When I bought an ice cream maker
This ice cream perfectly scoopable straight from the freezer, and whether savored on its own or topping an oven-warmed dessert, it’s a perfect scoop indeed. Lighter than most, it calls for 2% milk and half and half rather than whole milk and heavy cream. It’s more like an ice cream/gelato hybrid than an intensely creamy, heavy ice cream. Homemade ice cream recipes generally call for 5 to 6 eggs, but this one only requires 2, which makes it less expensive, too. That said, organic milk and eggs go a long way in making this ice cream so tasty. They’re worth it!
| Light Vanilla Bean Ice Cream |
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1 vanilla bean
- 3/4 cups turbinado (raw) sugar
- dash of salt
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 1/2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
- Combine milk and half-and-half in a medium sized, heavy sauce pan or Dutch oven.
- Use a small paring knife to slice open the vanilla bean (lengthwise from top to bottom). Use a spoon to scrape out the insides. Add the insides and the rest of the vanilla bean to the pan.
- Over medium-high heat, heat the mixture until tiny bubbles form around the edge (which should be about 180 degrees). Do not let it boil!
- Remove from heat, cover and let stand for ten minutes.
- In a new bowl, combine sugar, salt and egg yolks. Whisk the mixture until it is pale.
- Temper the milk mixture by gradually adding half of the milk mixture to the egg mixture, while stirring constantly with a whisk.
- Pour the egg/milk mixture back into the pan with the rest of the milk.
- Cook over medium-low heat for about two minutes (or to 160 degrees), stirring constantly.
- Pour the mixture into a bowl. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally to speed the process. Place the bowl in the fridge overnight. That way the mixture will have time to cool completely, and more time to soak up the flavor from the vanilla bean. If you don’t have time to let it sit overnight, be sure that it is at least thoroughly and completely chilled before proceeding to the next step. The colder it is, the creamier it will be.
- Use a spoon to scoop out the solid vanilla bean, and discard it.
- Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. In the meantime, chill your freezer-safe ice cream container in the freezer so the ice cream won’t melt when you transfer it.
- Transfer the ice cream to your container and freeze it for a few hours. Enjoy perfectly scoopable, delicious vanilla bean ice cream!
Since today is officially the first day of fall, let’s hear it for fall desserts! What’s your favorite? Be sure to comment below or on my new Facebook page!
18 Comments
here is an easy recipe for the days you need a quick fix ;)
http://www.elleinadspir.com/2010/08/ice-cream-soda-pop-vanilla-on-top.html
I’m all about homemade ice cream, but my lighter versions usually freeze hard as a rock – the fact that your vanilla ice cream is scoop-able straight from the freezer speaks volumes :). Once I tire of pumpkin desserts, I will definitely be making this!
I love “white” posts. They’re so light and airy. :) Shaun will be making this tonight, I’m sure.
Such a classic. And what beautiful photographs! I love it, Kate! :-)
It’s time for breakfast, but now I want ice cream! Looks so delicious, and your photographs are beautiful. :)
Yum! Vanilla bean is my favorite flavor for ice cream. This summer I did an experiment trying out all the different types of vanilla beans and comparing their flavors. I found Mexican vanilla bean too rich for summer (but perfect for winter). In the end I loved the Madagascar vanilla bean for it’s balanced rich, sweet, and delicate flavor.
I’m swooning just looking at this! Can’t wait till I;m home for the holidays and have access to an ice cream maker; I;m totally trying this! I totally recommend making ice cream with Greek yogurt, too. It’s a lot lighter, but super delicious (it works well with anise and lemon!)!
Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing! I love having a few little tastes of ice cream when it’s just finished churning, all soft serve-like. So yummy :)
I am in love with this recipe. It looks so simple. Adding to my favorites :)
Yum, yum, yum, yum. I need some light ice cream in my life!
You can never go wrong with vanilla bean!
Classic!! Such a beautiful post… I love the first photo!
My favorite flavour!
This looks stunning!! I am beyond thrilled that you stopped by my blog so I could find yours. How have I not seen it before? Gorgeous. And this ice cream looks like perfection.
As much as I love chocolate, I’m a vanilla ice cream girl at heart and its what I crave the most often!
OOHH… I must try this. I just got an ice cream maker and this seems like such a healthy option. The first (and only) one I made was a fresh corn ice cream that was divine. Hopefully, I will get around to posting about it soon :)
Hi there…have just ordered an ice cream maker and cant wait to start making my own..this looks deliciously simple; just wondering, I am planning on using raw milk from my local farmer to make all my ice cream, so would I need to make any adjustments with other ingredients, or just substitute 3 cups raw milk for the above recipe? thanks alot…
Hi Simone, that is a really good question and I’m not entirely sure I know the answer. Three cups of raw whole milk will produce a different fat content than the recipe given above, and I’m not sure what the resulting texture would be like. In Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream at Home, Jeni says, “If you are using nonhomogenized milk and cream, you will need to take an extra step to fully homogenize the mixture. Otherwise, the butterfat will clump together in the churning process and your ice cream will be buttery and grainy.” She goes on to say that after the mixture has been heated, “pour the mixture into a food processor, process for 2 minutes, and then chill it in an ice bath (I think you could probably chill it as described in the recipe above). Just before you pour the base into the ice cream machine, return the base to the food processor for another 2 minutes.” Hope this information helps!
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