Summer is officially here! The hot days of summer invite cool snacks and of course, the all time favorite – ice cream! There are many wonderful gluten-free ice creams readily available at the grocery stores but homemade ice cream can be very fun and easy to make. Involve your kids and be creative. There are many delicious varieties – some well-known and yet there is still plenty of room to invent a new flavor of your own.

Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer or Blender
Ice Cream Maker

Making the Liquid Ice Cream Mixture: Making the base for your homemade ice cream could not be easier. Most ice creams will start with a vanilla base or a chocolate base. If you are in a hurry and want to enjoy your ice cream within a half hour – try this simple Vanilla Ice Cream:

Quick & Easy Vanilla Ice Cream
Makes about 1 quart.
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1-3/4 cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

In a stand mixer (or a hand mixer will also work) beat the eggs and sugar until thick. Add the milk, heavy cream and vanilla extract. Continue to beat until well-blended. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker or follow our directions for making ice cream without an ice cream machine below.

Note: If you are concerned about salmonella you will want to cook the eggs before proceeding with making your ice cream. Although the risk of contracting salmonella from raw eggs, the illness can be life-threatening to infants, pregnant women, the elderly and ill or immuno-compromised people.

Here are two basic recipes requiring you to cook the eggs before proceeding (plan ahead – these recipes will need to refrigerate overnight before freezing your ice cream):

Rich French Vanilla
3 eggs
2 cups whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Beat the eggs and milk together in a large saucepan. Add the sugar and vanilla bean scrapings and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. The egg mixture should be thick enough to smoothly coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Cover and refrigerate overnight before freezing.

Chocolate
1-1/2 cups whole milk
3 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 cups pure vanilla extract

Beat the milk and eggs together in a saucepan. Add the sugar. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the cocoa until completely blended. Let mixture cool. Stir in the cream and vanilla extract. Cover and refrigerate overnight before freezing.

Making Ice Cream without an Ice Cream Maker
Having an ice cream maker will make your life much easier and fortunately today you can purchase these wonderful machines for as little as $50. However, even if you don’t have one of these machines you can still make your own delicious ice cream. There are several methods some easier than others, but all achieve similar results.

· Still-Freeze Method: Pour the liquid ice cream mixture into a mixing bowl and place in the freezer. Remove it from the freezer every ½ hour and mix the contents with a hand mixer or transfer it to a food processor and pulse a few times. Return the mixing bowl to the freezer. Repeat this process until the ice cream is frozen and has reached the proper consistency.
· Can-Method: Place the liquid ice cream mixture in a clean 1 lb. coffee can. Secure the lid and tape to ensure it will stay closed. Center the can inside a 3 lb. coffee can and layer rock salt and ice between the two cans. Seal the outer can and place it on the ground on its side. Roll the can back and forth with your feet for 10-15 minutes. Remove the inner can, wipe off the excess rock salt and ice. Unseal and stir. Re-seal the can and repeat the process until the ice cream reaches the proper consistency.

Making Ice Cream with an Ice Cream Maker
There are a variety of ice cream makers to choose from. The less expensive models usually require several pounds of ice and rock salt for each batch of ice cream. They are also usually rather large and take up needed counter space. There are smaller countertop models like the Cuisinart or Donvier which do a good job and they don’t require rock salt or ice. With these type of ice cream makers you simply freeze the bowl (that comes with the model) ahead of time, then pour the liquid ice cream mixture in and turn it on or crank. The bowl is a special canister with a liquid refrigerant sealed between it’s walls.

Different Ice Cream Varieties
There are many different kinds of ice cream. Be creative and have fun. Here are some of the types of ice cream that we’ve made and our families have thoroughly enjoyed.

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Chocolate Chip & Cherry Ice Cream
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Peach Ice Cream
Pumpkin Ice Cream
Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Mint Chocolate Chip

Topping Ideas
Take your ice cream to an all new level with these wonderful toppings:

Gf chocolate chips
M&M’s
Reeses Peanut Butter cups, chopped
Shredded coconut