47 Homemade Ice Cream Recipes to Make Right Now
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Start your summer strong by whipping up some of our best homemade ice cream recipes. No ice cream maker? No problem. Below you’ll find no-churn ice cream recipes, ice pop recipes, and ice cream cake recipes you can make using your favorite store-bought pints. Avoiding dairy? We have plenty of vegan recipes too. Sorbet, gelato, sherbet, semifreddo, you name it—it’s all here. There are recipes for ice cream connoisseurs and novices alike. For the creatures of habit, there are recipes for chocolate ice cream and vanilla ice cream—and flavors like prune-Armagnac and coffee-cardamom for the thrill seekers. Welcome to the vast and wonderful world of homemade ice cream. Aren’t you glad you’re here?
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova1/47
Tin Roof Ice Cream
Tin Roof brings together vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and peanuts in a perfect trifecta. David Lebovitz turns the classic parlor treat into an extra chocolatey riff on fudge ripple. Here's how to make it step-by-step.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton2/47
Blackberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Ribbons of blackberry jam in the fluffy whipped cream give this traditional icebox cake a fruity twist, plus chocolate ice cream and a graham cracker crunch to take it to the next level.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht3/47
Pistachio Ice Cream
Raw pistachios add the green hue to this silky ice cream, while toasted ones add crunch and rich flavor.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou4/47
Bourbon Butterscotch Ice Cream
A caramelly combo of butter and brown sugar drives the flavor in this creamy treat. A shot of bourbon gives it a boost, but it would still be a delicious ice cream if you want to skip the booze.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews5/47
No-Churn Almond and Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream
FYI: You can achieve a creamy ice cream texture without an ice cream machine. Just whip heavy cream with chilled sweetened condensed milk before freezing, like in this nutty, no-churn ice cream recipe. No almond extract? No problem. Vanilla bean paste makes a great substitute.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton6/47
Nutterbuddy Ice Cream
Bring pastry chef Dana Cree’s cold confections to your kitchen with this peanut butter– and chocolate-studded vanilla ice cream that's filled with crispety crunchety bits.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone7/47
Boozy Piña Colada Ice Cream
This recipe for zhuzhed-up store-bought coconut ice cream is clutch for those summer days where time gets away from you, but the craving for a frozen treat doesn’t. Get pineapple-rum pizzazz with just 10 minutes of prep time, no ice cream maker required.
- Photo by Dana Gallagher8/47
Prune-Armagnac Ice Cream
Prunes may not be the most popular of mix-ins, but they become luscious and luxurious in this boozy ice cream recipe that’s bound to flip the script for the prune-averse.
- Photo by David Loftus9/47
Pista Kesar Kulfi (Pistachio and Saffron Kulfi)
Add-ins like finely ground pistachios and a pinch of saffron give this creamy Indian ice cream flavor bomb a floral, earthy finish that’ll keep you coming back for more.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt10/47
Vegan Banana Ice Cream
Watching frozen bananas blend into ice cream seems like magic—no sugar or dairy required.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton11/47
Double Ripple Ice Cream Cake
This ice cream cake is a tie-dyed frozen treat. The blondie “crust” is topped with a vanilla ice cream base and add-ins like seedy maple syrup and swirls of cooked plum.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou12/47
Buttermilk Ice Cream
In addition to the standard ingredients (like milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla), this recipe gets a tangy twist from buttermilk and a silky texture from egg yolks, rendering it one of the best ice creams you can eat for dinner.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews13/47
No-Churn Fresh Mint and Chocolate Ice Cream
You don’t need an ice cream maker to whip up this chocolate ice cream recipe. Fresh mint and chocolate chips give it tons of personality, but you could easily turn it into rocky road by leaving out the mint and folding in some marshmallows and toasted walnuts instead.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton14/47
Raspberry and Pistachio Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Layers of nutty pistachio ice cream and bright, jam-flavored whipped cream make for a lovely pastel duo in this riff on a classic frozen treat.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Simon Andrews15/47
No-Churn Labneh and Lime Ice Cream With Granola
Labneh gives this no-churn ice cream serious soft serve yogurt vibes. With the crushed granola, you could almost eat it for breakfast (recommended).
- Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee16/47
Strawberry Honey Balsamic With Black Pepper Ice Cream
This recipe from Portland's Salt & Straw takes sweet, rich strawberry ice cream up a notch. Add-ins like honey-balsamic vinegar and finely ground black pepper give it a twang, a tang, and a punch.
- Photo by Liz & Max Haarala Hamilton17/47
Pomegranate-Yogurt Ice Pops
Leave your ice cream maker on the shelf. For this easy recipe, you’ll need minimal ingredients, just a few minutes of prep time, and an ice pop mold. For a vegan version, replace the yogurt with soy milk.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton18/47
Peach and Butter Pecan Ice Cream Icebox Cake
Peach ice cream, check. Butter pecan ice cream, check. Vanilla whipped cream, check. Ritz crackers? In this icebox cake, the salty snack adds another buttery layer to the classic summer flavor combination.
- Jenny Zarins19/47
Dark Chocolate and Cardamom Ice Cream
Ground cardamom and dark chocolate are a perfect pairing; the spice adds a pine-like dimension that really pops in this homemade chocolate ice cream recipe. Seeds from a vanilla bean add depth, richness, and complexity.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton20/47
Peanut Butter, Banana, and Jelly "Ice Cream"
A favorite childhood classic sandwich, but make it ice cream. No ice cream maker necessary—the peanut butter and banana ice cream mixture comes together practically instantly courtesy of a few frozen bananas and a food processor. Drizzle in some grape jelly, and voilà: Fun for the whole family.
- Christina Holmes21/47
Sweet and Sour Strawberry Semifreddo With Black Sesame
Epi contributor Claire Saffitz’s semifreddo recipe with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and black sesame seeds comes together without any heavy lifting or special equipment.
- Christopher Testani22/47
True Vanilla Ice Cream
There's nothing humdrum about this homemade vanilla ice cream recipe, but if you’re skeptical, no problem! It’ll also make a great ice cream base for any upgrade your heart desires.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton23/47
No-Churn Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Three ingredients. No ice cream maker. No nonsense. This no-churn ice cream recipe combines sweetened condensed milk, flaky salt, and cold heavy cream.
- Photo by Dana Gallagher24/47
Eggnog Ice Cream
Just like ice cream isn’t exclusively a summer treat, eggnog shouldn’t be reserved for Christmas. Bring the holiday cheer year-round with this custard base that's spiked with nutmeg, sherry, rum, and brandy.
- Photo by William Meppem25/47
White Peach and Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream
For this no-churn recipe, you'll freeze the custard solid, then cut it into cubes and blitz in the food processor to aerate it and make it creamy.
- Photo by Sidney Bensimon26/47
Roasted Banana Vegan Ice Cream
Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream has mastered vegan pints that taste like classic cream mixtures, without the heavy cream. With their easy recipe, you can, too.
- Marcus Nilsson27/47
Roasted Strawberry–Buttermilk Sherbet
Unlike sorbet, some sherbets include dairy, and the buttermilk in this recipe is the star. Sour cream, roasted strawberries, and seeds from a vanilla bean are all tied for second in this tangy frozen treat.
- Photo by David Loftus28/47
Lemon Ice
This dairy-free recipe is easy to make and has only a few ingredients, but it'll be the most refreshing thing you eat all summer.
- Sidney Bensimon29/47
Earl Grey Tea Ice Cream
Hot tea, cold ice cream! Infuse black tea perfumed with citrusy bergamot oil into a custard base for this delicious ice cream recipe.
- Photo by Sidney Bensimon30/47
Apple Crumble Ice Cream With Calvados and Créme Fraîche
Mix bits of toasty crumble topping and cinnamon-spiced apples into a vanilla ice cream base for a dessert that's easy as pie.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi31/47
Yogurt-Peach Semifreddo
Leave the skins on your peaches for the purée and get a beautiful pink swirl in this creamy, peachy summer semifreddo.
- Photo by Kristin Perers32/47
Date Ice Cream (Buza ‘Ala-Tamr)
Dates are the primary sweetener in this Arabian dessert, perfect for those who want to cut down on refined sugar but still want a sweet frozen treat.
- Photo by Sidney Bensimon33/47
Mint Chip Ice Cream
With just a touch of mint extract added to a creamy custard base, this mint chip ice cream is white (not green), and speckled with chocolate chips.
- Levi Brown34/47
Cheesecake Ice Cream With Strawberry Sauce
This combination of two desserts in one might just be the best ice cream you have all summer, and you don’t even need an ice cream maker to enjoy it.
- Levi Brown35/47
Peanut Butter Ice Cream With a Hard Chocolate Shell
This cheater's ice cream is made by stirring melted peanut butter into store-bought whipped topping and freezing until scoopable. It may seem wrong, but it tastes oh so right.
- Steve Legato36/47
Chocolate Malted Ice Cream
Love chocolate malted milk balls? This ice cream recipe replicates all of the flavor without the gritty crunch. The malt flavor of the candies is echoed by the malted milk powder in the ice cream.
- Levi Brown37/47
Coffee-Cardamom Ice Cream with Figs
Spicy-sweet cardamom is a perfect complement to bitter coffee. Add in baked phyllo for crunch and fresh or dried figs for a sundae with plenty of texture.
- Stacy Newgent38/47
Goat Cheese Ice Cream With Roasted Red Cherries
You read it right: goat cheese ice cream. Whisk goat cheese with whole milk to form the custard base, then mix in roasted red cherries for a sweetness that's just like the center of a cheese danish.
- Paige Green39/47
Malted Vanilla Ice Cream With Peanut Brittle and Milk Chocolate Pieces
Make and break your own DIY peanut brittle, to give this malted vanilla ice cream some crunch.
- Romulo Yanes40/47
Gianduia Gelato
Some of us are well acquainted with the hazelnut-and-chocolate combo from eating Nutella by the spoonful. This luxurious and easy recipe is perfect for when you need your fix in the form of a fancy a frozen treat.
- Photo by Paige Green41/47
Brown Sugar Ice Cream With a Ginger-Caramel Swirl
This swirl of brown sugar, ginger, and caramel in a vanilla ice cream base might be reminiscent of wintery gingerbread, but this is a treat you’ll want year-round.
- Marcus Nilsson42/47
Grapefruit "Creamsicle"
Tart grapefruit sorbet is great on its own, but pair it with store-bought vanilla ice cream, and you have a creamsicle in a cone.
- Photo by Tara Fisher43/47
Brownie Ice-Cream Sandwich
Using a no-churn method for the cookies ‘n’ cream flavored ice cream means these brownie sandwiches are about as easy as ice cream sandwiches get.
- Photo by Candice Kumai44/47
Matcha Coconut Ice Cream
This creamy vegan ice cream is made with a coconut milk base that’s infused with matcha and a touch of vanilla extract. Top it with chocolate chips, sprinkles, fresh mint, or whatever your heart desires.
- Sidney Bensimon45/47
Lime, Ginger, and Lemongrass Sorbet
Save this homemade sorbet recipe for any time you need a refreshing cool-down or mid-meal palate cleanser.
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Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Use creamy peanut butter for a smooth ice cream or crunchy peanut butter for a bit of texture. Top it with chocolate fudge sauce to add even more decadence. Fancy a sandwich? Use this peanut butter ice cream to make PBJ Ice Cream Sandwiches.
- Photo by David Loftus47/47
Sweet Corn Ice Cream With Butterscotch
Of course corn ice cream makes perfect sense—corn is good friends with dairy and during summer it's just as sweet as strawberries, peaches, and other fruits commonly spotted in ice cream recipes.
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