Have you ever tried to make homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker? Spoiler alert: it’s nearly impossible! There are several reasons why homemade ice cream is so difficult to make without a special machine, including the fact that it typically just freezes into a big, icy block of ice cream shards. And no one wants wet, icy, and rock-solid ice cream!
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But it turns out that while making delicious homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker is nearly impossible, it can indeed be done! In just a few simple steps, you can make homemade ice cream that manages to avoid all the classic pitfalls. This ice cream turns out light, creamy, and with a texture that’s almost like soft serve! I was honestly a bit shocked at how well it works!
So give this method a try sometime this summer, and see how “sweet” life can be when you know the secrets to making incredible homemade ice cream (with no special equipment required!)
How To Make Homemade Ice Cream (Without An Ice Cream Maker)
You’ll need:
Step 1 – Whip Half Of The Cream
Ice cream makers do a good job of churning ice cream and introducing a lot of air into the mixture and gives it a lighter texture. You can replicate this by whipping about half of the cream before mixing in the other ingredients.
Use your stand mixer or a hand mixer to whip half of the cream until it is stiff, then set it aside. Then take the other half of the cream and mix it with the rest of the ingredients in your ice cream recipe. Finally, carefully fold the whipped cream into the rest of the mixture.
Step 2 – Freeze It In Ice Cube Trays
The second thing ice cream makers do well is freeze ice cream quickly. This is crucial because the faster the ice cream freezes, the smaller the ice crystals will be. Small ice crystals equal smooth, creamy ice cream, while large ice crystals equal icy, rock-hard ice cream.
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But you can replicate the fast freeze of an ice cream maker just by using a couple of ice cube trays! Spread your prepared ice cream base into the cavities of a couple of ice cube trays, then place the trays in your freezer until the ice cream cubes are completely frozen.
Step 3 – Put It In Your Food Processor
The last step is to go from frozen ice cream cubes to light and creamy ice cream. And for that, you’ll need the help of your food processor. Just drop the ice cream cubes in, then run the food processor until your ice cream reaches your desired texture. And there you go, delicious soft-serve-style ice cream—no ice cream maker required!
Need A Good Ice Cream Recipe?
If you’re in need of a good ice cream recipe so you can give this method a whirl, I’ve got you covered! Check out the link below to grab my very favorite fresh fruit ice cream recipe. (It’s what we used to make the ice cream pictured in this post, and it turned out perfectly!)
Related: Homemade Fresh Fruit Ice Cream
What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?
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Food & Recipes Desserts
Thank you so much for the recipe. I hope to purchase an ice cream maker sometime in the future, but in the meantime I’d like to try out your recipe without the machine. Could you tell me how much is 2 baskets of fruit? I live in Panama and most of the fruit is sold loose. How many cups would that convert to? Thanks again for your lovely and informative website, I look forward to seeing your posts every morning.
They are pint baskets! :-)
Thank You Jillee!
Oh this looks so wonderful. Any possibility it could be done with something other than dairy? Thanks a million for your wonderfully helpful ideas, Jilly.
The link to the ice cream recipe is using an ice cream maker :-(
This looks good. We used to have an ice cream maker, but it died on us several years ago. I like this easy method. We will definitely try this method.
Yes the recipe shown is for use with an ice cream maker. I’m sure it can be used for this method too.
Thankyou so much for the ice cream method without the use of an ice cream maker. My husband and I just downsized and he donated my ice cream maker! It’s my turn to bring the home made ice cream for our July 4th family celebration. Now I won’t have to put out money for a new ice cream maker.
Um s
Very good, another moment with Jillee!
Thank you.
Do not see a list of ingredient amounts only a photo.
yes it is a bit confusing but if you read to the end there’s a link to an ice cream recipe