My wife’s cousin bought us an ice-cream maker as a housewarming gift years ago. It’s fun and easy to use, plus it makes delicious ice cream! Here’s a basic recipe for homemade vanilla ice cream that is easily expandable to include compotes, fruits, cookie dough, or other add-ins. Note: you need an ice cream maker to make this recipe.

Ingredients

• 4 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• Add-ins such as cookie dough, berries, fruit compote, or chocolate chips

Process

Note: This recipe will take several hours as the ice cream mix must be cool before entering the ice-cream maker.

1. Add egg yolks and sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until combined.
2. Meanwhile, in a second saucepan, heat the milk to a simmer.
3. Using a large spoon, gradually add the warm milk to the egg yolk mix, stirring the egg yolk mix slowly with a wooden spoon the entire time. This process is called tempering. Slowly adding the milk prevents the hot milk from scalding the egg yolks.
4. Once the milk is added in, heat the mixture to 165 degrees and remove the pan from the heat.
5. Chill the pan in the refrigerator to a temperature of 65 degrees or lower. This will take several hours.
6. Once the ice cream mix is cool, remove it from the refrigerator. Add the heavy cream and vanilla and stir.
7. Set up and turn on your ice-cream maker. Add the mix to the drum, and then add in any extras, such as sliced strawberries or chocolate chips.
8. After about 15 or 20 minutes, you will have fresh, delicious, home-made ice cream!

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