Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
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An old fashioned vanilla ice cream recipe that everyone loves! This creamy custard base homemade vanilla ice cream recipe is made from five ingredients and is even better than an ice cream parlor favorite!
Vanilla ice creams come in more varieties than you might think! It’s made with five simple ingredients and turns into such a rich, creamy, delicious and decadent ice cream. Just look at those real vanilla bean specks!
It’s an old fashioned vanilla ice cream recipe that was passed down from my aunt many years ago. It’s a custard base that tastes even better than the best ice cream parlor ice cream you’ve ever had.
I enjoy my other types of ice cream recipes too. But when I want the most creamy, most vanilla, best vanilla ice cream, this one is it!
Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream
My family has always loved making ice cream in the summer. It gets really hot here in the south and enjoying homemade ice cream with family and friends is so much fun! I make many different ice cream flavors and recipes, but as far as vanilla goes it’s this velvety, old fashioned custard type ice cream or my two ingredient No Churn Vanilla.
How to Make this Vanilla Ice Cream
To make this ice cream, you will need these ingredients:
- Egg yolks
- Sugar
- Whole Milk
- Heavy Cream
- Vanilla Bean Paste or Vanilla Extract
Make the Ice Cream Custard
Start by adding the egg yolks and sugar to a medium saucepan. Whisk the until it’s a light yellow color and is well combined.
In another small sauce pan, heat the whole milk over medium-low heat until it just begins to simmer. Do not stir the milk.
Then gradually add the heated milk to the pan with the egg and sugar mixture and stir constantly. Return the combined mixture to heat until it reaches 165º F, but do not allow it to come to a boil. As soon as it reaches the correct temperature, remove it from the heat.
Pour custard base into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until it chills to 65º F. The longer the custard base chills, the creamier your ice cream will be.
Finish With Ice Cream Maker
Once the custard base is ready, stir in the heavy cream and vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract). Then, pour it into your ice cream maker and process according to your ice cream maker’s instructions.
Scoop and Enjoy!
This is perfect for ice cream cones! Although I happily enjoy it in a bowl if cones aren’t around. The scoops hold up well and don’t immediately begin melting the moment they are scooped onto the cone.
How Much Ice Cream Does this Make?
This recipe makes 1 quart as written.
Can this Recipe be Multiplied?
Yes! You can easily double this recipe for a 2 quart ice cream maker. It can easily be multiplied for a gallon container too!
The Two Types of Vanilla Ice Cream
Both this old fashioned ice cream and my no churn ice cream have their places in my ice cream making life. They are both incredibly delicious, easy to make and I make them both often.
More Ice Cream Recipes
No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream and Chocolate Ice Cream
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
And so many more ice creams to love!
Here’s my Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does!
Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Add egg yolks and sugar to a medium saucepan and whisk until a light yellow color and well combined. In another small sauce pan, heat milk over medium-low heat until it just begins to simmer. Do not stir. Gradually add milk to egg and sugar mixture, stirring constantly. Return to heat until it reaches 165º F, but do not allow it to come to a boil. As soon as it reaches the correct temperature, remove it from the heat. Pour custard base into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until it chills to 65º F. The longer the custard base chills, the creamier your ice cream will be.
- Once the custard base is ready, stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract and pour it into your ice cream maker and process according to your ice cream maker’s instructions.
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Originally published in 2013.
Please advice if this can be made without an ice cream maker. How should I go about this. Many thanks
Hi Angel,
This particular Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream does have to made with an ice cream maker.
If you are looking for a No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream, this one I’ve linked to is delicious as well. Thanks!
My dad found my mom’s ice cream maker while cleaning out a closet. She absolutely loved to make homemade ice cream. We haven’t had any since she passed in early 2016. He gave the ice cream maker to me this past weekend. He asked me to make him some one day. I found your recipe and gave it a try. Best homemade ice cream we have had. I doubled the recipe but will quadruple it next time.
Thanks so much for sharing this with me, Anthony! I’m so happy you found the ice cream maker and you enjoyed this ice cream with your dad. How special!!! 🙂
Looking to convert this recipe to keto. I’m going to sub almond milk for the whole milk… do you suggest adding some full fat yogurt to give the almond milk a little more body or just change the cream: milk ratio? I’m thinking I should stir some yogurt in at the end along with the cream and vanilla. Thanks!
Awesome taste. We made a gallon of this and it is the best. We made the stuff last night and then let the liquid chill overnight and then made ice cream the next day.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jeff. Great idea to let it chill overnight and then make the ice cream the next day! xo
Is this recipe able to be made in the old fashioned churn style with ice and salt ice cream maker? I really want to try this recipe and that is the only kind I have. My son asked for blackberry pie and homemade vanilla ice cream for his birthday and I thought this recipe sounds like it will go wonderful with the pie.
Absolutely! It works well in any style ice cream maker. I hope you enjoy it!
Awesome recipe!
Awesome recipe
Tastes a lot like Hägen Däz. The taste and texture are lovely. Will definitely be making this again and again.
Thanks so much Prudence! xo
I had some little thick bits at the bottom of the pan when making the custard. Are you supposed to stir while heating to 165 or just let it sit over the heat? Thank you.
Hi Jen,
You will heat milk over medium-low heat until it just begins to simmer. Do not stir at this point. When you gradually add milk to egg and sugar mixture, you will stir constantly. Return to heat until it reaches 165º F, but do not allow it to come to a boil.
I think that it possibly needed to be stirred more thoroughly during the step of gradually adding the milk to the egg & sugar mixture.
I hope this helps and that you enjoy it! xo
I am new to the world of homemade ice cream. One question I had regarding the instructions…do you just combine the egg yolks and sugar, or do you do it over heat and have it thicken before adding the warmed milk? The instructions don’t seem clear on that point.
Hi Sarah,
The egg & sugar mixture is not heated – only whisked well – then add the heated milk as directed and proceed heating as per the recipe instructions. Hope this helps and that you enjoy the ice cream! It’s truly one of our favorites! Thanks! xo