How to Make Homemade Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker
So, you want to make one of these but you don’t have an ice cream maker?
Without a doubt, the most popular comments and emails that I receive following an ice cream recipe in the summer is, “I wish I had an ice cream maker so I could make this!” Well folks, if you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can make homemade ice cream! Much like you can certainly make homemade bread without a bread maker (people were doing that hundreds of years ago!), you can also create delicious homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker. It takes a bit longer, but the results are every bit as delicious! While the majority of makers are relatively inexpensive now (under $50), I certainly understand how things on the kitchen wish list get assigned a very low priority when there are other things to tend to. So, below you will find a brief tutorial (with links to more in-depth tutorials with photos) on how to make ice cream at home without using an ice cream maker.
There are two methods you can use to manually freeze your cream – either with a handheld mixer (method “A”) or completely manual (method “B”). The tutorials linked to below illustrate these different methods.
Making Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker (Method A)
1. Prepare the custard base as directed in the recipe (including chill time in the refrigerator).
2. Remove custard from the refrigerator and stir with a rubber spatula. Transfer the mixture to a freezer-safe bowl or container (if not already in one). Cover tightly with plastic wrap or an airtight cover. Place in the freezer and allow to freeze for 2 hours.
3. Remove from the freezer and beat with a hand mixer to break up the ice crystals that are beginning to form. Cover and place back in freezer for 2 more hours.
4. Remove from the freezer and beat again with the hand mixer. The ice cream should be thick but too soft to scoop. If it is not thick enough, return it to the freezer for additional freezing time. Beat again. If the ice cream has thickened properly, stir in any add-ins at this point (chocolate chips, cookie chunks, etc.). Do not beat with the hand mixer after the add-ins have been mixed in.
5. Pour into a plastic airtight freezer container, leaving at least ½-inch space at the top. Cover and place the container in the freezer and allow the ice cream to freeze until firm.
Source: How to Make Homemade Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker (RecipeTips.com)
Making Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker (Method B)
1. Prepare the custard base as directed in the recipe (including chill time in the refrigerator).
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2. Remove custard from the refrigerator and stir with a rubber spatula. Transfer the mixture to a deep freezer-safe bowl or container and place in the freezer for 45 minutes.
3. As it starts to freezer near the edges, remove from the freezer and stir vigorously with a fork or whisk, being sure to break up any frozen sections. Return it to the freezer.
4. Continue to check every 30 minutes, stirring vigorously as it’s freezing. It is estimated that it will take 2-3 hours for the ice cream to sufficiently frozen and ready.
*Note: David also recommends a hand held mixer for best results, or even an immersion (stick) blender.
Source: How to Make Ice Cream Without a Machine (David Lebovitz)
Ice Cream Maker Recommendations
All that being said, if you are looking to invest in an ice cream maker (and if you’re planning on making ice cream on even a semi-regular basis, I would definitely encourage you to invest), below are recommendations:
KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment. ($60) This is what I use, and if you already have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, I highly recommend it. (It also comes recommended from Cook’s Illustrated.)
Cuisinart Automatic Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, and Sorbet Maker. ($42) This is the other recommended model by Cook’s Illustrated, which is my go-to source for information on kitchen equipment. I always check out their reviews before making a kitchen purchase.
The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz. ($13) Not an ice cream maker, but if you’re going to be making ice cream (either with a maker or manually), I would consider this your bible. Not only awesome recipes, but great information on ingredients, equipment, and processes as well.
Ice Cream Recipes Pictured Above:
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Classic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Pistachio Nut Ice Cream
Chocolate Ice Cream
Tin Roof Ice Cream
Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Espresso Ice Cream
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Rocky Road Ice Cream
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Very informative post, though I must say I am very glad to be the proud owner of an ice cream maker. It’s one of the most well-used appliances in my kitchen.
What a very helpful post. Even though I just used my ice cream maker for the first time, it’s nice to have your post as a go-to–just in case! Thanks so much!
The ice cream looks delicious. I’m definitely going to try one of the two methods. I’ll let you know how it goes!
I think my taste buds just fainted… many thanks for sharing! Perfect timing for summer :) Love it!
Thank you so much for posting this!! i have been wanting to try out so many icecream recipes but they all call for an ice cream making (duh!) until i can get an attachment for my kitchen aid, i think ill give one of these methods a try!
Thanks so much for this post! I have very little space, so an ice cream maker is out of the question. But knowing I can do it without is awesome!
Ditto on what Fuji Mama said! A great post, and a reminder that we have been cooking for thousands of years…this equipment obsession is a new thing.
This is such a great post. Isn’t it funny what we have convinced ourselves of here in the US? Things like the belief that making cream puffs must be hard, or that pasta sauce is hard to make so I should just buy some storebought stuff. Thank you for reminding us that we don’t have to spend a lot of money to be able to treat ourselves to wonderful homemade goodies. When we lived in Japan this is the way I had to make ice cream. We didn’t have enough room in our small apartment from me to bring all of my kitchen appliances, so I had to carefully choose what I knew I couldn’t/didn’t want to live without.
I also love the KitchenAid attachment. Also, for a good frozen yogurt, I highly recommend this:
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/lemon-blueberry-frozen-yogurt
I just discovered you from a comment you left on the Picky Palate, I’m excited to start following you! Ice cream is one of my favorite desserts… and I have always wanted to try to make my own – I will have to try it now :)
Great tips! This is perfect for my friends w/o ice cream makers! Thanks! :)
its a good thing to look at to make home made ice crame
Maybe one day I’ll be bold and try it!
Thanks for that great summer time ice cream recipe. It is great to know you do need an ice cream maker, looks delicious!
um, you just blew my mind. i always automatically skipped posts with ice cream because i didn’t have an ice cream maker! that’s about to change :o) THANK YOU!
Really great tips. I don’t have an ice cream maker yet so “method a” will come in handy for me. Thanks for sharing these helpful tips.
what a great tip! i’m bookmarking this and making homemade ice cream this weekend!
Thank you times a million! I’ve always wanted to make my own ice cream. Over the weekend, I even showed my husband the ice cream maker that I wanted. I’ll have to follow your tips and tricks until I get an ice cream maker!
This is awesome. Thanks so much!!
Thanks very much! I have been drooling wistfully over so many ice cream recipes recently. Now I can make them myself sans ice cream maker. :)
Homemade ice cream is such a treat. And I love that you don’t have to have an ice cream maker to make it. Awesome post Michelle.
I can’t wait to try this! I’m very excited.
Thank you so much for the ice cream advice! I am a college student living on a tight budget in a tiny, cramped apartment, so an ice cream maker wouldn’t exactly be the most practical purchase for me right now. Ha. It kills me to see so many delicious ice cream recipes and not be able to make any of them. But now I can try one of these methods! I’m so excited! :)
Like many others, I too have been eyeing the KitchenAid ice cream attachment, and had simply resigned myself to waiting until I made that purchase to make ice cream. Thanks for this tutorial on how to make ice cream without a maker!!! I am loving this! Now, all I need to do is go back through your blog and several others and decide which flavor I will make first!!! :)
Simply awesome. I have a huge cuisinart machine that cost me around 300$, but it makes a mean ice cream. The thing is, it has refrigeration, so I do not have to freeze the bowl. That is all good for my part.
All of that ice cream looks amazing! Which one should I make first? :)
ooooo, can’t wait to study this post, I will be using this for sure!! Happy Monday, if there is such a thing!
Thank you so much! I want to try this, but I will probably also get an ice cream maker in the near future.
Thank you for this post. My family LOVES ice cream, and I’ve been contemplating ordering the Kitchen Aid attachment.
I made David Lebovitz’s easiest chocolate ice cream. It’s got mashed banana in it and tastes just as creamy as churned ice cream! no machine, no custard base, no opening and closing the fridge… check it out here: http://limecake.net/2010/03/03/the-easiest-chocolate-ice-cream/
This is a great guide. I’ve been thinking of getting an ice cream maker, so thank you for the recommendations too!