Dessert

Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream

This is a classic, custard style vanilla ice cream that is incredibly creamy and full of rich flavor.

By Enzo81 KitchenΒ· AmericanΒ· October 21, 2026
Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream
enzo81.xyz
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
15 minutes
Total
4 hours 30 minutes
Serves
8

There is something so special about making ice cream from scratch at home. This recipe uses a traditional custard base with egg yolks and real cream, which gives it that thick and velvety texture we all remember from childhood. It is much better than anything you can buy at the store.

The secret to getting it just right is tempering the eggs, which just means warming them up slowly so they stay smooth and do not scramble. If you want to get creative, you can stir in some chocolate chips or fresh berries during the last few minutes of churning for a fun twist.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch of salt

10Instructions

  1. 1

    Make sure your ice cream maker bowl is frozen and ready to go according to the manual instructions.

  2. 2

    In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and heavy cream over low heat until the mixture starts to simmer gently.

  3. 3

    While the dairy heats up, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a separate bowl until they look pale and fluffy.

  4. 4

    Slowly pour about half of the hot milk mixture into the eggs while whisking constantly to keep the eggs from cooking too quickly.

  5. 5

    Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and cook it over medium low heat.

  6. 6

    Keep stirring until the liquid reaches 165 degrees or is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

  7. 7

    Pour the custard through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl to catch any bits of egg, then stir in the vanilla and salt.

  8. 8

    Cover the bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or until it is completely cold.

  9. 9

    Pour the cold base into your ice cream machine and churn it according to the manufacturer directions.

  10. 10

    Serve it immediately for a soft serve texture, or put it in a container in the freezer for a few hours to let it firm up.

Tips

Store your ice cream in an airtight container with a piece of plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface. This simple trick prevents ice crystals from forming on top. If you find the ice cream is too hard to scoop later, just let it sit on the counter for five minutes before serving.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.

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