It’s summertime! So I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!! And in my house that means fun foods such as homemade ice creams and popsicles get made on a somewhat regular basis.  Although this process requires special equipment, such as your favorite ice cream maker, a quart sized freezer safe storage container, and if you are making popsicles, the popsicle molds, all of this items more than pay for themselves if you make a couple batches of ice cream or popsicles. Not to mention the flavors you can make up, which may not be available in your favorite ice cream shop or grocery store.  

When my family and I moved away from Texas, we could not find Blue Bell ice cream, which was always a family favorite. Over time, by eating healthier foods, we could taste the artificial flavors and preservatives that certain brands used to make their ice cream.  We ended up not liking it as much as we once did.  But with this base recipe, the ice cream tastes like the ice cream of my youth, the Blue Bell that I used to love.  And best of all there are only five ingredients! 

This vanilla ice cream is so simple to make, and is a wonderful base recipe to use when building creamy popsicles (that recipe is coming soon!), eating with fresh berries, or topped with your favorite sauce.

1 c whole milk

3/4 c granulated sugar

Pinch of salt

2 c heavy cream

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Using a hand mixer on low speed, in a large bowl combine the milk, sugar, and salt, until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract.  Cover and refrigerate for an hour.  

When ready to churn the liquid, set up your ice cream maker. Gently stir the ice cream base to combine the flavors and slowly add it to the ice cream maker as directed per the appliance’s directions.  My ice cream maker churns the base in 20-25 minutes*. The ice cream has more of a soft serve consistency, but we prefer it to be harder.  

Place the churned ice cream in a freezer safe container and allow to set up over night.  

Enjoy your ice cream!  It will be amazing, I promise!

*be careful to not over churn your ice cream. If you do, you will have butter!