Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe: Tips for Making Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Vanilla ice cream is a sweet frozen dessert made from milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla flavoring from vanilla seeds, pure vanilla extract, vanilla seed paste, or a combination. As the quintessential center of ice cream sandwiches and the foundation of every classic hot fudge sundae, vanilla ice cream is fully customizable and flavorful enough to enjoy on its own.

You can make vanilla ice cream using an ice cream machine or mix it by hand in stages over a few hours. There are simple four-ingredient recipes and old-fashioned frozen custards made with rich egg yolks—the key to all of them is the prevalence of real vanilla bean flavor.

There are a few ways to achieve that classic French vanilla flavor when making homemade vanilla ice cream:

1. 1. Pure vanilla extract: Vanillin, the primary flavor compound in the vanilla pod, is more soluble in alcohol than water, so extracts are used to create an infusion with a strong vanilla flavor. It’s made by running alcohol through chopped-up vanilla beans and then aging the mixture. Manufacturers add vanilla extract towards the end of the cooking process since prolonged heat will cause the flavor compounds to change or evaporate.
2. 2. Whole vanilla beans: Whole vanilla bean pods are harvested from vanilla orchids while still green and not quite ripe. After harvest, the pods are heated to release their flavor compounds (this also turns them brown). Fresh vanilla beans are scentless; they must be damaged to release their aroma, which is why you must split open the bean with a paring knife before steeping it in milk or cream.
3. 3. Vanilla bean paste: Vanilla bean paste is sold as either pre-scraped beans or a combination of vanilla bean powder and vanilla extract. Vanilla bean paste is a convenient substitute for vanilla beans, with a more intense vanilla flavor than extract alone. Thus, vanilla bean ice cream has a more vanilla-forward taste than ice cream made with vanilla extract.

The ingredients that make up the best vanilla ice cream may be a matter of opinion, but there are a few handy tips that will guarantee a delicious starting point:

1. 1. Use full-fat dairy products for creamier results. The difference between a velvety scoop of ice cream lies in its fat content, so plan to use a combination of whole milk, half and half, or heavy whipping cream. (The same is true for alternative or plant-based milk: Coconut milk is one of the most popular vegan ice cream ingredients because of its high-fat content.)
2. 2. Incorporate add-ins for texture and complementary flavor. Vanilla is the ultimate pairing for a wide variety of beloved ice cream mix-ins. Stir in ready-made chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough, a swirl of peanut butter, or chocolate hazelnut spread in the final phases of freezing. You can also create your own three-in-one Neapolitan-style ice cream; evoke chocolate ice cream with swirls of fudge sauce and strawberry ice cream with macerated strawberries.
3. 3. Use plastic wrap to store. To prevent ice crystals from forming on the surface of your homemade ice cream, lay a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface before storing it in your freezer.
4. 4. Serve it alongside other sweet treats. While few things beat eating ice cream straight from the carton, the floral spice of vanilla ice cream suits baked goods particularly well. Serve a scoop alongside a slice of apple pie, a helping of blueberry cobbler, or warm brownies.