I TOTALLY agree with you!! But, lets have ice-cream on Saturday and Sunday, too!!!
Sarah says
Hahaha it’s the weekend so I would dare to assume that eating ice cream all weekend is totally appropriate! 😉 Thanks, Olivia!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
Doesn’t everyone do the “eat ice cream til you die thing?”
No? Wierdos.
Oh my goodness Sarah, this ice cream seriously looks gourmet. Being sad just isn’t possible when I’m looking at these photos (A and B are still forgivable too 😉 ) and whoa, so easy! I’m really interested to try ice cream without eggs (maybe do some full fat coconut milk and almond milk instead of heavy cream and milk and make it vegan … experiment time 🙂 ) Happy weekend, my friend!
Sarah says
Mary Frances, you will have to let me know how your experimenting goes! With your talent, I’ll bet you could easily make this ice cream vegan! You go girl! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Sarah, this looks like the best home-made ice cream EVER! Your presentation is so beautiful. And vanilla is one of my favorite flavors. Definitely a classic and so easy to jazz up with some hot fudge or fruit. Pinning!
Sarah says
I love how we’re both on ice cream kicks recently, Gayle! And you’re too sweet, girl! Thanks for the sweet compliments and for the pin!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
It’s NEVER too late for ice cream! I love that vanilla is a blank canvas for piling on the toppings!
Sarah says
“A blank canvas” Oh my gosh, that is the best vanilla ice cream analogy EVER. 🙂
Kelly @ A Side of Sweet says
Hi Sarah! This recipe looks great! It’s always good to have a vanilla ice cream recipe in your back pocket. Thanks so much for stopping by A Side of Sweet. I saw in your about that you’re from southern Wisconsin! I’m originally from the Platteville area, even though I’m living in San Francisco. Small world!
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Kelly! And that’s so cool that you grew up in Platteville! That’s not too far from where I am! I’m about 30 miles south of Madison. 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Haha, I am one of those I could eat ice cream every single day and vanilla is my favorite 🙂 Yours looks amazing, I would love a big bowl of this 🙂
Sarah says
Ikr? It’s totally normal to have ice cream every day…right?! 😉
Tash says
Haha! This made me giggle, your family sound amazing!! I wish I had an ice cream maker…I can’t stop admiring the Vanilla-y gourmetness…
Great photo’s.
Tash x
Sarah says
Thanks, Tash! You definitely need to get your hands on an ice cream maker so you can try this ice cream soon! 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
you can never go wrong with a good scoop of vanilla ice cream. looks delicious, wish it was hot enough here to justify having some.. shame its winter in australia!
Sarah says
I keep forgetting that it’s totally the other way around over in Australia! I wouldn’t let winter stop me from making ice cream though! I’d just have bundle up real good. LOL.
Isadora says
This ice cream recipe really does sound easy and foolproof! Vanilla ice cream really is the best flavor because then you can dress it up with all kinds of yumminess like chocolate sauce and raspberries! I wish I had a gallon of this in my freezer right now! I don’t think it would last very long around here 🙂
Sarah says
I’m kinda wishing I had a gallon of this ice cream leftover in my freezer too, but NO such luck with such ice cream greedys around here! LOL.
Jackie says
Almost nothing is more satisfying than the classic vanilla ice cream. I’m going to give this recipe a go this weekend. Thanks for sharing it.
Kitchen Stuff says
Classic vanilla is the best! It is a healthy option for an ice cream flavor. My parents can now eat ice cream with this one. I just have to remove the add-ons like chocolates and strawberries.
Elaina D'Agostino says
I agree that the sky’s the limit when choosing ice cream toppings, and I love how you go for fruity ones. I’m actually thinking of blueberries and strawberries right now. But a banana split is also nice. I’m going to an ice cream shop later, and checking what my options are. https://www.thomasicecreamcafe.com/