No-Churn Ice Cream

Made with only 3 ingredients, this simple recipe for No-Churn Ice Cream requires no special equipment or ice cream maker.

Whether served plain, with a drizzle of homemade chocolate syrup, or with additional mix-ins, like chocolate chips or M&Ms, this recipe for No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream is a real treat!

Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker

Even without an ice cream maker, you can still enjoy delicious homemade ice cream.

Ice cream machines incorporate air into the cream, keeping it light and fluffy, as it churns and freezes. But by folding whipped cream into sweetened milk, you can create the same results as Classic Vanilla Ice Cream without an expensive piece of equipment.

Ingredients Needed

• Heavy Whipping Cream: This is a crucial ingredient used to create fluffy whipped cream to fold into the ice cream mixture.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Any brand or fat percentage of canned sweetened condensed milk works for this recipe.
• Vanilla Extract: There is no substitute for pure vanilla extract, do not use imitation vanilla extract, as the flavor will not be the same.

How to Make No-Churn Ice Cream

• Line a 9x5 freezer-safe loaf pan with parchment paper. Place in the freezer.
• In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to whip the cream until soft peaks occur, but be careful not to overwhip.
• In another large bowl, whisk the vanilla into the sweetened condensed milk.
• Using a spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the sweetened condensed milk mixture. You want to slowly and carefully incorporate the two mixtures together so the whipped cream stays light and aerated.

• Pour into prepared pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze at least 4 hours or overnight.

Storing Ice Cream

To prevent ice crystals from forming, place a layer of plastic wrap directly over the ice cream and then top with a lid or layer of foil. Homemade no-churn ice cream will keep for 2 months in the freezer, however, I find the flavor is best enjoyed within 1 month.

Additions to No-Churn Ice Cream

Vanilla ice cream is a classic base flavor that is delicious when served plain but is also great with toppings mixed into the ice cream, creating endless flavor options.

To add a mix-in to your No-Churn Ice Cream, simply fold in ½ cup to 1 cup of additional toppings or ingredients to your ice cream mixture right before freezing.

• Add broken sandwich cookies for a Cookies and Creme flavor.
• Add in crumbled-up graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and a swirl of chocolate sauce for Smores Ice Cream.
• Sprinkle with chocolate chips, M&Ms, Reese's Pieces, or broken-up candy bars.
• Add in chopped fresh strawberries, blueberries, or pitted cherries.
• Swirl in nut butter or cookie butter.

Desserts Made Complete with Ice Cream

Serve or prepare any of these desserts with a scoop of homemade no-churn ice cream.

• Homemade Brownies
• Instant Pot Lava Cakes
• Peach Crisp
• Peach Cobbler
• Baked Apples

If you enjoyed this simple recipe for No-Churn Ice Cream, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.