Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream

“Creamy homemade strawberry ice cream full of fresh strawberry flavors . Easy recipe and no cooking required!”

Watch me make this homemade strawberry ice cream recipe from start to finish!

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All of a sudden, now that summer is coming to an end, I’m in the mood for all kinds of summery foods. So typical of me!

I almost fell outta my office chair when I realized I didn’t have a homemade ice cream recipe on this blog! Like what the heck!?

I grew up with that brown barrel self-churn ice cream maker at every cookout.  Homemade ice cream is embedded in the fibers of my being so how could I not have a freakin ice cream recipe posted?!

Let’s change that! Quick!

Bring on the homemade strawberry ice cream!!

Today we’re making this rich and creamy homemade strawberry ice cream recipe! If you’ve never experienced homemade strawberry ice cream, then get ready for some REAL strawberry flavor!

Homemade strawberry ice cream used to be my least favorite ice cream, but it turns out I was just getting the wrong kind. The kind that was made with a ton of vanilla extract, huge icy blocks of strawberries, and that eggy custard base.

No heating required = Easy, Peasy!

As much as I love homemade ice cream that contains rich egg yolks, I don’t always love the extra step of carefully heating the egg yolks, milk, and sugar.

This recipe is perfect for beginners (or those with egg allergies) because it completely skips that step, yet still produces a rich, fluffy, and creamy strawberry ice cream.

To make the ice cream base,  just mix the ingredients together. Chill and throw it into an ice cream maker. I also love that it uses regular white sugar instead of condensed milk, since I always have it on hand.

It’s such a simple recipe, but it creates a wonderful, all-natural strawberry flavor and gorgeous pink color. No red food coloring needed!

Adding a bit of Cointreau gives this homemade strawberry ice cream an amazing soft serve, yet firm texture, so don’t skip it if you want to experience the “ice cream cloud” texture.

Tips for making the BEST strawberry ice cream

Always refrigerate the ice cream base. Don’t skip chilling the base before adding it to the ice cream maker. This makes for super creamy ice cream!

Use sweet, ripe strawberries. If you want your strawberry ice cream to have the best flavor, be sure your strawberries have the best flavor. Now is the time to use super sweet, in-season strawberries. If they taste good enough to eat plain, they are perfect for making homemade strawberry ice cream.

Use fresh, quality full-fat heavy cream. For ice cream, skip using the reduced-fat heavy cream. Use a heavy cream with at least 36% fat.

How to make a Simple Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• fresh strawberries, washed, hulled
•  granulated sugar,  divided
•  Lemon juice, divided
•  orange liquor,Cointreau
• cornstarch
•  heavy cream, warmed
• half and half
• vanilla extract
• pinchof salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add strawberries, 1/4 cup sugar, one tablespoon lemon juice, orange liquor, and cornstarch into a food processor or blender.
2. Puree to desired consistency. (I prefer tiny pieces of strawberries)
3. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4. In a large mixing bowl, add warm heavy cream and remaining sugar (3/4 cup).
5. Mix until sugar is dissolved.
6. Mix in half and half and vanilla extract until combined.
7. Stir in a pinch of salt and remaining lemon juice (1 ½ tablespoons).
8. Cover with plastic wrap. ( Be sure the plastic wrap is touching the mixture to prevent it from developing a skin on top)
9. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until thickened.
10. Stir in the strawberry mixture.
11. Add the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular machine.
12. Transfer ice cream into an airtight container (ice cream container) and freeze for at least 4 hours. Store in the freezer for 1-2 weeks.

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 Add some twists and turns!

With strawberry ice cream, since it already has a high water content, you have to be careful with certain add-ins to prevent iciness. Here are a few delicious add-in ideas!

• Strawberry sauce
• Coconut flakes
• Strawberry extract
• Mini chocolate chips
• Swamp out some of the strawberries with pieces of peach, blueberries, cherries, or bananas.
• Stir in pieces of shortbread cookies for a strawberry cake flavor.

FAQS

1.  Can I make this ice cream without an ice cream maker? I’ve only ever tried this in my ice cream maker. If you want to try it without an ice cream maker, be sure to beat the heavy cream to a stiff peak first before folding in the other ingredients.
2. Can I use frozen strawberries? Yes, be sure to thaw and drain them completely first.
3. Can I replace the strawberries with other fruits? You can substitute some of the strawberries with blueberries, raspberries, and other low-water-content fruit.
4. Can I make this ice cream without dairy? This recipe needs the fat from dairy to hold up. I’ve never tried substituting.
5. How do I prevent my strawberry ice cream from getting icy? Be sure you aren’t adding in extra strawberries, since this will also add extra water. This recipe has been developed to handle a certain amount of liquid. Also, be sure you are using the correct heavy cream and following your ice cream maker’s instructions.

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Want more homemade ice cream? Check these out!

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