RECIPE ~ Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is surprisingly easy to make. All you need are basic ingredients, such as eggs, half and half and cream, plus an electric ice cream maker. It’s so easy!

Ingredients

• 5 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/4 cups half and half
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste

Separate the eggs and add the egg yolks to a large bowl. (You can use the egg whites for an omelette later.) Whisk the egg yolks with a hand mixer for about 2 minutes, until the yolks become a little lighter. Then, slowly add the sugar to the yolks, continuing to whip them until they are a light yellow color and fluffy.

Next, in a large pot, add the half and half, heavy cream and vanilla bean paste. Whisking with a wire whisk the entire time, heat the cream mixture over low-medium heat. Heat it just until it is simmering lightly, then turn off the burner.

Next, take a measuring cup and scoop out about 1 cup of the hot cream mixture. As you begin pouring the scoop of hot cream mixture into the egg / sugar mixture, whisk it continually. This will mix it together and allow the hot cream to temper, or begin cooking, the egg mixture without overheating it. (If it overheats, you will get small bits of scrambled egg. If this happens, just strain it through a fine-mesh strainer and continue.)

Egg and sugar mixture, tempered with hot cream mixture.

Now turn the heat back on, again to medium-low, and add the heated egg / sugar mixture back to the pot. Whisk continually until the mixture thickens up into a custard. Do not allow this mixture to bubble; if it does, turn down the heat (and keep whisking!) When the custard is thick and glossy turn off the heat.

Cover the custard and let it cool slightly, then place it in the refrigerator until it is completely cooled.

This recipe requires an ice cream maker. I have a Cuisinart. It is so easy to use!

When it is, pour it into your ice cream maker to prepare your ice cream (per your manufacturer’s instructions).

Ice cream mixing in my ice cream maker. Yum!