Our No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe Is Endlessly Adaptable
There's no need for an ice cream maker for this no-churn ice cream recipe. The only equipment you need are bowls, a hand mixer, and a loaf pan. You can even get by without a loaf pan, as long as you have a couple of freezer-safe containers.
While the primary recipe is for vanilla ice cream lovers, we offer 14 (yes, 14!) more flavor options for those craving something fruity, chocolatey, herbal, or salty-sweet. The options don't end there. Because we're using a sweetened condensed milk ice cream base that acts as a blank flavor palate, you can combine a couple of flavor options to make a cherry-birthday cake flavor, salted mocha-caramel flavor, and more. Check out these frozen flavors for even more flavor inspiration to get you started.
What Is No-Churn Ice Cream?
No-churn ice cream is a method of making ice cream without using an ice cream maker. While traditional recipes call for churning (simultaneously whipping and freezing an ice cream base) in an ice cream machine to incorporate air into the mix, no-churn ice cream achieves a similar texture in just a few simple steps.
To make it, whipped cream provides air and richness, while condensed milk sweetens and thickens the mixture. From there, the world is your oyster in terms of what flavors you can create. If you think it sounds too easy to be true, we assure you—it really is that easy, and delicious.
Tips for the Best No-Churn Ice Cream
For no-churn ice cream with the best flavor and texture, keep these tips in mind:
- Use quality ingredients: With an ingredient list this short, it's imperative that you focus on the quality of your ingredients. Choose high-quality cream and vanilla for the best flavor and texture, as well as ripe fruits, fresh herbs, or other flavorful mix-ins.
- Chill your bowl: Chill your bowl before whipping the cream for faster whipping, increased volume, and a better texture.
- Get creative with mix-ins: While you know you can flavor this ice cream in a myriad of ways, get creative about mix-ins as well. From crumbled cookies to sprinkles, cubed cakes, fruit compote, caramel sauce, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, toasted coconut, and more, there's no end to the types of mix-ins you can fold into no-churn ice cream before freezing.
- Add salt: To balance the sweetness of the condensed milk, a touch of salt can go a long way.
- Add alcohol: For the creamiest, most scoopable ice cream straight out of the freezer, a splash of vodka, rum, or other liquor can lower the freezing point and reduce iciness.
- Freeze properly: Keep your ice cream well-sealed to avoid freezer burn. You can even top the ice cream with a layer of parchment paper right on the surface before wrapping or covering for even more protection.
Ingredients
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1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
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2 cups heavy cream
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
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Prepare the Base
Pour the sweetened condensed milk into an extra-large bowl. (Steep the milk with ingredients like herbs or spices to flavor it, if that's the flavor you want to create.)
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Whip Heavy Cream
In another large bowl beat the heavy cream and vanilla with a mixer on medium-high speed until it holds soft peaks (tips curl).
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Fold in Whipped Cream
Fold whipped cream mixture into the condensed milk.
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Portion and Freeze
Spread into a 9x5-inch loaf pan or two pint freezer containers. Freeze, covered, 8 hours or until firm.
No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe Flavor Variations:
With vanilla ice cream as your base, you can customize the recipe to add any (or multiple) of these no-churn ice cream variations.
- Chocolate: Whisk in 1/3 cup cocoa powder in Step 1.
- Strawberry: Stir in 3 cups pureed strawberries in Step 3.
- Triple Berry: Stir in 3 cups pureed blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries in Step 3.
- Banana: In a blender puree 3 peeled ripe bananas. Stir into sweetened condensed milk. Proceed as directed.
- Coffee: Whisk in 2 Tbsp. instant espresso coffee powder in Step 1.
- Salted Mocha: Whisk in 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 2 Tbsp. instant espresso coffee powder, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt in Step 1.
- Caramel: Whisk in 1/4 cup caramel sauce in Step 1.
- Coconut: Whisk in 1/4 cup melted coconut oil in Step 1.
- Mango: Stir in 3 cups pureed mango in Step 3.
- Lavender: Heat condensed milk and 3 Tbsp. dried lavender buds over low until bubbles begin to form along edge. Let stand, covered, 20 minutes. Strain out lavender. Let cool before proceeding.
- Thyme: Heat condensed milk and 12 thyme sprigs over low until bubbles begin to form along edge. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Strain out thyme. Let cool before proceeding with Step 1.
- Wildflower Honey: Whisk 1/4 cup wildflower honey into sweetened condensed milk in Step 1. Proceed as directed.
- Birthday Cake: Stir in 1/4 cup sprinkles in Step 3.
- Cherry: Stir in 3 cups pureed tart pitted cherries in Step 3.
How To Store No-Churn Ice Cream
If stored with a tightly-sealed lid in place, no-churn ice cream may last at long as two to three months in your freezer. Store toward the back of your freezer, on one of the upper shelves, to keep it as frozen as possible for long-term storage. You can also top the ice cream with a layer of parchment paper before wrapping or sealing to help keep freezer burn at bay.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 366 | Calories |
| 26g | Fat |
| 29g | Carbs |
| 6g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 366 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 26g | 33% |
| Saturated Fat 17g | 85% |
| Cholesterol 85mg | 28% |
| Sodium 79mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 29g | 11% |
| Total Sugars 29g | |
| Protein 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin C 1.7mg | 2% |
| Calcium 181mg | 14% |
| Iron 0.2mg | 1% |
| Potassium 243mg | 5% |
| Fatty acids, total trans 1g | |
| Folate, total 7.9mcg | |
| Vitamin B-12 0.3mcg | |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.