This easy homemade ice cream is creamy, smooth, and requires no ice cream maker. You can make it in different flavors like strawberry, vanilla, mango, or chocolate.
Ingredients
For the basic ice cream:
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For strawberry flavor:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1–2 tablespoons sugar, optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
For mango flavor:
- 1 cup ripe mango puree
- 1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice
For vanilla flavor:
- Use the basic mixture and add an extra ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the fruit
For strawberry ice cream, blend the strawberries until smooth. If desired, mix with sugar and lemon juice. Chill the puree for about 15–20 minutes.
For mango ice cream, simply blend ripe mango until smooth and refrigerate until cold.
2. Whip the cream
Pour the cold heavy whipping cream into a large mixing bowl.
Using an electric mixer, whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Don’t overbeat, or the cream can become grainy.
3. Add condensed milk
Pour the sweetened condensed milk into the whipped cream.
Add vanilla extract and a small pinch of salt.
Gently fold everything together with a spatula until smooth. Avoid stirring too aggressively because you want to keep the mixture fluffy.
4. Add your flavor
For strawberry ice cream, gently fold in the chilled strawberry puree.
For mango ice cream, fold in the mango puree.
For vanilla ice cream, simply leave the mixture as it is.
5. Transfer to a container
Spoon the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container.
Smooth the top with a spatula.
For a pretty swirl, add a few spoonfuls of fruit puree on top and gently swirl it with a knife.
6. Cover and freeze
Cover the container tightly with a lid or plastic wrap.
Freeze for 6–8 hours, or preferably overnight, until completely firm.
7. Let it soften before serving
Remove the ice cream from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes before scooping.
Serve in bowls or cones and enjoy! 🍓🥭🍦
Tips for Extra Creamy Ice Cream
- Use very cold heavy cream for the best whipping.
- Don’t overwhip the cream.
- Use full-fat sweetened condensed milk for a rich texture.
- Cover the ice cream tightly to prevent ice crystals.
- For strawberry or mango ice cream, use ripe, flavorful fruit for the best taste.
Flavor ideas: 🍓 Strawberry • 🥭 Mango • 🍦 Vanilla • 🍫 Chocolate • 🫐 Blueberry • ☕ Coffee • 🍪 Cookies & Cream
