Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (Easy & Homemade)

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If there’s one ice cream flavor that is ubiquitous across the country and the world at large, it has to be the Vanilla Ice Cream. So, on this post of mine, I have shared a simple eggless recipe of the same that results in a creamy, soft and delightful vanilla ice cream. This step-by-step procedure will help you churn the best product of this quintessential ice cream flavor at home. The recipe has minimal ingredients and the ones that won’t get you stressed while you are sourcing them too. You’ve got to try it!

vanilla ice cream garnished with chocolate shavings and served in a glass bowl with text layover.

About Vanilla Ice Cream

Come summers, come the array of ice creams and other similar cold/frozen sweet dishes that especially the Indian cuisine houses.

Since summers and ice creams are synonymous, then why not have the perfect recipe for a classic Vanilla Ice Cream as well!? This post is just that.

Most of us like to have ice creams or Kulfi during summers. And when it comes to ice creams, the undefeated champion is the Vanilla Ice Cream.

Why? Because it is simple and basic. So, can be easily jazzed up to something really fancy as well and made into a complete, good-looking dessert itself.

Before I go more into the details of this recipe, here’s some more scoop on the Vanilla Ice Cream.

Till the 1760s, none of the ice cream recipes featured vanilla as the common flavoring. It was considered as rare as any other fancy food stuff or ingredient.

According to food historians, it is believed that the famous American philosopher and statesman Thomas Jefferson can be regarded as the ‘father of the Vanilla Ice Cream’ in USA.

He came across the flavor in France, after which he introduced the recipe to the Unites States of America. He also had his version of the recipe for Vanilla Ice Cream.

The popularity of Vanilla Ice Cream reached its peak by the early 19th century, when this ice cream flavor was touted as the most common one.   

About My Recipe

With ingredients like full fat milk or full cream milk, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, cream and cornstarch (cornflour), this recipe of Vanilla Ice Cream demonstrates the basic method of preparing an eggless version.

For making this Vanilla Ice Cream, a custard is prepared first. Whipped cream is folded in the custard and then kept to freeze. There are other variations too, with some being very quick and some taking time.

In this Vanilla Ice Cream recipe, no ice cream maker is used. You just need a good electric blender.

You can also check this quick, easy, no churn and another no ice cream maker recipe of the vanilla flavored Ice Cream Recipe made with just 3 ingredients.

Since it is very hot at my area of stay, the Vanilla Ice Cream would begin to melt as soon as I would serve or take pictures.

I tried a lot of times to get a neat frozen ice cream picture. But the temperature was very unforgiving. Thus, ended up with what you see on this post. However, trust me, the taste is just on-point.

You can serve the Vanilla Ice Cream plain or topped with a chocolate or caramel sauce. You can also serve the ice cream with fruits like chopped mangoes, a mix of fruits and berries, dry fruits and nuts.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Vanilla Ice Cream

Prep and Make Custard Sauce

1. Before you begin, set the temperature in the refrigerator to its highest cold setting.

Then, in a small bowl, take 2 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Easily swap cornstarch with arrowroot flour and rice flour.

milk and cornstarch added to a bowl.

2. Mix to a smooth paste.

cornstarch and milk mixed to a smooth paste.

3. In a saucepan or pan, take 1.5 cups full cream milk or full-fat milk.

full cream milk added in a pan.

4. Add ½ cup sugar.

adding sugar to milk.

5. Keep this pan on the stovetop and begin to heat it. Stir, so that the sugar dissolves.

heating the sugar-milk mixture.

6. When the milk becomes slightly hot, add the cornstarch paste gradually.

adding prepared cornstarch paste to hot milk in pan.

7. Stir quickly, so that lumps are not formed.

cornstarch paste stirred quickly into the milk.

8. Simmer on low to medium heat till the milk thickens. Stir often while the milk is thickening, so that the milk does not get browned or burnt from the base.

simmering milk mixture.

9. The custard sauce should coat the back of a spoon.

custard sauce coating the back of the spoon.

10. Take this custard sauce mixture in a bowl and allow it to become warm or cool. Then, keep covered in the freezer for 45 minutes to an hour.

prepared custard sauce for vanilla ice cream.

11. Remove from the freezer. Change the temperature setting of your refrigerator back to the earlier one.

chilled custard sauce.

12. With an electric beater, beat on a medium to high speed for 1 to 2 minutes. You can also beat in a blender or mixer jar.

beating custard sauce.

13. Beat the custard sauce very well.

beaten custard sauce.

Whip Fresh Cream

14. In another bowl, take 200 ml (about ¾ cup) cold or chilled fresh cream.

You can use heavy whipping cream having 36% fat and above. Even malai (cream that floats on top of milk or clotted cream} can be used.

Remember that the cream or malai has to chilled or cold.

chilled fresh cream added in a bowl.

15. Begin to whip the cream on medium to high speed.

whipping cream.

16. Whip till you get soft peaks.

 cream whipped till soft peaks.

17. Add 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract. Here, I used homemade vanilla extract. You can also add scraped seeds from 1 or 2 vanilla beans.

vanilla extract added to whipped cream.

Make Vanilla Ice Cream

18. Add the whisked custard sauce to the whipped cream-vanilla mixture.

beaten custard sauce added to whipped cream.

19. Fold gently and lightly, taking care that the ice cream mixture holds the volume and does not fall flat.

mixing custard sauce in the whipped cream mixture.

20. Here’s the Vanilla Ice Cream mixture ready to go in the freezer. Cover the bowl tightly with a lid, aluminium foil or cling film. Keep in the freezer.

vanilla ice cream mixture ready to be frozen.

21. When the ice cream is semi-set after 4 to 5 hours, remove and whip again very well in the same bowl. I did not take picture of this step as I whipped the ice cream in the night.

Again, cover tightly and keep the ice cream in the freezer till it is completely set. The picture below is that of ice cream after it is set. If you want a smoother texture, you can whip twice or thrice too.

set vanilla ice cream.

22. When the ice cream is well set, scoop and serve Vanilla Ice Cream in bowls or plates.

You can top the ice cream with any sauce (chocolate or caramel) or fruits or serve it plain. You can even garnish with chocolate sprinklers or chocolate chips.

vanilla ice cream scoops served in 2 glass bowls.

Expert Tips

  1. Cream: For the cream, you can use any one of these – whipping cream or heavy cream with 36% fat and above. Make sure to use whole milk or full cream milk for this ice cream recipe. This is how you will achieve a creamy and soft-textured ice cream.
  2. Temperature: Ensure setting the temperature of your refrigerator to the highest cold setting before beginning with the process of making the ice cream. Also make sure the cream is cold or chilled before you whip it.
  3. Vanilla: If you don’t have vanilla extract, you can also scrape the seeds from 1 to 2 vanilla beans and use it for the recipe. Even vanilla powders works well.
  4. Texture: To get a smoother texture in the ice cream, whip the mixture twice or thrice once the ice cream is semi-frozen.
  5. Thickening Substitutes: In place of cornstarch (cornflour), use rice flour or arrowroot flour or tapioca starch.
  6. Vegan Swaps: In place of whipping cream, use non-dairy cream or non-dairy whipping cream; in place of dairy milk, you can use almond milk or any of your preferred plant based milk.

More Ice Creams To Try!

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vanilla ice cream recipe, eggless vanilla ice cream recipe

Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (Easy & Homemade)

Creamy, soft, delicious recipe of the classic Vanilla Ice Cream made without eggs. The recipe is made with a blend of a homemade custard sauce and whipped cream, which are folded, mixed and later frozen.
4.77 from 13 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine World
Course Desserts
Diet Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 4
Units

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons milk – full cream milk or whole milk
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 to 2 vanilla beans
  • ½ cup sugar or add as per taste
  • 200 ml cream whipping or heavy, about ¾ cup cream – 36% fat and above

Instructions
 

Making custard sauce

  • Before you begin, set the temperature in your fridge to its highest cold setting.
    In a small bowl, take 2 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoons cornstarch.
  • In a saucepan or pan, take 1.5 cups full cream milk or whole milk. Add ½ cup sugar.
  • Keep this pan on the stovetop and begin to heat it. Stir so that the sugar dissolves.
  • When the milk becomes slightly hot, add the cornstarch paste gradually.
  • Stir quickly so that lumps are not formed.
  • Simmer on a low to medium heat, till the milk thickens.
  • The custard sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
  • Take the custard sauce in a bowl and allow it to become warm or cool down. Later keep in the freezer for 45 minutes to an hour.
  • Remove from the fridge. Change the temperature setting of your fridge back to the earlier one.
  • With an electric beater, beat the custard sauce till it increases a bit in volume. Beat on a medium to high speed for 1 to 2 minutes.

Whipping cream

  • In another bowl, take about the heavy cream or whipping cream.
  • Begin to whip the cream on medium to high speed. Whip till you get soft peaks.
  • Add the vanilla extract. Here I used homemade vanilla extract. You can also add seeds from 1 or 2 vanilla beans.

Making vanilla ice cream

  • Then add whisked cornstarch thickened milk to the whipped cream.
  • Fold lightly taking care that the ice cream mixture holds the volume and does not fall flat.
  • Cover the bowl tightly with a lid or aluminium foil or cling film. Keep in the freezer.
  • When the ice cream is semi-set or semi-frozen after 4 to 5 hours, remove and whip again very well in the same bowl.
    Cover again tightly and keep in the freezer for the ice cream to set.
  • When the vanilla ice cream is well set, scoop and serve in bowls or plates. You can top the ice cream with any syrup or fruits or serve it as is.

Notes

Substitutions

  • Cornstarch – Swap with rice flour, tapioca starch, arrowroot flour. Mix to a smooth paste with 2 tablespoons of milk.
  • Cream – Malai or clotted cream that floats on top of the milk can be used. 
  • Dairy milk – Almond milk or any preferred plant based milk.
  • Fresh cream – Non-dairy cream or non-dairy whipping cream.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (Easy & Homemade)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 257 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 40mg13%
Sodium 48mg2%
Potassium 185mg5%
Carbohydrates 34g11%
Fiber 0.04g0%
Sugar 30g33%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 417IU8%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.1mg7%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.2mg12%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 0.1mg1%
Vitamin B6 0.1mg5%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 0.3mg2%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 143mg14%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 1µg0%
Iron 0.1mg1%
Magnesium 15mg4%
Phosphorus 116mg12%
Zinc 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Vanilla Ice Cream from the archives, originally published in May 2015 has been updated and republished on February 2023.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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