The Scoop on Homemade Ice Cream

Plus, Keep Reading to See How You Can Enter for a Chance to Win an Ice Cream Maker!

Few desserts provide more “WOW” factor for less effort than homemade ice cream.

Minimal ingredients and preplanning take ice cream from grocery-store ordinary to where-did-you-get-this fabulous. And since everything is make-ahead, there’s no last-minute mess.

For easy entertaining, I use my small (1 1/2-quart) ice cream maker. It has its own freezer bowl, eliminating last minute shopping trips for ice and salt. Although small, it makes enough ice cream for eight guests or four ice cream fanatics!

Freezer bowls need to be really frozen for best results—at least 24 hours before using. I wrap mine in a food storage bag and keep it frozen all summer long so it’s ready to go. Don’t shortcut freezer time! Also, I prepare and refrigerate the ice cream mix one day before I plan to serve ice cream. Cold mix makes a smoother dessert.

On the morning of my party, I follow the ice cream maker’s directions and churn the mix. Although it’s tempting to take a spoon and eat the soft, freshly frozen stuff right out of the maker, allow it to “ripen” in the freezer for four to six hours before serving. This yields nicely shaped scoops and, for some varieties, more intense flavors.

Homemade ice cream is not only crazy delicious, but it also allows me to serve flavors that can’t be purchased. Strawberry Peppercorn Ice Cream surprises and delights even my most wary guests. As they relish the creamy frozen strawberry custard, the heat from black peppercorns tingles their taste buds.

Orange Dream Ice Cream is another most-wanted flavor at my house. Its bright, refreshing flavor screams summer. To add extra pizazz, I sometimes top it with slightly sweetened fresh summer berries—raspberries, blueberries or strawberries. Add a shortbread cookie and this is a dessert worthy of the finest restaurants.

Usually bananas don’t tempt me, but roast them and turn them into Cinnamon Roasted Banana Ice Cream with Toasted Pecans and I can’t stop eating it. My friends, including some banana haters, admit that this ice cream is irresistible.

To help you become the hostess of the block, United Dairy Industry of Michigan is giving you the chance to win an ice cream maker and a $25 gift card towards the ingredients for your first batch! To enter, tell us your favorite ice cream flavor in the Comments section below. For official rules, see Terms and Conditions.

Recipe image at the top of the post is our Eggnog Caramel Ice Cream.