This easy vanilla ice cream is simple to make and is egg free. Great on its own, in an ice cream sundae or paired with your favourite dessert.
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Vanilla ice cream is such a classic flavor and goes perfectly with just about any dessert including my classic ice cream sundae. This one is an easy version but does need a ice cream maker. If you don't have an ice cream churner you could make my no churn vanilla ice cream without an ice cream machine. If you're feeling more adventurous you can try my rich vanilla bean ice cream with a custard base. Or if you're looking for an alternative to vanilla you can try my sour cream ice cream which pairs perfectly with fruit baked desserts.
What's the difference between vanilla essence and vanilla extract?
It depends on what country you live in. Often vanilla essence refers to imitation vanilla flavoring, which is a budget-friendly option for flavoring desserts. Vanilla extract usually refers to vanilla flavoring made by extracting the flavor from vanilla beans. This gives a natural, richer, full-bodied vanilla flavor but is more expensive. Sometimes however the term vanilla essence and vanilla extract are used interchangeably so it's worth checking the labels where you live.
You can also use whole vanilla beans, sometimes called vanilla pods where is where the natural vanilla flavor is extracted from. You use vanilla pods by splitting the pods open, scrapping out the seeds inside and infusing the whole pod for maximum flavor. This arguably produces the best vanilla flavor but is by far and away the most expensive option.
Ingredients
Vanilla extract: sometimes also called vanilla essence, depending on where you live. You can use either, or imitation vanilla essence, depending on your preference and budget.
Cream: in Australia I use thicken cream. The key thing is it needs to have a fat content of around 35% or you risk your ice cream being icy.
Milk: gotta be the full cream stuff, so around 3.5% fat. Anything less is going to make your ice cream icy.
Castor sugar: for both taste and scoop-ability. Castor sugar is best here as it gives a clean taste to the ice cream, I don't recommend replacing it with other sugars.
Tapioca starch: is a natural and accessible way of both thickening and stabilizing the ice cream.
Optional:
Glucose syrup – also called confectioner’s glucose. It's available from some supermarkets or specialty baking stores. A small amount of glucose syrup helps lower the freezer point of ice cream and improves the texture and scoop-ability of the ice cream. If you can’t get glucose syrup you can substitute with the same amount of light corn syrup or powdered dextrose, commonly available from brewing shops. Do not add to much or your ice cream will melt in a red hot minute!
How to make easy vanilla ice cream:
Measure the tapioca starch into a small bowl. Measure out the milk, then add a couple of tablespoons into the bowl with the tapioca starch. Mix well to form a slurry and get out all the lumps.
Add the milk, cream, sugar and glucose syrup if using to a small pot on the stove. When measuring the glucose syrup ideally use a digital kitchen scale, otherwise make sure it's a flat half a tablespoon. Heat on high and stir well until all the sugar is dissolved.
Add tapioca starch slurry and stir well for a few minutes on medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Add vanilla essence and stir well. Transfer the mix to a heat-proof container and chill in the fridge for at least four hours, ideally overnight.
Put your ice cream storage container in the freezer to chill. If using a self-churning machine, turn it on about ten minutes before you churn your ice cream. Otherwise, take the churning bowl out of the freezer right before churning.
Pour mixture into ice cream churner and churn. It will be the consistency of soft serve when done. Transfer to a chilled container and freeze until firm.
HOW TO SERVE:
If you did not use glucose syrup you may need to leave the ice cream in the fridge for about ten minutes to soften up enough to scoop. Otherwise remove from the freezer, scoop, and enjoy! Great on its own, in an ice cream sundae, or paired with your favorite desserts. Delicious!
HOW TO STORE:
You can store this ice cream in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to two weeks for the best texture. It will still taste good after this but may become icier over time.
Have you made this recipe? Tell me how it when in the comment below and tag me on Instagram so I can see your delicious creations! #KCAEIC
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📋 Recipe
Easy vanilla ice cream
Equipment
- ice cream maker
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons (5gms) tapioca starch
- 1 cup (250gms) full cream milk
- 2 cups (500mls) thickened cream
- ½ cup (110gms) castor sugar
- ½ tablespoon (15gms) glucose syrup *optional
- 2 teaspoons (10mls) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Put the tapioca starch into a small bowl. Measure the milk. Add a couple of table spoons of milk into the bowl with the tapioca starch and mix well to form a slurry.
- Add remaining milk, cream, sugar and glucose syrup (if using) to a small saucepan.
- Heat on high, stirring well until all the sugar is dissolved.
- Add tapioca starch slurry and mix well for a few minutes.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Add vanilla essence or extract and mix well.
- Transfer to heatproof container, cover and chill in fridge for at least four hours, ideally overnight.
- Put storage container into freezer to chill
- If using a self churning machine turn it on ten minutes before churning to cool down. Other wise remove the bowl from the freezer just before churning.
- Churn the ice cream. It will be the consistency of soft serve when done.
- Transfer churned ice cream to chilled container and freeze until firm.
- To serve remove from the freezer, scoop and enjoy! Great on its own, in a ice cream sundae or pared with your favourite desserts. Delicious!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate based on an online database. The nutritional content of ingredients may vary by brand. If you require accurate nutritional information, you should calculate this based on the specific brands and products you are using.
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Paolo Paolo
I love ice cream! I haven't used tapioca starch before but will definitely try this amazing recipe!
Erin
My kids love vanilla ice cream! It's the best flavor! Thanks for this delicious recipe. It is very versatile as well.
Farrah
Yay! I've been wanting to try making my own ice cream--love that this is so easy to make and that's cool that it's egg-free! I need to find my ice cream maker!
Peter
TRULY easy. thank you for a wonderful recipe!
Alexandra
The best ice cream, if you ask me - so good with everything!
Stacy Boswell
I havent heard of thickened cream. But I think heavy whipping cream will work for this recipe. Looks yummy, thanks for sharing!
Gavin
Can't beat a classic - this and some rhubarb crumble = heaven!
Robyn
I have never used tapioca starch in ice cream before, what a delicious recipe!
Rachi
Nothing beats a good vanilla ice cream!!! Especially when it’s homemade.