Making homemade ice cream is a delightful process, and you can customize it with your favorite flavors. Here's a basic recipe for vanilla ice cream:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream - 1 cup whole milk - 3/4 cup granulated sugar - Pinch of salt - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, salt, and vanilla extract until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until thoroughly chilled. Chilling the mixture helps the ice cream freeze faster and creates a smoother texture.
3. Once the mixture is chilled, pour it into your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can still make ice cream by pouring the mixture into a shallow dish and placing it in the freezer. Every 30 minutes, remove the dish from the freezer and stir the mixture vigorously to break up any ice crystals. Repeat this process until the ice cream reaches the desired consistency.
4. If using an ice cream maker, churn the mixture until it thickens and resembles soft-serve ice cream, typically about 20-25 minutes.
5. Transfer the churned ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2-4 hours, or until firm.
6. Once the ice cream is fully frozen, scoop it into bowls or cones and serve immediately. You can also store any leftovers in the freezer for later enjoyment.
7. Optionally, you can garnish your homemade vanilla ice cream with toppings such as fresh fruit, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, chopped nuts, or sprinkles.
Enjoy your creamy homemade vanilla ice cream! Feel free to experiment with different flavors by adding mix-ins like chocolate chips, fruit purees, or cookie crumbles during the churning process.
