Welcome to Plan n Cook — plan meals, shop once, cook with less stress.

Home kitchen plans

Vanilla Ice Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream

Cuisine:American

Course:Dessert

20m prep 15m cook 4h ready

This recipe provides two versions of homemade vanilla ice cream: a simple no-egg base and a richer custard-based version using egg yolks and a vanilla bean. Both are creamy and full of vanilla flavor.

Make This Recipe Part of Your Week

Add it to a free meal plan or jump straight to a shopping list—no account required.

Save It. Plan It. Shop It.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups whole milk
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (seeds scraped into milk and pod added)
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 2 cups heavy cream

Add Ingredients to Shopping List

Use the servings and units above—your list will match what you see here. No account required.

Create Shopping List

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Combine in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar: 1 cup heavy cream; ¾ cup sugar; ⅛ teaspoon salt

  2. Step 2.

    Pour into a medium bowl and stir in: 2 cups heavy cream; 1 cup whole milk; 2 teaspoons vanilla

  3. Step 3.

    Refrigerate the ice cream base until cold, overnight if possible, or quick-chill in an ice water bath.

  4. Step 4.

    Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze as directed. Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid and freeze for at least 4 hours to harden.

  5. Step 5.

    Combine in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar: 1 ½ cups whole milk; ¾ cup sugar; 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (seeds scraped into milk and pod added); ⅛ teaspoon salt

  6. Step 6.

    Beat together in a medium bowl: 3 large egg yolks

  7. Step 7.

    Slowly stir about ½ cup of the hot milk mixture into the beaten egg yolks. Then stir the egg mixture back into the milk. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the custard reaches 175°F and coats the back of a spoon. Do not allow the mixture to boil. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl and stir in: 2 cups heavy cream

  8. Step 8.

    Refrigerate the ice cream base until cold, overnight if possible, or quick-chill in an ice water bath.

  9. Step 9.

    Remove the vanilla bean pod. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze as directed. Transfer to a container with a tight-fitting lid and freeze for at least 4 hours to harden.

Planning More Than One Meal?

Build a free week plan and get one consolidated shopping list. No account required to try it.

Ratings & reviews

Have you made this? Take a moment and let us know what you think. Sign in to leave a rating.

Get weekly meal ideas

Fresh recipes and planning tips from Plan n Cook.

Plan a week

Drop recipes onto breakfast, lunch, and dinner for every day.

One grocery list

Ingredients combined and scaled to your household servings.

Cook from recipes

Browse the library and public kitchens when you need inspiration.

Keep your kitchen

Save favorites, pantry items, and meal plans in one place.