How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

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The most delicious homemade ice cream? Cooked vanilla custard makes a great base for this Vanilla Frozen Custard recipe. Add your favorite fruits or candies for an easy summer dessert.

Summer means ice cream! Have you ever tried making homemade ice cream? I fell in love with a creamy frozen custard rather than traditional ice cream. We’re from the Midwest…what can I say. 🤷‍♀️

You’ll need an ice cream machine for this recipe, but with updated countertop electric ice cream machines, this recipe is easier than dragging the family to the store when the ice cream craving hits. And it’s delicious served over our famous brownies.

How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (1)

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Reader Meg says, “This was AMAZING!! My ice cream making doesn’t get it really stiff right out of the maker… but I put it in the freezer over night and tonight it was perfect… I made my amazing hot fudge sauce to go on it!! All I can say is WOW!! It’s going to be hard for me to buy ice cream any more!!”

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Reader Gina says, “This was excellent! We made it with just ½ cup sugar, and I think the flavor was perfect.”

Where did frozen custard originate?

Frozen custard originated in Coney Island, New York, in the early 1900’s. The World Fair in Chicago in the 1930’s helped to seal it as a midwestern favorite.

Now we have restaurants dedicated to selling their version of frozen custard. Culver’s, Freddy’s, Shake Shack and of course a slew of small local custard shops. It’s a favorite summer frozen dessert.

How is frozen custard different than ice cream?

Eggs are the main difference.

Frozen custard is a rich, smooth textured ice cream. Both ice cream and custard have cream, sugar and milk, but custard has one not-so-secret ingredient that ice cream traditionally does not have. Eggs.When eggs are added to dairy, you now have custard.

Some recipes call for using whole eggs, but this recipe only uses the yolks which makes a rich, smooth dessert.

Is frozen custard better for you than ice cream?

Of course it depends on your recipe and what you are adding, but in general, custard has less calories and fat than homemade ice cream.

Can we call it “good for you”? Maybe not…but homemade frozen custard often doesn’t have the additives that store bought ice cream has.

Ingredients

Fresh ingredients are best for homemade frozen custard:

  • Heavy cream. Use half and half for a lighter custard, but I recommend trying it with heavy cream first. You won’t regret it. 😋
  • Whole milk.
  • White sugar.
  • Salt.
  • Egg yolks.
  • Vanilla extract. Use homemade vanilla extract for amazing sweet treats.
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (2)

How to Make Vanilla Frozen Custard

There are a few important things to remember when making homemade custard ice cream.

  • Plan ahead. Because custard has eggs, you cook the ice cream base together on the stovetop. Then you have to refrigerate it until it has cooled down. Only at that time is it ready for the ice cream freezer. You’ll need to refrigerate the base for at least 4 hours.
  • Use heavy cream and whole milk for the creamiest custard. Yes, these are higher in fat. Yes, you can use lower fat milk, but your ice cream won’t be as rich and creamy. I suggest first trying the recipe as written, the if you’d like you can lower the milk fat content as you continue to test.
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (3)
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (4)
  • Temper the eggs. Be sure to follow the recipe step by step and don’t be tempted to just start dumping ingredients in. (More on tempering eggs below.)
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (5)
  • Cook over low heat until the mixture starts to thicken. Don’t think it will be pudding thick. You are just looking for the mixture to start to thicken. It will still seem a little runny, but should coat the back of the spoon. Don’t overcook the mixture or it may curdle. If you do end up with little pieces in your mixture, run it though a fine mesh strainer so it ends up perfectly smooth.
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (6)
  • If you have an electric ice cream maker, be sure the drum that holds the ice cream is frozen. You’ll want this in the freezer for at least 24 hours before churning ice cream. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for churning the custard.
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (7)
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (8)
  • Straight from the ice cream maker, the frozen custard will be soft. If you’d like it harder, transfer it to an airtight container and freeze it until it has reached the texture you’d like.
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (9)

What does it mean to temper eggs?

When you temper eggs, you slowly raise the temperature of cold or room temperature eggs by adding a small amount of hot food or liquid and whisk it in quickly.

Crack the eggs into a bowl, then slowly drizzle ½ cup hot milk mixture into the eggs, whisking the entire time you are drizzling.

It’s only after this that you add the egg mixture back into the entire hot milk mix.

Tempering eggs prevents the egg from cooking. No one wants scrambled eggs in their ice cream!

How long should homemade ice cream churn?

Plan between 20-30 minutes for the ice cream to churn in the maker. The exact time will depend on the temperature of the milk mixture and the exact texture of vanilla frozen custard that you desire.

How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (10)

Flavors and Variations

Whether you choose plain vanilla, vanilla bean or a fun overloaded custard, it’s delicious to scoop into a cake cone or waffle cone on a warm spring or summer day. Your taste buds will thank you.

  • For a simple chocolate custard, add chocolate syrup to the custard while it is churning.
  • This is amazing served over brownies or warm cookies.
  • Add the custard to a blender, then add a little more milk and some fruit for fun shakes.

And here’s a few unique options for a flavor of the day. Yes, we’ve actually made these flavors!

  • Make pumpkin dump cake, freeze it, then cut it into pieces. Churn this into the custard.
  • Make a cheesecake, freeze it, then cut it into cubes and add to the custard during churning. To add a fruit flavor, try strawberry jam.
  • Throw chopped Nutter Butter Cookies and a large scoop of creamy peanut butter into the custard while it is churning.

How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (11)

How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (12)

Vanilla Frozen Custard

4.78 from 103 votes

The most delicious homemade ice cream? Cooked vanilla custard makes a great base for this Vanilla Frozen Custard recipe. Add your favorite fruits or candies for an easy summer dessert.

Servings 6

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill & Churn Time 4 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 4 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Print RecipeSave Recipe

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Add cream, milk, sugar and salt to a small saucepan over medium low heat.

  • Simmer about 3-5 minutes or until sugar dissolves.

  • Remove from heat.

  • In a separate bowl whisk the egg yolks.

  • Drizzle about ½ cup of the warm milk liquid into the egg yolks whisking constantly as you drizzle it in.

  • Whisk the egg mixture back into the pot. Add the vanilla. Return the pot to a medium low heat and cook until mixture starts to thicken.

  • Take off the heat and pour into a mesh strainer .

  • Cool the milk to room temperature, then cover and put into fridge to cool completely. This will take at least 3-4 hours to overnight.

  • Churn ice cream according to manufacturer directions. Serve soft serve from ice cream maker or firm it up in the freezer.

Video

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe making 3 cups, with one serving being ½ cup custard. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.

Nutrition

Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 297mg | Sodium: 56mg | Potassium: 131mg | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 1475IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Calories 443

Keyword frozen custard, homemade ice cream, how to make ice cream, summer dessert

Have you tried this recipe?

Share a review below or share on Instagram with the tag #tastesoflizzyt.

Other Ice Cream Recipes

  • Dulce de Leche Caramel Ice Cream
  • Funfetti Ice Cream Sandwiches
  • Bubblegum Ice Cream
  • Ultimate Ice Cream Pie
  • Reese’s Stuffed Ice Cream Sandwiches
How to Make Frozen Vanilla Custard at Home - Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is vanilla custard the same as vanilla ice cream? ›

The two sweet treats are often mistaken for each other, but there are distinct characteristics to each. While ice cream is light, airy, and creamy, frozen custard is way denser and creamier.

Can you freeze custard to make ice cream? ›

Current Info on Freezing Custard

Apparently the best method to at least avoid waste is to make “frozen custard” aka ice cream! This requires a bit of effort though. Once in the freezer, you need to whisk the custard every 30 minutes for 3 hours. This aerates the custard and keeps it smooth during the freezing process.

What's the difference between frozen custard and frozen ice cream? ›

The main difference between frozen custard and ice cream is that frozen custard is made with egg yolks and ice cream is not, giving the former a richer flavor and mouthfeel. Some ice creams are made with egg yolks, however, which would technically make them custards based on the USDA guidelines.

What makes frozen custard creamy? ›

By churning frozen custard for less time and at a lower speed less air is forced into the mixture. This allows it to keep the thicker, denser, and more creamy texture it is known for. Churning frozen custard is a slower but more deliberate process. It is worth the extra care taken for the flavor and texture benefits.

Which is healthier, ice cream or frozen custard? ›

Deciding what to serve with your pudding? Brands vary, but vanilla ice-cream typically has about 10 per cent more calories than custard, as well as twice the saturated fat, less protein and half the calcium and potassium. However, ice-cream usually has less sugar and salt, too.

What is vanilla custard made of? ›

Dairy – The best custard is made from a mixture of fresh milk and cream. Eggs – You will need only the yolks in this recipe, use large eggs for the best results. Sugar – Granulated sugar lightly sweetens this custard recipe. Flavor – Vanilla extract adds flavor.

How long to chill custard before making ice cream? ›

Cool mixture to room temperature. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Churn in an ice cream machine according to manufacturers' instructions. Serve directly from the machine for soft serve, or store in freezer until needed.

Is tillamook ice cream custard? ›

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) announced the addition of Tillamook Frozen Custards to their product portfolio.

What are the ingredients in Culver's custard? ›

Vanilla Frozen Custard [Milk, Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Egg Yolk, Guar Gum, Mono & Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Vanilla Flavor], Pecan Pieces [Vegetable Oil (Peanut, Cottonseed, Soybean and/or Sunflower Seed), Sea Salt], Salted Caramel [Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed ...

What's the difference between Culver's custard and ice cream? ›

In fact, the distinction is even written into law. Custard is made from a combination of milk, cream and pasteurized egg yolks, and in order to be true custard, it has to be at least 1.4 percent egg. Anything less than that, and it's just ice cream. Discover why we craft in small batches.

Is frozen custard just soft serve? ›

Let's start by saying that all custard is soft-serve, but the converse is not true. The main difference comes down to one ingredient: eggs. Ice cream is made from milk, cream (or a combination of the two), and sugar. Frozen custard adds egg yolks (no less than 1.4 percent egg yolk solids by weight, per FDA guidelines).

Is French vanilla ice cream the same as frozen custard? ›

The difference between ice cream and frozen custard comes down to one ingredient: egg yolks. Ice cream is made with milk, cream, and sweetener. Frozen custard contains the same ingredients, plus egg yolks. This extra ingredient means frozen custard usually has a richer, thicker, and creamier texture than ice cream.

How do you thicken custard for ice cream? ›

If your custard base is not thickening, let the mixture cool down, then reheat it. Sometimes, the act of reheating helps the base thicken. If one method doesn't work for you, try another! You can try to flavor a batch of New England style ice cream by infusing the custard base.

How does frozen custard get its dense creamy texture? ›

Because it is not held in the chamber, there is very little air beaten into the custard, referred to as “overrun.” This low overrun (20-25%) is what gives frozen custard its wonderfully dense and creamy texture, or “mouthfeel.”

What ingredient makes the custard thicker? ›

Custard is a decadent dessert made with eggs, milk, and sugar. Eggs are responsible for custard's thick and velvety texture, but some recipes (such as this one) call for thickeners such as cornstarch or arrowroot for extra richess.

Does custard taste like ice cream? ›

Frozen custard is known for its creamy, rich, and velvety texture, while ice cream has a lighter mouthfeel and a wider range of flavors. Ultimately, it depends on what you're looking for in a frozen dessert - whether you prefer a creamy and intense flavor or a lighter and more diverse flavor range.

Is vanilla custard the same as vanilla pudding? ›

While most custard and pudding recipes both typically call for eggs, the main difference is that pudding uses a starch for thickening, whereas custard's thickening agent is the egg itself (or egg yolk, in most instances). Custard's texture also tends to be firmer than pudding.

Is vanilla custard healthy? ›

With milk as the main ingredient, custard is a good source of protein and contains calcium, which is good for bone health. But custard is a treat food because it can also give us extra energy, fat and sugar that we maybe don't want, or need.

What are the two types of vanilla ice cream? ›

Vanilla ice cream is made with vanilla extract, while vanilla bean ice cream uses vanilla beans to flavor it. French vanilla can be made with either vanilla extract or vanilla beans, but a double-strength vanilla extract will achieve a strong, rich, complex flavor without scraping vanilla beans.

References

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