There’s nothing quite like a scoop of creamy homemade ice cream to brighten your day. I truly enjoy making my own frozen treats because I can pick the best ingredients and create many different flavors. If you are looking to make your own delicious, cool dessert, you have come to the right place!
I have gathered my best easy homemade ice cream recipes for you. These simple ice cream recipes cover everything from familiar favorites to exciting new tastes. They are all easy to follow and will give you a wonderful result. Get your ice cream maker ready, or learn how to make some of these without one!
Jump to Recipe:
- 1. Easy Homemade Blackberry Ice Cream Recipe
- 2. Easy Homemade Blue Moon Ice Cream Recipe
- 3. Easy Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream Recipe
- 4. Easy Homemade Cherry Garcia Ice Cream Recipe
- 5. Easy Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Recipe
- 6. Easy Homemade Cottage Cheese Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- 7. Easy Homemade Eggnog Ice Cream Recipe
- 8. Easy Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe
Easy Homemade Blackberry Ice Cream
This blackberry ice cream recipe is a perfect way to enjoy fresh berries. It is creamy, sweet, and has a lovely fruity taste.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Blackberry Ice Cream
- Ripe Blackberries: Use fresh, sweet blackberries for the best natural flavor in your ice cream.
- Strain for Smoothness: If you prefer a very smooth ice cream, you can press the cooked blackberry mixture through a sieve to remove seeds.
What You Need for Blackberry Ice Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh blackberries, puréed
⏱️ Time: 20 mins active, 4-6 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Blackberry Ice Cream
Step 1: Make the Base
In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until the sugar dissolves completely.
Step 2: Add Blackberries & Chill
Stir the blackberry purée into the cream mixture. Cover the bowl and chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until it is very cold.
Step 3: Churn and Freeze
Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s directions. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes. Transfer the soft ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 hours until firm.
📝 Final Note
For a brighter berry flavor, you can add a tiny squeeze of lemon juice to the blackberry purée before mixing it in.
Easy Homemade Blue Moon Ice Cream
Bring a bit of fun to your freezer with this bright blue moon ice cream. It’s a sweet, vanilla-like flavor that kids and adults both enjoy.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Blue Moon Ice Cream
- Blue Food Coloring: Start with a few drops and add more to get your desired shade of blue. Gel food coloring works best.
- Flavoring Choice: A mix of vanilla and almond extract often gives a good “blue moon” taste. You can also use fruit flavors like lemon or orange.
What You Need for Blue Moon Ice Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Blue food coloring
⏱️ Time: 20 mins active, 4-6 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Blue Moon Ice Cream
Step 1: Mix the Base
In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until the sugar fully dissolves.
Step 2: Add Color & Chill
Add blue food coloring a few drops at a time, stirring until you reach your desired shade of blue. Cover the bowl and chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Step 3: Churn and Freeze
Pour the cold mixture into your ice cream maker and churn as directed by your machine, about 20-25 minutes. Transfer the soft ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 hours until it becomes firm.
📝 Final Note
You can adjust the type and amount of extract to create your own unique “blue moon” flavor profile.
Easy Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream
This classic butter pecan ice cream recipe delivers a rich, buttery taste with crunchy pecans. It’s a comforting flavor that’s simple to make at home.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Butter Pecan Ice Cream
- Toast Pecans: Toasting the pecans in butter brings out their nutty flavor and gives them a wonderful crunch.
- Brown Butter: Browning the butter adds a deeper, more complex buttery flavor to the ice cream base.
What You Need for Butter Pecan Ice Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
⏱️ Time: 30 mins active, 4-6 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Step 1: Toast Pecans
In a small skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped pecans and toast them until they are fragrant and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes. Let them cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare Base & Chill
Whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Add the cooled buttered pecans to the mixture. Cover and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Step 3: Churn and Freeze
Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn following the manufacturer’s instructions, typically 20-25 minutes. Transfer the soft ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 hours until it firms up.
📝 Final Note
You can slightly salt your toasted pecans for a sweet and salty contrast that really makes the flavor pop.
Easy Homemade Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
Enjoy sweet cherries and dark chocolate chunks in this homemade cherry garcia ice cream. It’s a joyful combination that everyone loves.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
- Sweet Cherries: Use fresh or frozen sweet cherries for the best taste. Pit and halve them if using fresh.
- Dark Chocolate Chunks: Break a good quality dark chocolate bar into irregular chunks. This makes for a better texture than chips.
What You Need for Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup pitted and chopped sweet cherries
- ½ cup dark chocolate chunks
⏱️ Time: 25 mins active, 4-6 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Cherry Garcia Ice Cream
Step 1: Make Cream Base & Chill
In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until the sugar is dissolved. Cover and chill this mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Step 2: Churn Ice Cream
Pour the chilled cream mixture into your ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency, usually 20-25 minutes.
Step 3: Add Mix-ins & Freeze
During the last 5 minutes of churning, add the chopped cherries and dark chocolate chunks to the ice cream maker. Once mixed, transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 hours until it’s firm.
📝 Final Note
You can slightly macerate your cherries with a tablespoon of sugar for 30 minutes before adding them to enhance their sweetness.
Easy Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Make your own favorite chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream at home. It features creamy vanilla ice cream with delicious chunks of safe-to-eat cookie dough.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Cookie Dough Ice Cream
- Egg-Free Cookie Dough: Make sure your cookie dough is made without raw eggs, and consider heat-treating your flour for safety.
- Chill Cookie Dough: Chill the cookie dough before cutting it into small pieces. This makes it easier to handle and prevents it from melting into the ice cream too quickly.
What You Need for Cookie Dough Ice Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup edible chocolate chip cookie dough, cut into small pieces
⏱️ Time: 25 mins active, 4-6 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Step 1: Prepare Cream Base & Chill
In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until the sugar has dissolved. Cover and chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Step 2: Churn Ice Cream
Pour the chilled cream base into your ice cream maker. Churn according to your machine’s directions until it’s a soft-serve consistency, usually about 20-25 minutes.
Step 3: Add Cookie Dough & Freeze
During the last 5 minutes of churning, add the small pieces of edible chocolate chip cookie dough to the ice cream maker. Mix them in well. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 hours until firm.
📝 Final Note
Make sure your edible cookie dough is very cold and firm before adding to prevent it from crumbling too much during churning.
Easy Homemade Cottage Cheese Peanut Butter Ice Cream
This cottage cheese peanut butter ice cream is a unique, protein-packed treat. It offers a creamy texture and nutty flavor you will really like.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Cottage Cheese Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Smooth Cottage Cheese: Blend the cottage cheese until it is very smooth before mixing, ensuring a creamy ice cream texture.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Use a smooth, creamy peanut butter for the best results. Natural peanut butter can be too oily.
What You Need for Cottage Cheese Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup milk (any kind)
⏱️ Time: 15 mins active, 3-4 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 4-6 servings
How to Make Cottage Cheese Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Step 1: Blend Ingredients
In a blender or food processor, combine the cottage cheese, peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), vanilla extract, and milk. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides as needed.
Step 2: Chill Mixture
Pour the smooth mixture into a bowl, cover it, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. This ensures it’s cold enough for freezing.
Step 3: Freeze
Transfer the chilled mixture to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for 3-4 hours, stirring every hour to break up ice crystals, until it reaches your desired ice cream consistency. No ice cream maker needed for this one!
📝 Final Note
For an extra treat, swirl in some mini chocolate chips or a drizzle of melted chocolate before the final freeze.
Easy Homemade Eggnog Ice Cream
Enjoy the festive flavors of eggnog in this creamy homemade ice cream recipe. It is perfect for holiday gatherings or a special cold weather treat.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Eggnog Ice Cream
- Quality Eggnog: Use a good quality store-bought eggnog or your favorite homemade recipe as the base.
- Fresh Nutmeg: A sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg just before serving really enhances the eggnog taste.
What You Need for Eggnog Ice Cream
- 2 cups prepared eggnog
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar (adjust to your eggnog’s sweetness)
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon rum extract (optional)
⏱️ Time: 20 mins active, 4-6 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Eggnog Ice Cream
Step 1: Combine Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggnog, heavy cream, granulated sugar, ground nutmeg, and rum extract (if using). Make sure the sugar dissolves completely.
Step 2: Chill Mixture
Cover the bowl and chill the eggnog mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. It needs to be very cold before churning.
Step 3: Churn and Freeze
Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s directions, usually about 20-25 minutes. Transfer the soft ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 hours until firm.
📝 Final Note
You can adjust the amount of sugar depending on how sweet your eggnog already is. Taste the mixture before chilling!
Easy Homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Cool off with this classic homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. It has a refreshing mint flavor and delightful chocolate pieces.
Key Ingredients & Tips for Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Peppermint Extract: Use pure peppermint extract for a clean, refreshing mint flavor. Start with a little and add more to taste.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Mini chocolate chips work best for ice cream, as they distribute evenly and don’t become too hard when frozen.
What You Need for Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- Green food coloring (optional)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
⏱️ Time: 25 mins active, 4-6 hours freeze🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Step 1: Mix Mint Base
In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and peppermint extract until the sugar fully dissolves. If you want green ice cream, add a few drops of green food coloring and mix well.
Step 2: Chill the Mixture
Cover the bowl and chill the mint cream mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. It needs to be very cold for proper churning.
Step 3: Churn, Add Chips & Freeze
Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s directions. During the last 5 minutes of churning, add the mini chocolate chips. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for 4-6 hours until firm.
📝 Final Note
Adjust the amount of peppermint extract to your liking; start with less and add more if you want a stronger mint flavor.