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Home > 30 Minutes Meals > 3 Ingredient Ice Cream

3 Ingredient Ice Cream

By: Imsen | Posted: January 28, 2023 | Updated: March 5, 2023 | 15 Comments

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This 3 Ingredient Ice Cream recipe is the ideal way to celebrate the start of summer. There is no need for expensive machinery, ice cream makers, or specialized utensils because it only requires 3 ingredients!

Looking for a more easy recipe to make? Try this Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli, Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes, or this Quick & Easy Gouda Mac and Cheese.

overlay shot of vanilla ice cream on a grey dish

Why you’ll love it

The most popular ice cream flavor in the US, and possibly the entire world, is vanilla. It can be eaten simply or with a variety of toppings. It complements desserts like pies, root beer floats, banana splits, and sundaes wonderfully. Making it at home is incredibly enjoyable and simple; if I can do it, so can you. Let’s get going!

On top of this, this recipe requires no machine or complex ingredients and instructions.

close-up of vanilla ice cream

What you’ll need for this 3 ingredient vanilla ice cream

Traditionally, making custard is the first step in making handmade ice cream. A pre-frozen ice cream maker is then filled with the custard, and it is stirred until the custard solidifies into a creamy treat.

Just 3 ingredients are required to make this vanilla ice cream:

  • Heavy Whipping Cream – Without cream, ice cream is impossible to make!
  • Vanilla extract – Its delicious vanilla flavor comes from vanilla extract.
  • Sweetened condensed milk – will aid with the texture and sweetness of the ice cream.

In this recipe, I used roasted almonds (optional) and honey to give it a little more crunchy texture and sweetness.

How to make 3 ingredient ice cream

There is no need for an ice cream maker to produce this ice cream; it only takes 3 basic ingredients and 3 simple processes.

overlay shot of vanilla ice cream on a grey surface

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla (per the recipe below). Use a real vanilla bean and scrape the little seeds out for a flavor that is more potent. To the mixture, add.
  2. Whip the heavy whipping cream until firm peaks form in the second cold bowl.
  3. Gently combine by folding until combined. Avoid overmixing to ensure a light and airy final product.

You are now prepared to freeze it! Simply pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan, then wrap it in plastic.

I added a few more extra steps to my recipe by adding roasted almonds (crushed) mixed with honey to the base of the ramequin, so when it flips down the ice-cream will be supported by the almond’s base.

What Does No-Churn Mean?

No-churn ice cream can be created without an ice cream maker and is ready to eat in a matter of hours. It is delicious homemade vanilla ice cream. The base of most homemade ice creams is an egg custard that is prepared with the same tender loving care as your firstborn kid. Not this one, though.

Storing Homemade Ice Cream

The secret is to protect the ice cream from temperature changes once it has been produced. Here are a few suggestions to keep the ice cream fresh:

  • Before closing the container lid, wrap plastic wrap around the ice cream. This stops ice crystals from growing on the ice cream’s surface. (This works with ice cream from the store as well.
  • Instead of storing it in a deep container, use a flat one.
  • To maintain the same temperature, store it near the back of the freezer rather than the door.

close-up of vanilla ice cream

Variations and substitutions

I enjoy making the homemade ice cream base and then letting each person’s unique palate decide on their preferred flavor. Plus, this recipe will be the key to your success if you want to make a DIY ice cream bar that doesn’t take a long time to make.

Here are some of my personal favorite taste combinations in the hopes that they would encourage you to develop your own:

  • Vanilla beans, frozen strawberries, black pepper, and white chocolate chips make up the Peppered Strawberry Bean.
  • White chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, lime juice, and lime zest make up a key lime pie.
  • Freshly minced mint leaves, peppermint extract, green food coloring, and micro chocolate chips make up the Minty Mini-Chocolate Chip.
  • The Islander: Salted caramel, macadamia nuts, and toasted coconut with pineapple chunks.

Tips for Making No-Churn Ice Cream

  • Purchase the proper ingredients. It’s crucial that you get all of the ingredients stated in the recipe card below because this homemade ice cream recipe only calls for a small number of ingredients. Your ice cream won’t turn out properly if you try to use lesser fat or lower sugar substitutes.
  • Make sure to just add a tiny bit at a time when flavoring the vanilla ice cream base with additional extracts, such as mint or almond. Although it is difficult to overuse vanilla extract, other extracts are much stronger.
  • Last but not least, chop up your add-ins. It helps if you slice up larger nuts, chocolate chips, M&Ms, and other items before freezing them because they become extremely hard.

More Delicious recipes:

Quick & Easy Gouda Mac and Cheese

Easy Turkish Baklava Recipe

Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes

Grilled Buffalo Chicken

close-up of vanilla ice cream with a spoon near it

3 Ingredient Ice Cream

This 3-ingredient homemade ice cream base is the easiest way to make creamy ice cream that isn't icy.No special equipment is needed.
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin Email Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Italian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Freeze: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 293kcal
Author: Imsen
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 tsps vanilla extract
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  • Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to beat the cream in a large bowl until stiff peaks form; do not overwhip. When you remove the beaters and the cream stands at attention, the cream is finished.
  • Whisk the vanilla into the sweetened condensed milk in a separate, sizable bowl. Use a spatula to softly fold the whipped cream into the other mixture so that it stays airy and light.
  • If you're making many flavors, divide the cream mixture into smaller bowls before gently folding in your chosen add-ins. If you're preparing just one flavor, simply stir the ingredients into the cream mixture.
  • Place the mixture in paper containers or an insulated tub and freeze for 4-6 hours.

Recipe Notes

Note that this recipe is an all-rounder, if you want the exact same results here are a few tips:
  • Transfer the cream base to a small ramequin.
  • Put on top of the filled ramequin some roasted almonds mixed with honey.
  • Make sure to cover the empty ramequin with plastic wrap so it makes it easier to flip down the ice cream.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
3 Ingredient Ice Cream
Serving Size
 
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
293
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
21
g
32
%
Saturated Fat
 
13
g
81
%
Cholesterol
 
79
mg
26
%
Sodium
 
69
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
183
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
 
23
g
8
%
Sugar
 
22
g
24
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
806
IU
16
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
144
mg
14
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Follow @ambitiousfoodieblog on Instagram, take a shot, and tag it #ambitiousfoodieblog! I love to see what you are making!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sonal Gupta

    January 28, 2023 at 2:00 PM

    5 stars
    I am so trying this recipe when the weather gets warmer.

    Reply
    • Imsen

      January 28, 2023 at 6:33 PM

      5 stars
      so refreshing and yummy!

      Reply
  2. TAYLER ROSS

    January 28, 2023 at 3:50 PM

    5 stars
    I made this with the kids today and it was the easiest, most delicious ice cream we’ve ever made! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
    • Imsen

      January 28, 2023 at 6:33 PM

      5 stars
      you are welcome and glad the kids liked the recipe!

      Reply
  3. Gina Abernathy

    January 28, 2023 at 4:26 PM

    5 stars
    I love ice cream all year long. I am making this today!

    Reply
    • Imsen

      January 28, 2023 at 6:34 PM

      5 stars
      glad you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  4. Sandra

    January 28, 2023 at 4:55 PM

    5 stars
    Cannot wait to try this easy looking ice cream recipe. Looks amazing!!

    Reply
    • Imsen

      January 28, 2023 at 6:34 PM

      5 stars
      you are welcome 🙂

      Reply
  5. NANCY

    January 28, 2023 at 5:37 PM

    5 stars
    IT DOESN’T GET ANY EASIER THAN 3 Ingredient Ice Cream! AWESOME!

    Reply
    • Imsen

      January 28, 2023 at 6:34 PM

      5 stars
      yeah this is by far the most simple and easy way to make an ice cream!

      Reply
  6. Dannii

    February 27, 2023 at 8:53 AM

    5 stars
    This was quick and easy to make and the kids loved it.

    Reply
  7. Anjali

    February 27, 2023 at 9:04 AM

    5 stars
    I love that you don’t need an ice cream maker to make this ice cream! I made this for dessert tonight and served it with some warm cookies and it was a hit!

    Reply
  8. Vidya Narayan

    February 27, 2023 at 11:06 AM

    5 stars
    Cant wait to try this recipe in the next couple of months when the weather is warm. looks delicious & 3 ingredients only.

    Reply
  9. KAte

    February 27, 2023 at 11:28 AM

    5 stars
    I was so shocked how well this came out and so easy! No-churn for the win! Thanks for the sweet treat!

    Reply
  10. Ned

    February 27, 2023 at 12:11 PM

    5 stars
    Perfect ice cream! I love that there was only 3 ingredients! Fun to make it with my kids. Thank you!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Imsen!

I am the author, recipe developer, and photographer behind Ambitious Foodie. Welcome to my virtual kitchen! If you’re wondering what’s for dinner, you’ve come to the right place.

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