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Home » Recipes » Desserts - Dolci

Amazing Basic No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe

Published: Jun 18, 2021 · Modified: May 5, 2023 by Marisa Franca

Jump to Recipe
collage of 4 no-churn ice cream.

A good 3-ingredient basic no-churn ice cream recipe is all you need to create countless creamy frozen treats. This easy method doesn't require any special equipment. All you need is your imagination.

Three scoops of vanilla ice cream in a bowl is a no-churn recipe.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it . . .
  • 🛒 Ingredients
  • 🔪Equipment
  • Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🗒 Variations
  • 📝 Recipe for basic no-churn ice cream
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it . . .

  • no special equipment needed.
  • easy to make.
  • uses common ingredients.
  • rich and creamy.
  • you can make countless different flavors.

Any time you get a craving for a frozen dessert, you can whip up a batch of your favorite ice cream.

🛒 Ingredients

The three ingredients of necessary for no-churn ice cream which is sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract and heavy whipping cream.
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Sweetened condensed milk
  • Vanilla extract

This is the base for Vanilla ice cream but you can create your favorite flavors by doctoring up the basic mixture.

🔪Equipment

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  • Hand or stand mixer will make whipping up the cream a breeze. I like the slow start so it doesn't splatter.
  • Two Large metal bowls or glass will do. We like to chill them so that the cream whips up faster. These bowls have a non-skid bottom which prevents them from scooting.
  • Rubber spatula makes folding the whipped cream into the milk mixture easy.
  • Freezer containers for ice cream or any frozen desserts. We have some just like this and they keep the ice cream from getting ice crystals.

Instructions

Electric stand mixer mixing whipping cream.
  1. Whisk the vanilla and sweetened condensed milk together. Chill.
  2. Beat the heavy cream with and electric hand or stand mixer until stiff occurs.
  3. Fold the whipped cream into the vanilla-milk mixture.
  4. Pour into freezer containers and place in freezer.

🥫 Storage

The easiest method is to put in air-tight freezer containers. They make special ones just for ice cream.

You may also pour the blended mixture into a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Don't fill the can to the top because you'll need to stretch a sheet of plastic wrap across the top of the pan.

No-churn ice cream in a tin pan to freeze.

💭 Tips

These suggestions will help insure you have the BEST ice cream you've ever tasted.

  • The homemade basic no-churn ice cream doesn't take a lot of ingredients so it's important to use what is in the recipe card. Don't try to substitute lower fat or lower sugar ingredients.
  • If trying out other extracts like peppermint, add only a little at a time so as not to overdo.
  • When adding additional ingredients, make sure they are chopped up. Large pieces such as chocolate chips, nuts, and M&M's are very hard when frozen.
  • Adding 2 to 3 Tablespoons of flavored vodka or liqueur will prevent your ice cream from freezing too hard. Try vanilla or cinnamon vodka in your vanilla ice cream.
  • For a fast start to flavoring your ice cream use pie filling. It's perfect.

Expert Tip: Be sure to use pure vanilla extract rather than "imitation vanilla" for better flavor in the recipe.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

What does no-churn mean?

It means that there is no need for an ice cream machine.

Is no-churn ice cream good?

No-churn ice cream is very good. In fact, we think it tastes better and it's creamier.

How does no churn ice cream work?

Heavy whipping cream is whipped with a hand or stand mixer and then it's combined with sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. The mixture is put in the freezer for several hours and it's then ready to enjoy.

What's in a basic no-churn ice cream?
The basics are heavy whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, and an extract such as vanilla.

📚 Related recipes

Strawberry Ice Cream that's studded with yummy fruit chunks. So easy; so good!

You get a double dose of chocolate with the Nutella Chocolate chips and Hazelnut ice cream.

Cherry Almond Amaretto No-Churn Ice Cream a fast and easy dessert made with pie filling@allourway.com

This is a holiday dessert in a glass. Celebrate year round with Cherry Almond Ice Cream.

You don't have to wait for the Fall holidays to enjoy Pumpkin Pecan Ice Cream It's two pies in one dessert.

🗒 Variations

Lemon No-churn ice cream in bowl.
We find that Lemon no-churn ice cream is the perfect ending to a summer meal.

Key Lime pie -- add lime juice, white chocolate chips, graham cracker pieces.

Grasshopper pie -- Creme de menthe, peppermint extract, mini chocolate chips.

S'mores -- mini toasted marshmallows, graham cracker pieces, chocolate pieces.

Lemon -- lemon curd, lemon zest, limoncello.

Peach -- canned peaches, almond extract, amaretto liqueur.

Peach no-churn ice cream in bowl with peaches.
Peach no-Churn ice cream with diced canned peaches and toasted pecans.

📝 Recipe for basic no-churn ice cream

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Vanilla no-churn ice cream in a white bowl.

Basic 3-Ingredient No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe with Variations

No-Churn Ice cream is easy to make with no special equipment. You get a delicious frozen dessert that is rich and creamy. It's a springboard for many variations.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Chill Time: 3 hours hours
Total Time: 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 335kcal
Author: Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Electric Hand Mixer
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Rubber Scraper
  • Freezer containers

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk NOT evaporated
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract not the imitation kind
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Open the sweetened condensed milk and pour into large metal or glass bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the milk. Chill in the refrigerator.
  • In a large chilled metal, glass, or ceramic bowl, beat heavy cream with an electric hand or stand mixer until stiff peaks occur. Be careful not to over whip because you'll get butter.
  • Remove the chilled milk and vanilla mixture from the fridge and gently fold the whipped cream with a spatular INTO the sweet milk mixture. Do this slowly so that the dessert stays light and airy.
  • Now you can add any other flavoring you desire or pour into a air-tight freezer safe container.

Notes

  • The homemade basic no-churn ice cream doesn't take a lot of ingredients so it's important to use what is in the recipe card. Don't try to substitute lower fat or lower sugar ingredients.
  • If trying out other extracts like peppermint, add only a little at a time so as not to overdo.
  • When adding additional ingredients, make sure they are chopped up. Large pieces such as chocolate chips, nuts, and M&M's are very hard when frozen.
  • Adding 2 to 3 Tablespoons of flavored vodka or liqueur will prevent your ice cream from freezing too hard. Try vanilla or cinnamon vodka in your vanilla ice cream.
  • For a fast start to flavoring your ice cream use pie filling. It's perfect.
Peach Ice Cream -- follow directions about and add diced peaches from one small can (about 14 ounces) peaches in heavy syrup. Drain the syrup. Add 1 teaspoon almond extract instead of the vanilla. Add 3 Tablespoons Amaretto liqueur to the sweetened condensed milk as well as the extract. Before freezing fold in the  the diced peaches and ¾ cup toasted chopped pecans. The nuts are optional. 

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 193mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 981IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 1mg

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    I’m Marisa Franca, a home chef, food writer, and photographer who believes that you can make gourmet quality food at home with simple seasonal ingredients. I’m passionate about family, food, friends, everything Italian, and happy endings.

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