20 No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes That Don’t Require a Fancy Ice Cream Maker (2024)

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20 No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes That Don’t Require a Fancy Ice Cream Maker (1)

By Taryn Pire

Published Jul 27, 2021

Ice cream: It’s our solution for blazing summer heat, an impromptu dessert emergency and bad days alike. And there’s no better tasting scoop out there than one you’ve made yourself. Luckily, you don’t need a fancy ice cream maker to whip up a few pints. Some come together with the help of a stand mixer, while others just need a few minutes of vigorous whisking and a stint in the freezer. Here are 20 no-churn ice cream recipes to make at home.

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Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen

1. 3-ingredient Ice Cream (with Endless Variations)

All you really need to pull off the essential no-churn ice cream base is heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk, which offers both silkiness and sweetness. But to achieve that classic flavor, vanilla extract is just as crucial.

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Matthew Septimus/Rose’s Ice Cream Bliss

2. Lemon Ginger No-churn Ice Cream

How does it stay billowy and creamy without any ice crystals for weeks on end, you ask? The silky Italian meringue base keeps it impossibly smooth.

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Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. No-churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

If you’re short on time, you can always use store-bought chocolate chips…but since you have to wait for the cream to chill anyway, why not go the extra mile by chopping your own dark chocolate?

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4. Salted Caramel Toffee Pretzel Ice Cream

Eat your heart out, Ben & Jerry’s. This tasty no-churn concoction features vanilla ice cream with toffee, salted caramel and crunchy pretzel pieces for the ultimate sweet-and-salty treat.

5. No-churn Cake Batter Ice Cream With Golden Oreos

Usually, we spring for real vanilla extract—but to get that signature cake batter flavor, use clear imitation vanilla extract instead. You can find it in your grocery store’s baking aisle.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Raspberry Ice Cream

Five ingredients, fresh summer raspberries and no special equipment required? Pinch us, we’re dreaming.

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7. No-churn Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream

This rich treat made with coconut milk and pitted dates is just the ticket for your plant-based dinner guests. Jazz it up with cinnamon, a dash of espresso or cacao nibs.

Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen

8. No-churn, 4-ingredient Plum Swirl Ice Cream

The swirl is as simple as simmering summer plums and sugar on the stove for 30 minutes until the fruit releases all its juice. But you could easily substitute any flavor of store-bought jam to save time.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Ricotta-honey Ice Cream

We whip heavy cream and fold in ricotta cheese sweetened with honey, then transfer the mixture to a baking dish and freeze—no churning required. Ta-da.

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10. No-churn Tiramisu Ice Cream

Chopped ladyfingers + instant espresso + mascarpone + store-bought fudge = a coffee lover’s kryptonite.

11. No-churn Sugar Roasted Peach Pie Ice Cream

This ice cream tastes like everything we love about Southern desserts and summer all at once. The secret ingredient? Bourbon. Sorry, kiddos—this one’s just for the adults.

Photo/Styling: Taryn Pire

12. 3-ingredient Cookies And Cream Ice Cream

The only hard part about this recipe is waiting for it to freeze before devouring it. Feel free to use Thin Mints, vanilla wafers, chocolate chip cookies or even chopped brownies instead of Oreos if you’d like.

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13. No-churn Brownie Batter Ice Cream

This decadent-beyond-belief dessert has a secret ingredient that offers fluffiness and tang. (OK, we’ll spill: It’s cream cheese.)

14. No-churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

The recipe makes a whopping 12 servings, so it’s a great excuse to throw an alfresco dinner party. (Or hey, just polish the whole thing off yourself. We won’t judge.)

15. No-churn Coffee Caramel Ice Cream

Your go-to morning latte in dessert form. It’s as easy as spiking our two-ingredient ice cream base with instant espresso powder, store-bought dulce de leche and toffee bits.

16. No-churn Black Forest Ice Cream

Our favorite chocolate cake just got a frosty makeover. There are *tons* of fresh cherries in it, so just pretend it’s a fruit salad and help yourself to a second bowl.

17. Keto Ice Cream

Low-carb, keto-friendly ice cream is a thing. A delicious, ingenious thing. All it takes is five ingredients (most importantly powdered monk fruit sweetener) and less than five minutes of prep time.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Honey-peach Semifreddo

This Italian treat is guaranteed to impress the pants off everyone at your next cookout. Despite its fancy appearance, the silky custard only needs ten ingredients and a night in the freezer to come together.

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19. Strawberry Ice Cream

Typically, adding strawberries to ice cream makes the mixture too icy due to their water content. But if you roast and puree them, you’ll get smooth, creamy results every time. The more you know.

20. No-churn Minted White Chocolate Swirled Ice Cream

Isn’t she lovely? The heavy cream is simmered with fresh mint and infused with peppermint extract for maximum flavor. If you don’t want to use store-bought food coloring, a little spirulina will go a long way.

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For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.

20 No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes That Don’t Require a Fancy Ice Cream Maker (22)

Taryn Pire

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...

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20 No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes That Don’t Require a Fancy Ice Cream Maker (2024)

FAQs

What can I use if I don't have an ice cream maker? ›

4 Easy Ways to Make Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Machine
  • Use a Food Processor or Blender. Kim's Cooking Now! Try this recipe: Five-Minute Ice Cream. ...
  • Use a Mason Jar. Here's what you'll need: ...
  • Use a Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer. Erin Vasicek. ...
  • Use a Plastic Bag. Try this recipe: Fresh Fruit Ice Cream in a Baggie.
Sep 3, 2020

Do you need an ice cream maker to make good ice cream? ›

A lot of people think it's necessary to have an ice cream maker to make good quality ice cream, but that is just not true. Yes, an ice cream maker does make things easier, and also adds in more air (or overrun) which give ice cream its light and airy quality that we all love about store-bought ice cream.

Can you use milk instead of heavy cream for ice cream? ›

Don't worry too much if you don't have whole milk or heavy cream. Nearly any milk will work, and you can substitute half-and-half for the cream. Ideally you want ingredients with a high fat content because these will create a creamy texture when cooled.

What is the difference between ice cream maker and no churn ice cream? ›

Besides not needing an ice cream machine to make this, there are other differences between no-churn ice cream and ice cream made in a machine. One difference is that no-churn ice creams are made without eggs. Another difference is the use of sweetened condensed milk in place of granulated sugar.

How to make professional ice cream at home? ›

You can make ice cream without an ice cream maker

After chilling your ice cream base, pour it into an ice-cold pan and freeze for 30 minutes. Then use the hand mixer to beat the mix until smooth. Repeat this process over and over until you've reached the right consistency.

How do you make ice cream in a Ziplock bag? ›

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.

Why put eggs in homemade ice cream? ›

Eggs are used in ice cream to add a rich flavor and color, in- hibit ice crystallization, and also to help stabilize or emulsify the fat and liquid so the resulting product is smooth and creamy. Commercial manufacturers use pasteurized eggs, stabilizers, and other ingredients to produce a safe and acceptable product.

What ingredient makes ice cream thick? ›

Egg Yolks: The most traditional thickening agent, egg yolks contain natural proteins and fats that contribute to a rich and luxurious texture in custard-based ice creams. Cornstarch: Often used in non-custard ice creams, cornstarch mixed with milk helps thicken the base and create a smooth mouthfeel.

Do eggs make ice cream creamier? ›

Eggs leverage the fat already present in the ice cream base (the butterfat in cream and milk) and make it work even further for a creamier texture. But wait, there's more! Egg yolks also improve the stability of an ice cream, reducing its tendency to melt before you can get it from freezer to cone to mouth.

What happens if I dont churn ice cream? ›

The churning is necessary because the key to great ice cream is to freeze the custard without allowing ice crystals to develop. Those crystals won't affect the flavor, but they do have an impact on the texture.

Do you save money making your own ice cream? ›

Depends on what (or who) you're trying to recreate. You can make Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia cheaper at home. But you'll lose money copying Edy's Cookie Cobblestone Ice Cream (especially if it's on sale). Turns out heavy whipping cream is pretty expensive, at least in comparison to the other ingredients you'll need.

Can you use a mixer instead of an ice cream maker? ›

Start your mixer on the Stir setting before adding your ice cream mixture to the frozen bowl. Do not add your ice cream base until the dasher is in motion. Continue mixing and churning for 20–30 minutes for a soft serve ice cream consistency that can be served immediately.

Can you use a blender instead of an ice cream maker? ›

Make creamy, dairy-free ice cream, or nice cream, in a blender with ingredients like bananas, mangos, avocados or full fat coconut cream and any other dairy free add-ins like nuts or caramel. Blend until smooth and freeze in an airtight container until solid, then scoop and enjoy.

How do you make ice without an ice maker? ›

Fill a small cooler with 5-6 inches of water and place it in a freezer with the lid off. After 20-24 hours, there will be a 3-4 inch ice block with water under the ice. All the air and impurities will be in the unfrozen water leaving crystal-clear ice cubes.

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