When summer approaches and the temperatures start going up, we really start craving homemade ice cream. That ice cream maker has been sitting in the cabinet for way too long, collecting dust, waiting for the opportunity to mix up some new and fun flavors.
Well, it’s time to get churning again! Below we’ve got a collection of some amazing homemade ice cream recipes for the ice cream maker. There’s even one for olive oil ice cream, which you absolutely MUST try to believe. It’s so delicious.
» For more great dessert ideas try this No-Bake Oreo Cheesecake or Salted Caramel Apple Crisp.
The three of us here at A Food Lover’s Kitchen were debating which was our favorite.
- Angela chose the Peach Ice Cream because it reminds her of childhood.
- Jillian chose Cherry Mascarpone.
- I’m sticking with the Olive Oil.
How Long Does It Take to Make Ice Cream?
In an ice cream maker, it takes around 20-45 minutes to churn ice cream. This is assuming you’ve already frozen the bowl, which alone can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. If you’re planning to make ice cream in the next day, be sure to put yours in the freeze right now!
Once you place the ice cream mixture into the bowl and started the machine, it takes about 20 minutes for the ice cream to churn and thicken. At this point, you can add extras, like fruit or candy, and continue to churn it to thicken and harden even more.
There is a point at which it’s gotten as hard as it will get and continual churning won’t do any more good. After 40 minutes, the drum will have heated up enough that it won’t continue to freeze the ice cream.
How to Get the Best Results From Your Ice Cream Maker
- Always ensure the bowl is thoroughly dry before freezing.
- Keep the bowl upright in the freezer.
- Ensure your ingredients are refrigerated before making your ice cream.
- Use high quality, high fat ingredients.
- Don’t over churn the ice cream.
- Refrain from using alcohol or liquid ingredients in your recipes, this will inhibit the freezing process.
How to Make Homemade Ice Cream
The easiest way to make homemade ice cream is in an ice cream maker. There are many different types. If you don’t have one already, we recommend one that doesn’t require rock salt.
Most modern ice cream makers, like the ones from Cuisinart, only require you to pre-freeze the bowl (we just keep ours in the freeze all the time), and then you can whip up ice cream in just 20 minutes.
When making ice cream in an ice cream maker like the one above, there are just four steps.
- Mix up your recipe (no more than 4 cups total). It’s best when the mix is chilled before pouring into the machine.
- Take the pre-frozen bowl out of the freezer and put it on the machine. Cover it with the plastic guard. Turn it on.
- Pour the mix into the bowl as it’s churning.
- Check it after 20 minutes. Add any extra at this stage, just before the ice cream is firm enough.
The ice cream is done when it’s firm and set. It can take up to 40 minutes for some recipes. It also varies based on how cold the ingredients were when you added them.
What Ice Cream Maker to Use
If you don’t already have one, you’re probably wondering what homemade ice cream maker to use. I recommend the Cuisinart ICE 1.5-Quart or the larger Cusinart ICE 2-Quart. I’ve used both, but I’m currently using the larger one so we have bigger batches of ice cream each time. It’s very easy to use and it doesn’t take up much space in the kitchen.
Basic Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
So many recipes start with a good vanilla ice cream base. Then you can add any fruit or additions you wish to the base. Here is a super easy and quick vanilla ice cream recipe to make in your ice cream maker.
- 3/4cupsugar
- 1cupwhole milk
- 1/4teaspoonsalt
- 5egg yolks
- 2cupshalf and half
- 3/4teaspoonhigh-quality vanilla
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk,salt, and half the sugar. Stir the mixture constantly as you bring it just to a simmer (do not boil). Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl,whisktogether the egg yolks and remaining sugar just until combined.
- To temper the eggs, slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk mixture in a drizzle into the egg mixture. Do this slowly so as not to cook the eggs.
- Pour the entire egg mixture back into the saucepan with the milk mixture. Simmer over medium heat, about 3-5 minutes. Do not boil the mixture.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let cool.
- Pour the cooled custard mixture into a chilled bowl and refrigerate for about two hours until cold. To avoid putting the hot mixture in the refrigerator, you can chill the bowl over another bowl filled with ice for 10-15 minutes to cool it down first.
- When you’re ready to churn the ice cream, add the half and half and vanilla to the custard mixture. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker. Churn until the ice cream is thick, per your ice cream maker’s instructions.
» Don’t have an ice cream maker? No Problem! Try this No-Churn Dulce de Leche Ice Cream.
50 Creative Ice Cream Recipes
Here are 50 super creative and delicious ice cream recipes you can make in your ice cream maker. These recipes were compiled from expert recipe creators. Click through to see the full recipe.
If you’ve made ice cream at home before, you know that sometimes things can go wrong, even when you’ve done everything right. Here is a guide for troubleshooting any issues that might arise while making these ice creams.
Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
This Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is an ice cream lovers dream, with just the right amount of mint flavor and little bits of chocolate.
See the recipe
Peaches & Cream Ice Cream
This Peaches & Cream Ice Cream combines delicious fresh peaches with creamy vanilla ice cream to make a delightful peach dessert.
See the recipe
Homemade Blueberry Ice Cream
This homemade blueberry ice cream is made with fresh blueberries, sugar, and half and half to make a creamy deliciously scoopable homemade ice cream that's incredibly flavorful.
See the recipe
Winter White Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream
It's a deliciously creamy white chocolate ice cream with chunks of chocolate covered cherries.
See the recipe
Creamy Popcorn Ice Cream
Popcorn Ice Cream is one of the most unique homemade ice cream flavors you'll probably ever try. It's incredibly creamy, but with a lightly salty and sweet flavor and that buttered popcorn taste you love to snack on.
See the recipe
Chardonnay Ice Cream With Tropical Fruit
This homemade Chardonnay ice cream uses a custard-style base (with eggs) to make a creamy deliciously scoopable homemade ice cream that's topped with tropical fruit for an extra boost of flavor.
See the recipe
Oreo Cookie Ice Cream
This Oreo Cookie Ice Cream is creamy delicious vanilla ice cream with mixed in chunks of Oreo cookies.
See the recipe
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
This homemade vanilla ice cream uses a custard-style base to make a creamy deliciously scoopable homemade ice cream.
See the recipe
Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream
If you love that blend of vanilla and orange-flavored ice cream, you're going to flip over this homemade Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream. It uses a custard-style base (with eggs) to make a creamy deliciously scoopable homemade ice cream that's just as good as in your childhood memories.
See the recipe
Homemade Pistachio Almond Ice Cream
This Homemade Pistachio Almond Ice Cream uses a custard-style base (with eggs) to make a deliciously creamy scoopable pistachio ice cream.
See the recipe
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
This Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is a custard based ice cream made in the ice cream maker.
See the recipe
Pear Ice Cream
This delicious Pear Ice Cream combines Bartlett pear puree and candied pears in an easy-to-make vanilla ice cream base that's super creamy and smooth. It's a revelation!
See the recipe
Homemade Birthday Cake Ice Cream
This Birthday Cake Ice Cream is made with a simple vanilla base, with chunks of yellow cake and colorful birthday sprinkles mixed in.
See the recipe
Raspberry Swirl and Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
The classic combination of luscious raspberry sauce swirled into vanilla ice cream and mixed with chocolate chunks makes this custard-base ice cream a must try.
Stroopwafel Ice Cream with Bourbon & Caramel
Stroopwafel Ice Cream comes fully loaded with hints of bourbon, a river of caramel sauce and chunks of stroopwafel throughout. If you’ve never had it before, stroopwafel is two layers of crispy cooked waffle sandwiched together with a caramel syrup in the middle. They come from the Netherlands, but can be purchased everywhere.
Chocolate Malted Crunch Ice Cream
This Chocolate Malted Crunch Ice Cream is so rich and chocolatey, with a hint of malt flavor, and lots of crunchy bits from the Whoppers candies.
See the recipe
Chocolate Ice Cream with Ceylon Cinnamon
The fruity flavor of natural cocoa and dark chocolate plays against the spicy fragrant Ceylon cinnamon in a match-made-in-heaven kind of way for a wonderful homemade ice cream.
Black Sesame Ice Cream (Japanese Kurogoma)
Black sesame ice cream has a sweet and nutty flavour that is so tasty and refreshing. You can make this with or without an ice cream maker.
Lemon Basil Cookie Crunch Ice Cream
Perfect for warm weather, this lemon basil cookie crunch ice cream is a summer dream. This lemon basil ice cream is soft, creamy and full of delicious lemon cookie chunks for a little crunch.
Rose Ice Cream
This Rose Ice Cream is easy to make and combines the floral taste of rose with fresh cream. This is definitely a traditional English version based on the old-fashioned roses in the garden.
Graham Cracker Ice Cream Recipe
Loaded with graham crackers, chocolate chips and Buncha Crunch, this graham cracker ice cream will have you wondering where it has been all of your life.
Coconut Macadamia Nut Ice Cream
If you love Hawaii and ice cream, then you are probably going to fall head over heels for this easy Coconut Macadamia Nut Ice Cream recipe. This creamy, easy ice cream has buttery macadamia nut flavor and there are chunks of chopped nuts in each bite.
Cherry Mascarpone Ice Cream
Embrace fresh summer cherries and rich mascarpone in this creamy ice cream that’s perfect for a treat on a hot day with its mild, fresh fruit flavor that balances with the cheese for a sweet, creamy treat.
Apple Pie Ice Cream
Ice cream is not only for summer, it can be perfect for fall too! This Apple Pie Ice Creamhaseverything you want for the season. Tender apples, warm spices, buttery pie crust & creamy ice cream.
Piña Colada Ice Cream Recipe
Turn your favorite frozen drink into tropical Piña Colada Ice Cream! Loads of coconut and pineapple will have you feeling like you are on vacation.
Hokey Pokey Ice Cream – Honeycomb Ice Cream Recipe
Have you heard of Hokey Pokey Ice Cream? This is a honeycomb ice cream recipe all the way from New Zealand. You’ll be hooked at the first lick!
Honey-Lavender Ice Cream With Peach Compote
While this honey-lavender ice cream sounds extra fancy, it couldn’t be simpler to make. With its floral notes and optional peach compote topping, its the perfect ice cream to take you through the summer months.
Olive Oil Ice Cream
This olive oil ice cream has the perfect combination of quality ingredients giving an incredible delicate, smooth, silky-like texture, and an exquisite, unforgettable taste.
Chunky Elvis Ice Cream
Chunky Elvis Ice Cream, an easy homemade ice cream recipe with bananas, honey, peanut butter, and bacon! Fun summer dessert!
Coconut Mango Ice Cream
Ripe mangoes make the best homemade ice cream and if you like tropical ice cream flavors, this coconut mango ice cream is for you. A delicious mango ice cream recipe made with an ice cream maker is the only way to get that fresh churned flavor.
Pistachio Ice Cream
This is an easy Pistachio Ice Cream made in an ice cream maker with just 4 ingredients. Freshly ground pistachios are the star of this ice cream.
Caramel Corn Ice Cream with Vanilla Goat Milk Caramel Swirl
Caramel Corn Ice Cream has such fantastic flavor with a subtle taste of corn with brown butter notes, swirled around with Vanilla Goat’s Milk Caramel
Cherry Almond Amaretto Crunch
If you’re an ice cream lover and an almond lover, you’re going to swoon for this amaretto ice cream with cherries and toasted almonds. Cherry Amaretto Crunch Ice Cream is creamy and lush with chewy bits and satisfying crunch.
Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream
Copycat Ben & Jerry’s with cinnamon ice cream and oatmeal cookie chunks!
Butter Brickle Ice Cream with Homemade Toffee
Butter Brickle Ice cream made with Homemade Toffee. Rich, buttery and creamy. The perfect dessert for summer! Cream is sweet with a hint of caramel with lot’s of crunch from the toffee bits.
Cuisinart Chocolate Ice Cream
Chocolate is a classic ice cream flavor. You can find it in every grocery store or ice cream shop around the world and people have enjoyed it for centuries. You might think store-bought is pretty
Cuisinart Vanilla Ice Cream
The Cuisinart Vanilla Ice Cream recipe is so easy that there is no excuse not to have some in your freezer at all times!
Sugar-Free Strawberry Ice Cream
Sugar-Free Strawberry Ice Cream is a quick, effortless, deliciously creamy homemade ice cream that is just right to bring a smile to your face.
Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream
This recipe features creamy vanilla bean custard that is swirled with a fresh cherry compote and spun in a home ice cream maker. It's one of our all time favorite ice cream recipes and one of Summer's best cold treats!
Ube Ice Cream Recipe
Ube Ice Cream is a fun and colorful dessert! This Ube Ice Cream Recipe is easy to make and has a unique flavor everyone will love.
Passion Fruit Ice Cream
This easy homemade churned Passion Fruit Ice Cream is so fresh and creamy with a delicious tangy and sweet flavor. It is the perfect frozen dessert to enjoy on a hot day!
Homemade Biscoff Ice Cream
This recipe for homemade Biscoff ice cream will satisfy any sweet tooth craving. It's made with just simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
Chocolate Mint Marshmallow Ice Cream
Dark chocolate frozen custard flavored with mint with a marshmallow creme swirl and chocolate cookie crumbs. Inspired by a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, this Chocolate Mint Marshmallow Ice Cream hits all the right notes!
Stout Chocolate Pretzel Ice Cream
This rich and creamy beer ice cream is inspired by Häagen-Dazs’® stout chocolate pretzel ice cream. It’s a perfect Game Day dessert!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Rich and creamy peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream requires no baking, no eggs, and is whipped up in around 20 minutes – aside from chill time!
lemon verbena ice cream
Make this creamy Lemon Verbena Ice Cream in advance and it’s one of the lightest yet easy French desserts to produce at the last minute. Goes perfectly with peaches, apricots, raspberries or figs.
Berry Cheesecake Ice Cream
This easy ice cream tastes just like cheesecake, with a creamy, tangy base and a berry swirl. Graham cracker crumbs add a sweet crunch!
Homemade Crème Brûlée Ice Cream
This Homemade Crème Brûlée Ice Cream transforms the French Classic dessert into this tasty treat. Using a vanilla bean custard base, the ice cream is mixed with crunchy caramel pieces that give it the signature taste of the burnt caramel we all know and love from a traditional crème brûlée dessert.
Old Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
This easy vanilla ice cream recipe is a classic custard base infused with fresh vanilla beans, vanilla extract and a splash of bourbon. It's our simple, go-to recipe made in our handy-dandy ice cream maker.
Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream (Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream Copycat!)
This gooey butter cake ice cream has a brown butter and cream cheese base with chunks of pound cake! The flavor is inspired by one of our favorite ice creams at the legendary Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams!
Butter Pecan Ice Cream Recipe
This butter pecan ice cream is sweet, creamy, silky smooth and so delicious! Great for birthdays, summer parties, and more.
Homemade Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
Put those fresh summer cherries to use for this Homemade Cherry Garcia Ice Cream! This recipe has instructions to make it with an ice cream maker or as no churn ice cream, both ways make a creamy dreamy copycat of a classic!
Homemade Raspberry Rhubarb Ice Cream
Enjoy a refreshing summer treat with this Homemade Raspberry Rhubarb Ice Cream! This colorful and creamy recipe is made with fresh rhubarb, juicy raspberries and real cream, creating a sweet and tart flavor unlike any other.
Tips For Making Ice Cream At Home
- Start with a great base! All of our ice cream recipes have one thing in common, this ice cream base. It’s the start of all great ice creams. Once you’ve got this recipe down, all you have to do is add whatever flavoring you like to change it up in 100s of different ways.
- Chill the ice cream mixture over another bowl filled with ice for 10-15 minutes to cool it down. Just get a second bowl that’s similar size or larger than the one your mixture is in. Fill it with ice and set the bowl with the custard over it. When it’s cooled down a bit, refrigerate it for at least two hours, until it’s cold.
- Don’t be afraid to try something new! We had such fun testing out the creamy popcorn ice cream. While there was some trial and error we ended up with a fun new flavor that is really addicting.
- Don’t forget to put your churn bowl in the freezer 24 hours in advance. For most ice cream makers, you have to put the bowl in the freezer at least a day in advance to make sure it is cold enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should the bowl be kept in the freezer before using for the first time?
Before use, the bowl should be placed in the freezer 24 hrs. in advance. Do not remove the bowl until ready to use.
Do the recipe ingredients need to be cold?
Even a built-in freezer model which is off and running at the flick of a switch, needs the custard, base, creams, and anything else you are going to add to be as cold as possible.
Can I make the recipe with milk instead of cream?
The best ice cream is full of flavor thanks to the richness of the ingredients and needs plenty of fat for it to churn well, this is not the time to skimp. Use full-fat milk or double cream whenever possible.
In Conclusion
There are so many fun and unique flavors that go great in ice cream. We just scratched the surface with these recipes. Let your imagination go, dust off the ice cream maker and try a few.
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Laura Lynch
Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes and currently has a cookbook in development.
