Make homemade ice cream. No special tools required.
Making homemade ice cream ranks near the top of my all-time favorite recipes to cook with my kids. But making ice cream by hand can be a chore. And I’m not one for investing in single purpose kitchen tools like an ice cream maker (we certainly don’t need more clutter in our kitchen!). There are lots of ways to make ice cream without a machine, but we weren’t prepared to wait overnight for our creamy treat to freeze in plastic bags or mess around with whisking and stirring eggs into a slowly simmering pot of milk. So we came up with a quick and easy ice cream recipe that doesn’t require an ice cream maker. If you’ve got a food processor, you’re in business!
Start with your favorite fruit. Peaches are a top pick at our house. Blueberries and raspberries work beautifully too. The flavor is always best if you start with seasonal fresh fruit from your local farmers’ market, then freeze it. But if you’re looking for a quick hit you can use frozen fruit in the bag.
Blend up the frozen fruit with sugar in your food processor, then slowly add heavy cream and a touch of vanilla. It’s that easy. And oh so yummy!
Join us for a 52 New Foods Ice Cream Party at Williams-Sonoma to learn how to make this easy homemade ice cream recipe and a few other frosty treats. Saturday May 23rd, 10am, all stores nationwide! For the full schedule of upcoming classes, check out our calendar of events: 52 New Foods Kids Cooking Classes at Williams-Sonoma.
Download the free class materials here: Ice Cream Without An Ice Cream Maker
Homemade Ice Cream Without An Ice Cream Maker
This quick ice cream recipe is one of our family favorites. It reminds us of carefree summer vacations, and the pleasures of a simple, homemade treat enjoyed with friends and family.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Serves 6
Ingredients for Homemade Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker:
1 pound frozen peaches (substitute blueberries or raspberries if you prefer)
1/3 cup sugar
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¾ cup heavy cream
Chopped walnuts, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate chips for mix-ins (optional)
Directions for Homemade Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker:
1. Load the frozen peaches into a food processor with the sugar and process until the mixture looks like snow.
2. With the machine running, add the vanilla and cream. Process for 2 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Stir in toppings, if using.
4. Serve immediately. This ice cream is best enjoyed right away.
Tip: Pour the mixture into popsicle molds to turn your ice cream into ice pops!
Pin it! Homemade Ice Cream Without An Ice Cream Maker
Pin our recipe for Homemade Ice Cream Without An Ice Cream Maker. For more tasty treats, check out our Healthy Desserts board on Pinterest.
- 1 pound frozen peaches (substitute blueberries or raspberries if you prefer)
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- Chopped walnuts, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate chips for mix-ins (optional)
- Load the frozen peaches into a food processor with the sugar and process until the mixture looks like snow.
- With the machine running, add the vanilla and cream. Process for 2 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Stir in toppings, if using.
- Serve immediately. This ice cream is best enjoyed right away.
