Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

The Recipe Rebel / Desserts

written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 18 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 6 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Servings 6 servings

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Last updated on January 30, 2024

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This Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) is simple recipe made with a custard base for an even richer and creamier result! Just 20 minutes of hands-on time needed!

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (2)

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients Needed:
  • How to Make Frozen Custard
  • Ice Cream FAQs
  • Tips and Notes for Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Ice Cream Add-In Ideas
  • More Ice Cream Recipes You’ll Love
  • Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

This Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, also know as Frozen Custard, is a slightly richer version of my Easy Homemade Ice Cream.

Like the easy ice cream, it’s made with a base of cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla. It does include one secret ingredient, though: egg yolks!

The egg yolks in this recipe help stabilize the ice cream, which results in an even richer flavor! The fat in the egg yolks also helps prevent the formation of ice crystals, so it lasts longer too and won’t melt as quickly.

However, it does take slightly longer to make. Don’t worry though — it’s still pretty simple!

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (3)

Now, both versions are delicious, so if you’re not sure which one you’ll like better, make both! It’s a fun way to know which one to make for next time…and you get to have more ice cream. WIN!

Interestingly enough, my kids prefer the other method while my husband and I prefer the custard method. Both are delicious, but it just depends on your preferences!

We love to serve them with this Strawberry Sauce, this Rhubarb Sauce or this Dulce De Leche.

Ready to move on from vanilla? Try this Butter Pecan Ice Cream or this Rocky Road Ice Cream next!

Ingredients Needed:

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (4)
  • Cream: heavy whipping cream is a definite must for homemade ice cream.
  • Milk: whole milk will give a creamy texture. I don’t recommend using low fat milk because your ice cream will be more watery and icy.
  • Granulated Sugar: you can use anywhere from ¾ cup-1 cup of sugar depending on how sweet you want your ice cream. If you prefer things less sweet, stick with the lower amount.
  • Egg Yolks: using just egg yolk in homemade ice cream creates an extra rich flavor, creamier texture and a more stable ice cream.
  • Vanilla Extract: use pure vanilla extract for that big flavor we all love! You can also use vanilla bean paste or real vanilla bean seeds.

How to Make Frozen Custard

  1. Chill the bowl: Stick the bowl of your ice cream maker into the freezer as instructed in the manual. This usually requires 24 hours so plan ahead.
  2. Combine and cook: Whisk the egg, milk, cream, and sugar together in a large saucepan until smooth. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook until thickened. Stir in the vanilla, then taste and adjust as needed.
  3. Refrigerate: Transfer the mixture to a glass dish and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator until completely cold. Give yourself a few hours for this!
  4. Churn, then freeze: Place the chilled cream mixture into the ice cream maker and churn for 20-30 minutes until it reaches soft serve consistency. Transfer to a baking dish and freeze until firm.
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (5)
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (6)
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (7)
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (8)

Ice Cream FAQs

How is frozen custard different from ice cream?

While frozen custard and ice cream are similar in many ways, they are slightly different. No cook ice cream is made with just cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla and prepared cold, then frozen.
Frozen custard is made using all of those same ingredients, but with the addition of eggs. It’s also prepared in a saucepan and cooked before chilling. Ice cream is more basic, quicker, and easier to make, but tends to be icier and less rich in flavor. Custard is a little more labor intensive, but has a richer, creamier, and more complex flavor. It’s also more stable and doesn’t get melty as quickly out of the freezer.

What makes frozen custard so creamy?

While using full-fat cream and milk help create a creamy homemade ice cream, the real secret to creamy ice cream is the egg! The extra fat in egg yolk helps prevent crystallization and stabilizes the ice cream for a thicker, creamier texture and richer flavor.

How to store frozen custard:

This homemade vanilla Frozen Custard will last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I make this recipe without an ice cream maker?

Definitely! To make this homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker, simply pour the ice cream base into a freezer-safe bowl. Place the bowl into the freezer to chill. Every 30-60 minutes, remove the ice cream from the freezer and beat it with an electric mixer. This helps break up the ice crystals for an extra smooth and creamy ice cream.

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (9)

Tips and Notes for Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

  • Just use yolks. Using just the yolks as opposed to the whole egg creates an even richer flavor and velvety smooth texture.
  • When you cover the mixture with plastic wrap, lay the wrap so it’s just touching the surface of the cream. This helps prevent a skin from forming.
  • Speed up the initial chilling process by placing the cream mixture in the freezer instead of the fridge. Just be sure to stir it every 10 minutes or so!
  • Let it sit. Before serving, I like to set the ice cream out in the counter for 5-10 minutes to let it soften up a bit. This gives an extra creamy texture!

Ice Cream Add-In Ideas

  • Candy. Add in a couple handfuls of your favorite candy! Try M&Ms, mini marshmallows, Reese’s Pieces, or chopped up pieces of any candy bar you like.
  • Cookies. Mix in your favorite crushed up cookie. Try Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, or crushed Oreos.
  • Brownies. Chop up your favorite store-bought or Homemade Brownies for some chocolate-y goodness.
  • Sauces. Swirl in chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or Strawberry Sauce.
  • Nuts. Add a couple handfuls of chopped up walnuts, pecans, almonds, or a swirl of your favorite nut butter.

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Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (14)

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Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 18 votes

This Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream is simple recipe made with a custard base for an even richer and creamier result! Just 20 minutes of hands-on time needed!

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (16)

Save

Review

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Churning and Freezing 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Dessert

Servings 6 servings

Calories 380cal

Ingredients

  • cups heavy whipping cream
  • cups whole milk
  • ¾-1 cup granulated sugar (use more or less according to your tastes)
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Freeze ice cream maker bowl according to instructions.

  • Whisk all ingredients together (except for the vanilla) in a large saucepan until smooth.

  • Place the pan on medium heat, and cook and whisk constantly until thickened. It will be noticeably thickened, but not thick like pudding. Stir in vanilla. Taste and adjust sweetness as desired (if you think it is too sweet, add a splash of cream).

  • Pour into a large glass measuring cup or bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap to the surface to keep a skin from forming.

  • Refrigerate until completely cold (you can speed this up by placing it in the freezer and stirring every 10 minutes).

  • Place in the ice cream maker and churn for 20 minutes or until a soft serve consistency.

  • Pour into a glass loaf pan or baking dish and freeze until firm, about 4-6 hours.

  • I recommend letting sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving. Cover leftovers with plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months.

Notes

*This recipe makes roughly 1 litre of ice cream.

**You can make this recipe without an ice cream maker! Simply pour the ice cream base into a freezer safe bowl and place in the freezer. Every 30-60 minutes, remove the bowl from the freezer and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. This breaks up the ice crystals for a smooth and creamy ice cream.

Tips:

  • Just use yolks. Using just the yolks as opposed to the whole egg creates an even richer flavor and velvety smooth texture.
  • When you cover the mixture with plastic wrap, lay the wrap so it’s just touching the surface of the cream. This helps prevent a skin from forming.
  • Speed up the initial chilling process by placing the cream mixture in the freezer instead of the fridge. Just be sure to stir it every 10 minutes or so!
  • Let it sit. Before serving, I like to set the ice cream out in the counter for 5-10 minutes to let it soften up a bit. This gives an extra creamy texture!

Storage:

This homemade vanilla Frozen Custard will last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 127grams | Calories: 380cal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 204mg | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 165mg | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1147IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 1mg

Keywords frozen custard, homemade ice cream, vanilla ice cream

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Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (17)

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

Read More

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer Dulaney says

    This is delicious ice cream!

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Jennifer! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!

      Reply

  2. Lynette says

    This is a very easy and delicious recipe. This works great in my Cuisinart ice cream machine.

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Lynette! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!

      Reply

  3. Dianne Edwards says

    Can you add melted chocolate or chocolate syrup to make chocolate ice cream?

    Reply

    • Ashley Fehr says

      Yes absolutely! Cocoa powder works great too

      Reply

Leave A Reply

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (frozen custard) - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to creamy ice cream? ›

The trick is never overmix as if you freeze to much the fats coagulate and then the mixture is to fatty . Mix only smooth and then stop . Add your container to freezer and you should have creamy ice cream when frozen .

What are the ingredients in Shake Shack frozen custard? ›

Shack-made frozen custard is packed with milk, cream, real cane sugar and egg yolk for an extra creamy texture. Think of it as ice cream's cooler, fresher sibling.

How to make vanilla ice cream dreamlight valley? ›

To cook the Vanilla Ice Cream recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
  1. 1 Milk.
  2. 1 Vanilla.
  3. 1 Sugarcane.
  4. 1 Slush Ice. Once you've gathered the required ingredients, head to a cooking station and place the above items into the pot - you'll need one piece of coal to start the cooking process.
Jan 25, 2023

What's the difference between frozen custard and frozen ice cream? ›

The main difference between frozen custard and ice cream is that frozen custard is made with egg yolks and ice cream is not, giving the former a richer flavor and mouthfeel. Some ice creams are made with egg yolks, however, which would technically make them custards based on the USDA guidelines.

How to make homemade ice cream soft and fluffy? ›

Sugar, corn syrup or honey, as well as gelatin and commercial stabilizers, can all keep your ice cream at a softer consistency. Ice cream also stays softer when you store it in a shallow container, rather than a deep tub, and cover the surface of the ice cream with plastic wrap to keep ice crystals from forming.

Why is my homemade ice cream not creamy enough? ›

Like everyone else has already pointed out, it could be multiple things:
  1. Not enough fat, i.e. if you use milk in your recipe, you used too much milk and not enough cream. The more milk you use the more icy texture you get. ...
  2. You have water in the recipe. ...
  3. You are not churning it enough.
  4. You have it too cold.
May 11, 2019

What is the difference between frozen custard and Dairy Queen? ›

The major difference between the two is that custard must also contain 1.4% pasteurized egg yolk (per the Food and Drug Administration). The addition of eggs gives it a smooth and creamy texture. (Side note: Some ice cream recipes also contain eggs, however it is not required and they would be LESS THAN 1.4% egg yolk.)

What is Culver's frozen custard made of? ›

Vanilla Frozen Custard [Milk, Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Egg Yolk, Guar Gum, Mono & Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Vanilla Flavor], Pecan Pieces [Vegetable Oil (Peanut, Cottonseed, Soybean and/or Sunflower Seed), Sea Salt], Salted Caramel [Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed ...

What makes Shake Shack frozen custard different from ice cream? ›

The Difference Between Frozen Custard and Ice Cream

An ice cream maker churns air into it to give it a light mouthfeel. Frozen custard is made from milk, cream, and egg yolks. It is produced in a machine that barely incorporates air into it, which means it's more dense than ice cream.

How do I make vanilla ice cream Disney? ›

In order to make Vanilla Ice Cream in Disney Dreamlight Valley, players need slush ice, vanilla, milk, and sugarcane. Although this recipe is a classic, its ingredients can be kinda tricky to obtain, in particular slush ice. Players that have already unlocked slush ice should also try making Coconut Ice Cream.

How to make a dream ice cream? ›

How to Make the Dream Ice Cream
  1. 1 Dreamlight Fruit.
  2. 1 Milk.
  3. 1 Slush Ice.

How do you unlock Eric Dreamlight Valley? ›

How to Unlock Eric. Eric won't be available from the start of the game. Instead, you will need to get both Ursula and Ariel to a level 10 friendship. Upon reaching that level of friendship with Ursula, you'll be able to do a quest where she gives Eric back if you find some dark crystals for her.

Which is healthier frozen custard or ice cream? ›

Brands vary, but vanilla ice-cream typically has about 10 per cent more calories than custard, as well as twice the saturated fat, less protein and half the calcium and potassium. However, ice-cream usually has less sugar and salt, too.

Which is healthier frozen custard or frozen yogurt? ›

Frozen custard uses a minimum of 1.4 percent of egg yolk solids in addition to the 10 percent milk fat of a traditional ice cream. While this is responsible for custard's creamy, thick texture, it does equate to higher calories than a frozen yogurt.

Is frozen custard creamier than ice cream? ›

The difference between ice cream and frozen custard comes down to one ingredient: egg yolks. Ice cream is made with milk, cream, and sweetener. Frozen custard contains the same ingredients, plus egg yolks. This extra ingredient means frozen custard usually has a richer, thicker, and creamier texture than ice cream.

What helps ice cream keep a smooth creamy texture? ›

Stabilizers and emulsifiers play a vital role in improving the texture of ice cream by increasing viscosity and limiting the movement of water molecules. These additives help prevent ice crystal growth and enhance the smoothness and creaminess of ice cream.

What makes ice cream light and fluffy? ›

Soft serve gets its characteristic lightness from its air content. Generally, soft serve has less fat and more air than hard serve ice cream. It is also served at warmer temperatures, giving the dessert its softness.

What ingredient makes ice cream thick? ›

Egg Yolks: The most traditional thickening agent, egg yolks contain natural proteins and fats that contribute to a rich and luxurious texture in custard-based ice creams. Cornstarch: Often used in non-custard ice creams, cornstarch mixed with milk helps thicken the base and create a smooth mouthfeel.

How do you increase the texture of ice cream? ›

Overrun is the amount of air that is whipped into the ice cream mixture during freezing. You want your ice cream to have a high viscosity and a moderate overrun, because this makes it creamy and light. To increase viscosity, you can add ingredients that act as stabilizers, such as eggs, cornstarch, or gums.

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