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Indulge in the ultimate summer dessert with our easy homemade strawberry ice cream recipe!
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Updated August 2023
There’s no better way to survive the dog days of summer than with a scoop of refreshing strawberry ice cream! Bursting with bold flavors and sweet, creamy goodness, this classic frozen dessert is an absolute favorite.
There’s something so magical about fresh, flavorful summer strawberries, especially when they are transformed into a creamy frozen dessert. Our foolproof recipe for homemade ice cream is a custard-based ice cream, which means it has eggs in the recipe to provide a rich, velvety texture.
Our strawberry ice cream recipe also features a secret ingredient, tangy cream cheese, which helps turn a handful of simple ingredients into a made from scratch masterpiece.
Whether you’re looking to beat the heat or simply satisfy your sweet tooth with a bedtime snack, this recipe and our helpful tips and tricks, will guarantee you will master the art of creating the most delectable homemade strawberry ice cream right in the comfort of your own home.
Creamy, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. Get ready to embrace the taste of summer with every strawberry-infused bite!
Helpful Tips and Information:
How to make homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker?
If you want to make homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker, then we suggest using our recipe for No Churn Three Ingredient Vanilla Ice Cream and stir fresh strawberries into the ice cream mixture right before freezing. This is our go to simple no-churn strawberry ice cream recipe for beginners.
What is the best ice cream maker?
We prefer our Kitchenaid Stand Ice Cream Maker, as it takes up little extra space and doesn’t require ice or rock salt to work. However, if you don’t have a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, this Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker comes highly recommended.
How to store homemade ice cream?
Homemade ice cream lacks the preservatives found in store-bought brands. As a result, homemade ice cream recipes don’t last as long as their store-bought counterparts and the texture may change more quickly over time.
Storing homemade ice cream properly is essential to preserve its texture, flavor, and quality. Always inspect the ice cream before consuming. If it shows signs of freezer burn or an off color, odor or taste, it’s best to discard.
Here are some quick tips and tricks to properly store homemade ice cream:
Store in an airtight container: Once the ice cream has finished churning, immediately transfer it to an airtight container. Preferably, use a container that is designed for storing frozen desserts. We recommend these premium ice cream containers that come with a tight-fitting lid to prevent air from entering and freezer burn forming.
Alternatively, you could also use any freezer safe glass food storage container with a tight-fitting lid.
Press plastic wrap onto the ice cream: Before sealing your container of ice cream, press a layer of plastic wrap or waxed paper directly onto the surface of the ice cream. This helps create a barrier between the ice cream and air, reducing the chance of ice crystals from forming. We recommend replacing the layer of plastic wrap after each time you open the container of ice cream for serving.
Add a box of baking soda to your freezer: Ice cream will easily absorb other odors from your freezer. Consider adding a box of baking soda to the freezer to help absorb odors and keep your ice cream tasting great!
Store in the coldest part of the freezer: Place the ice cream container in the coldest part of your freezer, usually the back.
Make sure your freezer is at the right temperature: Ice cream. and all other frozen foods, should be stored at zero degrees Fahrenheit or lower. You will also want to avoid frequent temperature fluctuations, as this can cause ice crystals to form on the ice cream’s surface.
Limit storage time: Date and label your container of ice cream. Homemade ice cream is best when consumed within 2-3 weeks of preparation. While it will be safe to eat after this period, the texture and flavor may begin to deteriorate after that.
Serving: When you’re ready to enjoy the ice cream, remove it from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 minutes to help make scooping easier. We recommend using a spring back ice cream scoop to help with serving and scooping perfect ice cream scoops.
We also recommend scooping your ice cream as quickly as possible and reapplying a fresh layer of plastic wrap before returning the ice cream to the freezer.
How to make homemade ice cream?
- Beat sugar and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Set aside.
- Bring the milk to a boil in a heavy medium-sized saucepan. Slowly beat the hot milk into the cheese mixture. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly.
- Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the egg will scramble. Remove from the heat and pour the hot cheese custard through a strainer into a large bowl. Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the heavy cream.
- Cover and refrigerate custard and strawberries in separate containers overnight.
- After chilling overnight, stir the chilled custard, then freeze in your ice cream machine according the manufacturer’s instructions, approximately 20 minutes.
- When finished, the ice cream will be soft (like soft serve) but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2 hours.
If you like this easy homemade strawberry ice cream recipe, then you will love these other ice cream treats:
Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream – A rich, custard-based ice cream loaded with fresh, juicy strawberries and buttery pound cake.
Three Ingredient Chocolate Ice Cream {No Machine Required!} – Creamy, soft serve ice cream, rich in chocolate flavor!
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Sandwiches – A rich, cream cheese-based ice cream loaded with fresh, juicy strawberries all sandwiched between crisp graham crackers!
The Best Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe:
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Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
Indulge in the ultimate summer dessert with our easy homemade strawberry ice cream recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
- 6 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cups whole milk
- 1 (16 oz) carton heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced strawberries
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Beat the 3/4 cups sugar and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Set aside.
- Bring the milk to a simmer in a medium sized saucepan. Slowly beat the hot milk into the cheese mixture. Pour the entire mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Stir constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon until the custard thickens slightly. Be careful not to let the mixture boil or the egg will scramble.
- Remove from the heat and pour the hot cheese custard through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Allow the custard to cool slightly, then stir in the heavy cream.
- In a clean medium sized saucepan over medium-low heat, combine sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup sugar and lemon juice. Let strawberries cook for 15 to 20 minutes, breaking up/mashing the strawberries with a wooden spoon as they cook. Allow strawberries to cool completely after cooking.
- Place ice cream custard and strawberries in separate containers. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- After chilling overnight, stir the chilled custard, then freeze in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions (most machines will take 20-25 minutes).
- Add the prepared strawberries to the machine when the ice cream is semi-frozen. Allow the machine to mix in the strawberries.
- When finished, the ice cream will be soft (like soft serve) but ready to eat. For firmer ice cream, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2 hours.
Notes
*PLEASE SEE THE "HELPFUL TIPS AND INFORMATION" SECTION ABOVE FOR ADDITIONAL RECIPE NOTES.
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This strawberry ice cream recipe so good! I was skeptical at first about the cream cheese, but it adds a little flavor and I think makes it creamier than other strawberry ice cream recipes I’ve tried.