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–+ servings

Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Erin Rains
Ah, vanilla ice cream. A classic dessert that never goes out of style. It’s creamy, sweet, and perfectly versatile. The great thing about vanilla ice cream is that it can be paired with so many things!
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 161 kcal

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan, Airtight container

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup rich heavy cream
  • ½ cup fine granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 cup full-fat whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 4 large egg yolks

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare the Base

  • In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, milk, and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved. This is the foundation of your ice cream, so make sure everything melds well.

Step 2: Temper the Egg Yolks

  • In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they turn pale yellow. Gradually pour in about a cup of the warm cream mixture, stirring constantly. This process is known as tempering. It ensures your egg yolks won’t scramble when added to the saucepan.

Step 3: Cook the Mixture

  • Pour the tempered egg yolks back into the saucepan with the remaining cream mixture. Stir constantly over low heat until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon. It should reach about 170°F. Keep an eye on it!

Step 4: Strain and Flavor

  • Once thickened, remove the saucepan from heat. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any bits of cooked egg. Stir in the vanilla extract and orange zest. Let the mixture cool at room temperature for a bit.

Step 5: Chill the Mixture

  • Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible. This chilling step is essential for the flavors to develop.

Step 6: Churn the Ice Cream

  • After chilling, pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. It typically takes about 20-30 minutes to reach a soft-serve consistency.

Step 7: Freeze

  • Transfer the churned ice cream into an airtight container. To achieve a firmer texture, freeze it for at least 4 hours. Now you're ready to indulge!

Notes

Creating the perfect batch of vanilla ice cream involves a few best practices. Here are some tips to enhance your experience:
Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh dairy and high-quality vanilla extract result in a more flavorful ice cream. Seek out pure vanilla extract to really bring out the flavor.
Don’t Rush the Chilling Process: Patience pays off. Allowing the mixture to chill ensures that the flavors mingle wonderfully.
Watch the Temperature: Avoid overheating the cream and egg mixture; you want to achieve a silky base without cooking the eggs.
Freeze Your Container: Pre-chilling your storage container can help the ice cream freeze more evenly.
Experiment with Flavors: Once you master vanilla, feel free to explore other additions, such as mint or chocolate chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 5gFat: 11.8gSaturated Fat: 6.8gCholesterol: 129mgSodium: 109mgSugar: 7gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
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