Summer brings long, sunny days and a craving for cool, creamy treats. Homemade ice cream is the perfect way to beat the heat, offering endless flavor possibilities and the satisfaction of crafting something delicious from scratch.
Whether you’re a fan of classic vanilla, adventurous fruit blends, or indulgent chocolate creations, these 20 homemade ice cream recipes will keep your freezer stocked and your taste buds happy all summer long. No ice cream maker? No problem—many of these recipes include no-churn options. Let’s dive into the world of frozen delights!
1. Classic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Nothing beats the simplicity of vanilla ice cream made with real vanilla beans. This rich, creamy base is versatile and pairs perfectly with any topping.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
- 5 large egg yolks
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, heat cream, milk, sugar, vanilla bean seeds, and pod over medium heat until steaming but not boiling.
- Whisk egg yolks and salt in a bowl. Slowly pour in half the hot cream mixture, whisking constantly.
- Return mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring, until it thickens (about 5-7 minutes). Do not boil.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve, discarding the vanilla pod. Cool completely.
- Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer instructions, then freeze for at least 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Whip 2 cups heavy cream to stiff peaks, fold in 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk mixed with 1 tbsp vanilla extract, and freeze for 6 hours.
2. Strawberry Swirl Ice Cream
Fresh strawberries bring a burst of summer flavor to this creamy treat with a vibrant swirl.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
- 3/4 cup sugar, divided
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Puree strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar. Simmer in a saucepan until thickened, about 10 minutes. Cool.
- Heat cream, milk, and remaining sugar until warm. Stir in vanilla and cool.
- Churn the cream mixture in an ice cream maker. In the last 5 minutes, drizzle in half the strawberry puree for swirls.
- Transfer to a container, layering with remaining puree. Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Blend strawberry puree with 1 can sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, swirl in extra puree, and freeze.
3. Chocolate Fudge Ripple Ice Cream
For chocolate lovers, this decadent ice cream features a rich fudge ripple running through every scoop.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup fudge sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions:
- Heat cream, milk, sugar, and cocoa powder until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate and vanilla, and cool.
- Churn in an ice cream maker. Layer churned ice cream in a container with spoonfuls of fudge sauce.
- Freeze for 4 hours to set.
No-Churn Option: Mix cocoa powder and melted chocolate into sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, swirl in fudge sauce, and freeze.
4. Peach Cobbler Ice Cream
This recipe captures the essence of a Southern peach cobbler in frozen form, complete with buttery crumble bits.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups peeled, chopped peaches
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup crumbled shortbread or pie crust
Instructions:
- Cook peaches with sugar until soft, about 10 minutes. Puree half and chop the rest. Cool.
- Heat cream, milk, and vanilla until warm. Cool completely.
- Churn cream mixture, adding peach puree in the last 5 minutes. Fold in peach chunks and crumble bits.
- Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Mix peach puree with sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream with peach chunks and crumble, and freeze.
5. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Fresh mint leaves give this ice cream an authentic flavor, balanced by dark chocolate chunks.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves
- 5 large egg yolks
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Heat cream, milk, sugar, and mint leaves until steaming. Remove from heat and steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain, reheat, and temper into egg yolks. Cook until thickened, then cool.
- Churn in an ice cream maker, adding chocolate chips in the last 5 minutes. Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Use 1 tsp peppermint extract in sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream with chocolate chips, and freeze.
6. Lemon Sorbet
Light and refreshing, this sorbet is a palate cleanser perfect for hot days.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups water
Instructions:
- Combine sugar and water in a saucepan, heating until dissolved. Cool.
- Mix in lemon juice and zest. Churn in an ice cream maker.
- Freeze for 2 hours.
No-Churn Option: Freeze mixture in a shallow dish, stirring every 30 minutes for 3 hours to break up ice crystals.
7. Coffee Toffee Crunch Ice Cream
Espresso-infused ice cream with toffee bits for a morning-inspired treat.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp instant espresso powder
- 1/2 cup toffee bits
Instructions:
- Heat cream, milk, sugar, and espresso powder until sugar dissolves. Cool.
- Churn in an ice cream maker, adding toffee bits in the last 5 minutes.
- Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Mix espresso powder into sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream with toffee bits, and freeze.
8. Mango Coconut Ice Cream
Tropical mango and creamy coconut make this a summer escape in every bite.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups mango puree
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp lime juice
Instructions:
- Blend mango puree, coconut milk, cream, sugar, and lime juice. Chill.
- Churn in an ice cream maker. Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Mix ingredients with sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, and freeze.
9. Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Sweet and salty, this ice cream is pure indulgence.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 5 large egg yolks
Instructions:
- Melt sugar in a saucepan until amber. Slowly add 1 cup cream, stirring until smooth. Add milk and salt.
- Temper into egg yolks, cook until thickened, and cool with remaining cream.
- Churn and freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Mix caramel sauce and salt into sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, and freeze.
10. Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Cream cheese and blueberry swirls mimic the classic dessert.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions:
- Cook blueberries with 1/4 cup sugar until thickened. Cool.
- Blend cream cheese, cream, milk, and remaining sugar. Churn.
- Layer with blueberry sauce and freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Blend cream cheese and blueberry sauce into sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, and freeze.
11. Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
A kid-friendly favorite with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 15 chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
Instructions:
- Heat cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla until sugar dissolves. Cool.
- Churn, adding crushed cookies in the last 5 minutes. Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Fold crushed cookies into whipped cream mixed with sweetened condensed milk and vanilla, then freeze.
12. Lavender Honey Ice Cream
Floral lavender and sweet honey create an elegant dessert.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tbsp dried lavender
- 5 large egg yolks
Instructions:
- Heat cream, milk, honey, and lavender until steaming. Steep for 20 minutes, then strain.
- Temper into egg yolks, cook until thickened, and cool.
- Churn and freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Infuse lavender in warmed honey, mix with sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, and freeze.
13. Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream
A creamy blend of bananas and peanut butter for a comforting treat.
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
Instructions:
- Blend bananas, peanut butter, cream, milk, and sugar. Churn.
- Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Blend bananas and peanut butter with sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, and freeze.
14. Cherry Almond Ice Cream
Tart cherries and nutty almonds in a creamy base.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pitted cherries, chopped
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 cup toasted almonds, chopped
Instructions:
- Cook cherries with sugar until syrupy. Cool.
- Heat cream, milk, and almond extract. Cool.
- Churn cream mixture, adding cherries and almonds in the last 5 minutes. Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Mix cherry syrup and almond extract into sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream with cherries and almonds, and freeze.
15. Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
Earthy matcha powder gives this ice cream a vibrant color and unique flavor.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp matcha powder
- 5 large egg yolks
Instructions:
- Heat cream, milk, sugar, and matcha until sugar dissolves. Temper into egg yolks.
- Cook until thickened, then cool. Churn and freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Whisk matcha into sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream, and freeze.
16. Pineapple Sorbet
Bright and tropical, this sorbet is a refreshing escape.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups fresh pineapple, pureed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp lime juice
Instructions:
- Heat sugar and water until dissolved. Cool.
- Mix with pineapple puree and lime juice. Churn.
- Freeze for 2 hours.
No-Churn Option: Freeze mixture, stirring every 30 minutes for 3 hours.
17. S’mores Ice Cream
Campfire vibes with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow fluff.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup chocolate chunks
- 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
Instructions:
- Heat cream, milk, and sugar until sugar dissolves. Cool.
- Churn, adding graham crumbs and chocolate in the last 5 minutes. Swirl in marshmallow fluff.
- Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Fold graham crumbs, chocolate, and marshmallow fluff into whipped cream mixed with sweetened condensed milk, then freeze.
18. Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream
Tart raspberries swirl through a sweet cream base.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Cook raspberries with sugar until thickened. Cool.
- Heat cream, milk, and vanilla. Cool.
- Churn cream mixture, layering with raspberry sauce. Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Swirl raspberry sauce into whipped cream mixed with sweetened condensed milk, then freeze.
19. Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Toasted pecans in a buttery, creamy base.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Melt butter with brown sugar, add cream and milk, and heat until sugar dissolves. Stir in vanilla and cool.
- Churn, adding pecans in the last 5 minutes. Freeze for 4 hours.
No-Churn Option: Mix brown sugar and butter into sweetened condensed milk, fold into whipped cream with pecans, and freeze.
20. Watermelon Sorbet
Light and hydrating, this sorbet captures the essence of summer.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups watermelon, pureed and strained
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
Instructions:
- Heat sugar with 1/2 cup watermelon puree until dissolved. Cool.
- Mix with remaining puree and lime juice. Churn.
- Freeze for 2 hours.
No-Churn Option: Freeze mixture, stirring every 30 minutes for 3 hours.
Tips for Perfect Homemade Ice Cream
- Chill Thoroughly: Ensure your base is fully chilled before churning to achieve a smooth texture.
- Experiment with Add-Ins: Mix in nuts, candies, or cookie crumbs for extra crunch.
- Storage: Store ice cream in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.
- No Ice Cream Maker?: No-churn recipes rely on whipped cream and sweetened condensed milk for creaminess.
These 20 recipes offer a mix of classic, fruity, and indulgent flavors to keep your summer sweet and refreshing. Grab your ingredients, fire up your ice cream maker (or freezer), and enjoy the fruits of your labor with every creamy scoop!
