There's nothing better than frosty ice cream when it's over 80 degrees in the shade. And it's even more of a treat when it's made from your favorite fruit or rum or your favorite chocolate!
I prefer to make ice cream rather than buying it for two reasons. First, homemade ice cream tastes totally different than commercially-prepared ice cream. And second, I can control all the ingredients in homemade ice cream, whereas I'm stuck with whatever is in the carton I buy.
Why Make Homemade Ice Cream?
Ice cream from the store usually contains unhealthy ingredients, including a lot of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and allergens.
When preparing ice cream at home, you get to decide what ingredients to use, which means you know exactly what you're eating. You can choose your favorite flavors, control the sugar content, and avoid any allergens, including milk, nuts, and eggs.
You can also experiment with ice cream flavors from all over the world!
Ice cream is also the perfect summer dessert to make for and with children, and it's an excellent way to encourage kids to try different fruits and flavor combinations.
Is It Worth Making Ice Cream, Gelato, and Sorbets?
Only you can decide whether or not to make ice cream at home. My family makes it often, and we love all the different flavor combinations we've come up with. See our long list of recipes at the bottom of the page.
Some people prefer to buy ice cream at the store, and if that's you, go right ahead! Commercially prepared ice cream comes in a variety of flavors that you may not be able to replicate at home. I'll be the first to admit that I buy vanilla-orange swirl at my local grocery store, and I love it!
I am going to introduce you to the three major types of frozen treats and the technique required to make them so you can choose what suits you best.
Or maybe you'll make them all!
Types Of Ice Cream
Ice cream is beloved all over the world. It comes in several delightful varieties, each with its own unique properties and flavors. Here, we'll cover the three most popular types: traditional ice cream, gelato, and sorbet.
Traditional Ice Cream
Traditional ice cream is made from a rich mixture of heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and often egg yolks, creating a smooth and creamy texture. It is whipped to incorporate air, resulting in a light and fluffy texture that's free of ice crystals.
The most popular flavor of traditional ice cream worldwide is vanilla. Here's a simple egg-free vanilla ice cream recipe that you can have ready for your ice cream machine in just a few minutes. Then the machine will work its magic, and you'll have soft ice cream in about a half hour. (If you want it to be firm enough to be scoopable, you'll need to throw it in the freezer for a couple of hours.)
There are also myriad no churn ice cream flavors these days, including no churn mint chocolate chip and no churn rocky road. No churn means that no ice cream machine is used to prepare these recipes - they couldn't be simpler! All you have to do is whip heavy cream with a mixer and then fold in the other ingredients and freeze.
Pros of traditional ice cream:
- Creamy and rich texture
- Unlimited flavor possibilities
- Widely enjoyed by all age groups
Cons:
- Higher fat content due to the use of heavy cream
- Requires whipping to obtain the right consistency
Gelato - Italian Ice Cream
Gelato, a favorite Italian delicacy, uses more whole milk than heavy cream and fewer egg yolks than traditional ice cream, resulting in a thicker and silkier texture. It is whipped at a lower speed and contains less air.
The perfect recipe for homemade gelato is flexible and allows you to make virtually any flavor.
Pros of gelato:
- Intensely flavored and smooth texture
- Lower fat content compared to traditional ice cream
- Often considered a healthier option
Cons:
- More labor-intensive than ice cream to make
- It requires special techniques to achieve the perfect consistency
Sorbet
Sorbet is a refreshing, dairy-free alternative made with fruit puree or juice. Depending on the fruit, sugar is sometimes added. Most often, sorbet is whipped or mixed to obtain a smooth, frosty consistency.
Another sorbet that my children love is a simple mix of water and blackcurrant juice. This recipe was born out of necessity when there was no time to make blackcurrant ice cream, and my girls were craving a frozen treat.
Sorbet is a perfectly healthy and low-calorie dessert, especially on hot days.
Pros:
- Does not contain dairy products, so it's suitable for people who are lactose intolerant or have a dairy allergy
- Refreshing and light, perfect for hot weather
- Often lower in calories than cream-based ice cream
Cons:
- It can be too sweet if it is not correctly balanced
- It lacks the creamy texture of ice cream
Making Ice Cream At Home: Advantages And Disadvantages
There are definitely more pros than cons to making ice cream at home, especially when you have small children for whom every step is impressive and exciting. From my experience, even teenagers can take an active part in the process. You may hear that you make the best ice cream in the world!
Pros of making ice cream at home:
- Fun family activity: Making ice cream at home can be a fantastic opportunity to strengthen family bonds. Kids love being involved in the process, from mixing the ingredients to watching the ice cream churn.
- Customizable flavors: Making ice cream at home gives you complete control over the flavors and ingredients. This allows you to experiment and create unique flavors tailored to your family's preferences. Have you ever seen root beer float ice cream in the grocery store?
- High-quality ingredients: Homemade ice cream means using high-quality, fresh ingredients free from the preservatives and artificial additives often found in store-bought ice cream. (This also means it doesn't keep as well in the freezer, so plan to eat homemade ice cream within a couple of days of making it.)
- Match the ice cream to your preferred diet (e.g., keto, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian): You can replace sugar with xylitol or erythritol, which will fit perfectly into a low-carb or keto diet and be a lower calorie version of ice cream that the whole family can enjoy.
- Learning experience: Making ice cream can be educational for children, as it teaches them how to measure, mix, and freeze. Try making ice cream in a bag for a fun summer activitiy.
Cons:
- Time-consuming: Making ice cream from scratch can be a lengthy process, from preparing the mixture to churning and freezing. It requires patience and planning.
- Hardware needs: While making ice cream without an ice cream maker is possible, having one can significantly simplify the process and sometimes provides better results.
- Cleaning up: The process can be messy as bowls, mixers, and other equipment must be cleaned afterward, which may deter some families. There will be even more mess with children, but the joy of creating this frozen dessert can also be fun and less of a drawback.
Do You Need An Ice Cream Machine?
Although an ice cream machine is not absolutely necessary, it makes the process easier and can provide a smoother consistency.
The time needed to make ice cream using the machine method will depend. Most machines require you to freeze the base for 24 hours first, and then ice cream churning time is 30-60 minutes. A few machines do not need a pre-frozen bowl and can make ice cream in 40 minutes.
If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can still enjoy homemade ice cream using a no-churn recipe like pineapple ice cream, cookie dough ice cream, or butter pecan ice cream.
There are also a few other methods you can use to make traditional ice cream without a machine or the typical no-churn method:
1. Freezing method
Pour the ice cream mixture into a shallow dish and place in the freezer. Stir the mixture vigorously every 30 minutes to break up any ice crystals until frozen. Freezing time is approximately 4 hours.
2. Plastic bag method
This is a fun and easy method that kids love. I used to make ice cream in the classroom using this method when I was a high school teacher. Grab the recipe in this post, then place the mixture in a sealed plastic quart-sized bag. Place the small bag in a gallon-sized bag filled with ice and salt, then shake vigorously for 10-15 minutes.
My mom had a similar method of making ice cream. She and her sister used two bowls, a larger one filled with ice and salt, and a smaller one with the ice cream mixture. They placed the smaller bowl inside the larger one and mixed the ice cream until it had the right consistency.
3. Manual crank ice cream machine
A hand-crank ice cream maker is a fun alternative, especially for kids. It requires more effort but can be enjoyable. This is the method our grandmothers used to make ice cream, before automatic ice cream machines were available.
14 Easy Ice Cream Recipes
Here's the list you've been waiting for! Our 14 best ice cream recipes:
Making ice cream at home is not just about the end product; it's about the experiences and memories you create with your family. Whether you choose traditional ice cream, gelato, or sorbet, the process can be educational and fun.
While an ice cream maker can simplify the process, creating delicious ice cream is possible with creativity and effort.
So gather your ingredients, get the kids involved, and enjoy a sweet journey with homemade ice cream.
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