Pick-a-Flavor No-Churn Ice Cream

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Choose a flavor, any flavor. This simple base recipe for no-churn ice cream is endlessly adaptable.

no-churn ice cream
Photo: Carson Downing
Hands On Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
8 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
1 quart

There's no need for an ice cream maker for this no-churn ice cream recipe. The only equipment you need is bowls, a hand mixer, and a loaf pan. You can even get by without a loaf pan, as long as you have a couple freezer containers in a two-pint size.

The primary recipe is for vanilla ice cream lovers, but then we offer 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 flavor options to make a cherry-birthday cake flavor, or salted mocha-caramel flavor, etc. For even more ice cream options try these frozen flavors.

Ingredients

  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

  • 2 cup heavy cream

  • 2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

  1. 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.)

  2. In another large bowl beat the heavy cream and vanilla with a mixer on medium-high speed until it holds soft peaks (tips curl).

  3. Fold whipped cream mixture into the condensed milk.

  4. Spread into a 9x5-inch loaf pan or two pint freezer containers. Freeze, covered, 8 hours or until firm.

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 Variation:

Whisk in 1/3 cup cocoa powder in Step 1.

Strawberry Variation:

Stir in 3 cups pureed strawberries in Step 3.

Triple Berry Variation:

Stir in 3 cups pureed blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries in Step 3.

Banana Variation:

In a blender puree 3 peeled ripe bananas. Stir into sweetened condensed milk. Proceed as directed.

Coffee Variation:

Whisk in 2 Tbsp. instant espresso coffee powder in Step 1.

Salted Mocha Variation:

Whisk in 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 2 Tbsp. instant espresso coffee powder, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt in Step 1.

Caramel Variation:

Whisk in 1/4 cup caramel sauce in Step 1.

Coconut Variation:

Whisk in 1/4 cup melted coconut oil in Step 1.

Mango Variation:

Stir in 3 cups pureed mango in Step 3.

Lavender Variation:

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 Variation:

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 Variation:

Whisk 1/4 cup wildflower honey into sweetened condensed milk in Step 1. Proceed as directed.

Birthday Cake Variation:

Stir in 1/4 cup sprinkles in Step 3.

Cherry Variation:

Stir in 3 cups pureed tart pitted cherries in Step 3.

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
Vitamin C 1.7mg 9%
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.

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