9 Ice Cream Recipes That Don’t Require Fancy Equipment (2024)

We love the idea of homemade ice cream. But when most recipes call for special machinery and lots of heavy cream, it’s easy to give up and Google the nearest fro-yo shop. Before you fill up on the next-best thing, take a peek at these 9 healthy, five-ingredient scoops that leave the endless churning to the pros.

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9 easy ice cream recipes for a quick-fix cold treat

  1. Vanilla cherry banana ice cream
  2. Coconut lemon ice cream
  3. No-churn vegan chocolate ice cream
  4. Mango coconut ice cream
  5. Chocolate avocado ice cream
  6. Raspberry coconut ice cream
  7. Peanut butter banana ice cream
  8. Raw vegan chocolate ice cream
  9. Blueberry lavender ice cream

1. Vanilla cherry banana ice cream

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We’ll let you in on a secret: Cherry flavor gets approximately 200% more exciting with the addition of vanilla — that’s just simple math. Top with halved cherries and ready your spoon. If you can’t get your hands on a whole vanilla bean, vanilla extract works just as well.

Get the vanilla cherry banana ice cream recipe.

2. Coconut lemon ice cream

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Make a thick ice cream base by cooking down coconut milk and honey until slightly golden. Then pat yourself on the back: You just made healthier sweetened condensed milk. Offset the rich coconut milk with tart lemon juice and whip with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Be sure to taste test before freezing.

Get the coconut lemon ice cream recipe.

3. No-churn vegan chocolate ice cream

That can of coconut cream in your pantry has been waiting for this moment. First, chill it in the fridge overnight. Then blend it up with dates for sweetness, cocoa powder for chocolatey richness, and a little almond milk for consistency. Congrats! You’ve just created the stuff of vegan dessert dreams (all without hauling out the ice cream maker).

Get the no-churn vegan chocolate ice cream recipe.

4. Mango coconut ice cream

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A few bites into this mango coconut ice cream and you may mistake your kitchen for a tropical island. Blend the coconut milk and frozen mango until smooth or leave in a few solid fruit pieces for some texture. We think serving with a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of shredded coconut makes it even better.

Get the mango coconut ice cream recipe.

5. Chocolate avocado ice cream

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Chocolate ice cream you can eat for breakfast? Sign us up. This maple-sweetened mixture of frozen banana and avocado is a sweet way to snack after a workout or even before a long workday (who are we to judge?). It makes a great after-dinner treat too.

Get the chocolate avocado ice cream recipe.

6. Raspberry coconut ice cream

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Not only is this raspberry ice cream a delightful shade of pink, the recipe also calls for a big splash of electrolyte powerhouse coconut water. The best part: There’s no additional freezing required, so this dish is ready in 5 minutes.

Get the raspberry coconut ice cream recipe.

7. Peanut butter banana ice cream

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Peanut butter and banana might seem a better combo than PB&J after a few bites of this ice cream. Freeze banana slices, then blend with peanut butter in a powerful blender or food processor. Soft-serve lovers will want to dive in immediately, but this ice cream can be frozen for optimal scooping.

Get the peanut butter banana ice cream recipe.

8. Raw vegan chocolate ice cream

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Calling all chocoholics! You wouldn’t know from the way it looks, but this rich ice cream gets its silkiness from coconut milk and a ripe avocado. It’s sweetened with banana and a touch of agave (swap the latter for maple syrup if you’re not a fan). Mix up the the ice cream base, then stick it in the freezer for a good few hours to firm up.

Get the raw vegan chocolate ice cream recipe.

9. Blueberry lavender ice cream

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No-churn doesn’t mean less fancy. Join the finer things club with this dreamy blueberry ice cream.

Dairy- and refined sugar-free, this dessert is a result of creamy cashews and plump dates blended with fresh blueberries. The lavender can easily be omitted if you can’t find culinary-grade flowers — don’t worry, the ice cream will be just as refreshing without.

Get the blueberry lavender ice cream recipe.

Sure, an ice cream maker can be a useful kitchen accessory if you’re regularly churning out frozen desserts.

But if you don’t happen to have one (or just don’t feel like waiting for its hour-long cycle before you dig into something cold and sweet), give these 9 recipes a whirl… or a blend… or a process. You’ll land yourself with faster, easier ice cream access — and, if you ask us, that’s never a bad thing.

9 Ice Cream Recipes That Don’t Require Fancy Equipment (2024)

FAQs

How to make ice cream without special equipment? ›

Method #1: Two Ingredient Ice Cream

Simply whip 2 cups of heavy cream, by hand or with an electric mixer, until stiff peaks form. Slowly drizzle in a chilled can of sweetened condensed milk. Add your desired flavorings or mix-ins. Remove to an airtight container and freeze.

How to make professional ice cream at home? ›

In a Blender

Just blend together condensed milk, prepared custard (without sugar), heavy cream and vanilla extract. Once the mixture is smooth and thick, transfer to a loaf pan and press down an unbleached parchment paper so no ice crystals form. Freeze just until set, for a minimum of 12 hours.

How to make ice cream at home in 10 minutes? ›

Step 1In a small resealable plastic bag, combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla. Push out excess air and seal. Step 2Into a large resealable plastic bag, combine ice and salt. Place small bag inside the bigger bag and shake vigorously, 7 to 10 minutes, until ice cream has hardened.

How to make crystal free ice cream at home? ›

Leave your mixing bowl in the freezer for 24 hours ahead of time. Nearly every homemade ice cream recipe requires a large bowl where you mix your ingredients. Freeze this bowl for 24 hours before making your ice cream so that your ingredients start freezing as soon as you pour them into the bowl.

How to make ice cream without ice crystals? ›

Cook the base - Heating the ice cream base deactivates enzymes that can make ice cream icy. Bring the base to 170-180°F. Chill thoroughly - Let the base chill in the fridge 4-12 hours before churning. Starting colder prevents early crystal formation.

How to make creamier ice cream? ›

When it comes to great ice cream, cold temperatures and speed are your friends: the faster you bring your base from liquid to solid, the creamier it'll be. In a 2-quart unit, a typical batch of ice cream will take between 18 and 25 minutes to churn.

How to make ice cream in the old days? ›

Vanilla Ice Cream:

Mix ½ cup sugar or 1/3 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons corn syrup 1 teaspoon flour and a few grains salt. Add to milk and stir until thickened. Cover and cook ten minutes. Beat 1 egg yolk slightly, add a portion of the hot milk, return to double boiler and stir and cook one minute.

How do you make ice cream without a scooper? ›

A butter knife is a handy tool for serving ice cream, especially if you don't mind not having perfectly rounded scoops. It slices right through the ice cream, even if it's frozen hard, and the ice cream slides cleanly off into the bowl when scraped along the edge.

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