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Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream – This southern style custard based homemade ice cream recipe is enhanced with the richness of heavy cream and made irresistible with fresh strawberries in season during the Spring and Summer. Whether you want to layer it in this Berry Icebox Cake, add it to a Graham Cracker Crust to make a super easy Icebox Pie or add three scoops to your ice cream cones, the options are endless! If you love this, also try my Raspberry Ice cream, Coffee Ice Cream, Corn Ice Cream, Peach Pie Ice Cream and Berry Ripple Ice Cream.
Strawberries are the quintessential childhood treat that I continuously come back to time and time again. The berries are fruity, sweet, and mildly acidic to bracingly sour depending on their ripeness and the individual variety. The inviting perfume that releases from a strawberry when you take a bite is addicting. I could eat strawberries in any way, shape or form: strawberry punch bowl cake, strawberry crumbles, this addictive strawberry pound cake, or strawberry cheesecake. But because of my incredible mother ice cream holds a special place in my heart.
Remembering those summers of my youth with my mom inspired this strawberry ice cream recipe. My mom would take me to the ice cream parlor for strawberry ice cream. Now that I’m a mom, instead of taking my daughter to the ice cream parlor, I want to pass down my strawberry ice cream recipe to her. She can then pass it down to my granddaughter and so on. Besides, homemade strawberry ice cream tastes way better than anything I’ve ever had at an ice cream parlor. when in reality it’s simple and produces some of the best quality ice cream you’ll ever have.
What Ingredients Are Used in Making Ice Cream with Strawberries?
The ingredients that make a strawberry ice cream super creamy and luscious are the following:
- Eggs and Egg Yolks
- Sugar
- Heavy Cream
- Half and Half
- Fresh Strawberries
- Vanilla Extract
The eggs and additional egg yolks add a lot of richness to this recipe and create the custard that is needed for a smooth mixture.
Sugar of course is super important to sweeten the recipe. Feel free to make changes to this amount. If you grab strawberries during the spring and summer season when they are indeed in season, you might have a much sweeter variety than those you would get in the fall and winter. Adjust accordingly.
The addition of heavy cream and half and half creates a wonderful indulgence to the recipe. It makes the ice cream sooo creamy!
Lastly fresh strawberries (or even frozen strawberries if that is all you have on hand) and finally vanilla extract that brightens the flavor even more are the last ingredients.
How to Make Homemade Ice Cream with Strawberries
The process starts by beating both eggs and egg yolks with your sugar while bringing heavy cream and half and half to a boil. Ice cream is only as good as the ingredients you use to make it. So if you can afford it, buying high-quality cream and eggs will ensure a fresher taste. The same rule applies to the strawberries and vanilla extract that will be added later on.
Next, slowly add three tablespoons of the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture to temper it and whisk together to combine. Then slowly add in the rest of the milk mixture and continue to whisk the entire time to make sure it doesn’t scramble. I’m sure no one wants chunks of scrambled egg lingering in their sweet treat.
Add that perfectly sweet strawberry puree, vanilla extract and food coloring if you choose to use it. There’s no shame in adding in that perfect pop of pink but even without it the result is delicious.
Your next move is key. Chill your mixture until completely cool. I’ll say it one more time for the people in the back. Completely cool. Doing this enables your mixture to be aerated as much as possible in the maker, making for the creamiest, smoothest ice cream possible.
Once your mixture has cooled it’s time to get it into your mixer. If you’re using the type of ice cream maker that uses a freezer bowl, make sure to freeze the bowl at least 24 hours ahead of time. If your bowl is not cold enough there’s a chance your mixture will never freeze properly. Disregard this tip if you’re using any other kind of ice cream maker. Be sure to add your mixture to an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions and freeze.
The end result is strawberry ice cream like you’ve never had it before. The taste of natural strawberries comes through while leaving that sickly sweet artificial berry flavor that lingers on the teeth. The texture is smooth, light and oh so wonderfully creamy. You’ll never look at strawberry ice cream the same way again.
How to Properly Store Ice Cream
I love to add my ice cream to some amazing cartons. They allow me to store them in disposable containers that I can also gift to family and friends during the summer. They are easy to carry as well and store in the freezer since they don’t take up too much room.
If you love Ice Cream, definitely check out these other homemade ice cream recipes:
Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
Equipment
- Ice Cream Maker
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 pound strawberries pureed with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- Red food coloring if desired
Instructions
- Beat eggs and egg yolks in a medium sized bowl. Next add sugar to the bowl and whisk together.
- Add heavy cream and half and half to a large pot and heat to boiling level. Remove from heat.
- Slowly add three tablespoons of the hot milk mixture to the egg mixture to temper it and whisk together to combine. Then slowly add in the rest of the milk mixture and continue whisk the entire time to make sure it doesn't scramble.
- Stir in strawberry puree, vanilla extract, and food coloring, if using.
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours to chill completely.
- Add your mixture to an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions and freeze.
- Store in freezer while not serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Could you do this with peaches? Any idea as to quantity and sugar?
Yes! I’d use around 4 cups of sliced peaches. I do have a peach pie ice cream recipe if you want to try it! You can always leave out the pie crust.
Oh my! Where are the 10 stars when I need them? Huge applause to you and Big Mama for this amazing recipe. It is strawberry season here and I wanted to make something special with them. Gracious, this ice cream went beyong my expectations. It is simply extraordinary! So creamy and so easy to make too. In fact, I thought I’d read the recipe incorrectly. Where was the step calling for 10 minutes of cooking the mixture on the stove until the custard coated a wooden spoon? GONE! No need! I was a bit sceptical but no more. This recipe is pure genius…and so darn good that my guests are going to have to scrape the bottom of the container to find any. Ha!
Seriously, you all are the very best and I just want to say how grateful I am for all the love and work you put into sharing your recipes with the rest of us. Mmmm, mmmm, delish!