Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt over medium heat.2 cups whole milk, 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 pinch salt
- Stir the mixture constantly, ensuring the sugar dissolves completely. The goal is to heat the mixture until it’s steaming, but do not boil. Boiling can scald the milk and alter the delicate flavor. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
- Once the milk and cream mixture is hot and steaming, remove it from the heat. Stir in the pure vanilla extract. The quality of your vanilla extract will significantly impact the final flavor, so use a good one!1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- Pour the mixture into a clean bowl or pitcher. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the liquid to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This chilling step is crucial for allowing the flavors to meld and for the base to be sufficiently cold for churning.
- Once your base is thoroughly chilled, pour it into your ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific ice cream maker. Typically, this involves churning for 20-30 minutes, or until the ice cream has a soft-serve consistency.
- Transfer the churned ice cream to an airtight container. Press a piece of parchment paper or wax paper directly onto the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming. Cover the container with its lid.
- Place the container in the freezer for at least 2-4 hours, or until the Grandma's Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream is firm enough to scoop.
Notes
To store Grandma's Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, always use an airtight container. Press a piece of parchment paper or wax paper directly onto the surface of the ice cream before sealing the lid. Properly stored, homemade vanilla ice cream can last for up to 2 weeks in the freezer. If your ice cream becomes too hard to scoop after freezing, let it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften slightly before serving.
