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Craving a sweet treat but don’t want to make too much? This single serve vanilla ice cream recipe is your perfect solution. It’s a classic, creamy delight that brings back memories of summer days and the simple joys of life. Using just three ingredients, this recipe is a breeze. Whether you’re relaxing after a long day or looking to satisfy a sweet craving, this homemade vanilla ice cream is a fuss-free way to enjoy a timeless dessert without the need for an ice cream machine.
Discover a variety of delightful single serving and small batch ice cream recipes that cater to your cravings. Our selection includes the refreshing single serve Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, the sweet and fruity small batch Strawberry Ice Cream, the rich and nutty small batch Butter Pecan Ice Cream, and the uniquely flavorful small batch Pistachio Ice Cream. Perfect for when you want just the right amount of indulgence.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Single Serve Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
- Quick and Easy: With only three ingredients and no ice cream machine required, this single serving ice cream recipe is as simple as it gets.
- Perfect Portion: Ideal for when you want a sweet treat without leftovers.
- Customizable: Easily adapt this recipe with your favorite mix-ins or toppings.
- Year-Round Comfort: Perfect for any season, whether it’s a summer day or a cozy winter evening.
- Creamy Texture: Achieve a smooth, creamy texture reminiscent of traditional ice cream, right in your kitchen.
Exploring No-Churn Ice Cream: A Simple Method
“No-churn ice cream” is a term that describes a straightforward method of making ice cream without the need for an ice cream machine. This approach relies on a handful of essential ingredients, which work together to produce the silky, smooth texture characteristic of premium ice cream. Easy to make and delightful to enjoy, no-churn ice cream is perfect for homemade dessert enthusiasts.
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Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch ice cream recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Heavy cream or heavy whipping cream: Heavy cream or heavy whipping cream is readily available in the United States. It is referred to as whipping or double cream in the UK. Heavy cream is essential in this recipe and cannot be replaced with milk. We use heavy cream in many of our single serving and small batch recipes like Vanilla Pudding, French Silk Pie, and even Fettuccine Alfredo.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Sweetened condensed milk is a concentrated form of cow’s milk where most of the water has been removed and sugar added. It’s a pivotal ingredient in no-churn ice cream recipes, offering a clever shortcut to traditional methods. Usually, making ice cream involves preparing a sweetened custard base with heavy cream, sugar, and thickeners like eggs or cornstarch. This mixture must be cooled and churned in an ice cream maker to prevent ice crystals, ensuring a creamy texture. In no-churn recipes, sweetened condensed milk replaces this elaborate base. When combined with whipped cream, it contributes to a lusciously creamy and airy texture, simplifying the process without compromising on taste or quality. Consider using leftover sweetened condensed milk in a single serve Key Lime Pie or a mini Tres Leches Cake.
- Vanilla extract: While optional, vanilla extract is highly recommended for elevating the flavor of your ice cream. It infuses an intense vanilla essence, enriching the overall taste. Additionally, the alcohol content in vanilla extract synergizes with sweetened condensed milk, playing a crucial role in maintaining the ice cream’s scoopable consistency even after freezing. This small addition makes a significant difference, ensuring your ice cream is not only delicious but also has the perfect texture.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full vanilla ice cream recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate Chip Ice Cream: Stir in a generous amount of mini chocolate chips before freezing to add a crunchy texture and chocolatey goodness.
- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream: Infuse a cool, refreshing twist by adding a few drops of peppermint extract. Perfect for a hot summer day!
- Berry Swirl Ice Cream: Gently fold in berry puree, similar to the one we use in our Knickerbocker Glory recipe, to create a delightful berry swirl ice cream.
- Caramel Vanilla Ice Cream: Incorporate caramel sauce into your mixture for a luxurious caramel vanilla ice cream.
- Coffee-Infused Ice Cream: Blend in a small amount of espresso or coffee extract to create a rich, coffee-infused ice cream.
How To Make Vanilla Ice Cream For One
The photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make a small batch of vanilla ice cream. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Whipping the Cream: Begin by pouring the cream into a medium-sized bowl. Use an electric mixer or a hand whisk to whip the cream until stiff peaks form.
Pro Tip: You’ll know you’ve achieved stiff peaks when the cream forms a sharp peak that holds its shape when you lift the beater.
- Incorporating Sweetened Condensed Milk: Next, gently fold the sweetened condensed milk into the whipped cream. This step is crucial for adding sweetness and smoothness to your ice cream.
- Adding Vanilla Extract: Carefully fold in the vanilla extract.
Pro Tip: Initially, the mixture might appear lumpy. Continue folding until it becomes soft and silky, but be mindful of a few small lumps. Avoid over-mixing to prevent the mixture from deflating.
- Freezing: Once your mixture is ready, transfer it to a freezer-safe bowl, ensuring it’s covered tightly. For soft-serve consistency, freeze for a minimum of 2 hours. For firmer ice cream, freeze for 6 to 8 hours.
Final Note: This no-churn vanilla ice cream is incredibly creamy and rich, offering an easy and egg-free recipe. Simple ingredients combine to create a delightful dessert that’s both easy and impressive. No cooking is required, making this an ideal recipe for quick, homemade ice cream that tastes like a dream.
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Expert Tips
- Selecting the Right Cream: Use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream with a minimum of 35% fat content. This high-fat content is essential for achieving the creamy, rich texture that makes this ice cream so delightful.
- Ingredient Integrity: Stick to the specified ingredients in the recipe. Avoid substitutions like lower fat or lower sugar alternatives. These changes can significantly affect the texture and taste, potentially leading to less than satisfying results.
- Prep for Whipping Cream: Chilled tools make a big difference. For optimal whipping, place your mixing bowl in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before you start. Additionally, keep the cream in the refrigerator right up until you need it. This helps in achieving a better, more stable whip.
- Proper Storage: To store your homemade vanilla ice cream, ensure the top of the container is sealed tightly. This prevents freezer burn and maintains the quality of the ice cream, ensuring every scoop is as good as the first.
Serving Suggestions
- Ice Cream with Fresh Fruit: Top your ice cream with fresh berries, banana slices, or a mix of seasonal fruits for a refreshing and healthy twist.
- Caramelized Plums: Add a sophisticated twist with caramelized plums. Their sweet and tangy flavor pairs wonderfully with the creamy vanilla base
- Fried Apples: Pour over warm fried apples for a comforting, autumn-inspired treat. The combination of soft, spiced apples and cold ice cream is irresistible.
- Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce: Drizzle your ice cream with warm chocolate sauce and add chocolate shavings for a chocolate lover’s dream.
- Ice Cream with Crunchy Toppings: Sprinkle granola, crushed shortbread cookies, or nuts like almonds or pecans for added texture and flavor.
- Ice Cream with Warm Desserts: Pair your ice cream with a slice of warm apple pie, freshly baked brownies, or other warm desserts like chocolate lava cake for a classic comfort food combination.
- Bananas Foster: This ice cream serves as an excellent base for classic Bananas Foster. The warm, caramelized bananas and the rich sauce create a luxurious dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a small batch of vanilla bean ice cream, use one small vanilla bean pod. Carefully split it lengthwise with a sharp knife and scrape out the seeds. Fold these seeds into the ice cream mixture for an authentic vanilla flavor. Vanilla bean pods can typically be found in the spice aisle of many grocery stores.
Tip: Don’t discard the used pod; infuse milk with it for a subtle vanilla essence and add it to your coffee for extra flavor.
Homemade ice cream can be stored in a covered, freezer-safe container for up to two weeks. Ensure it’s well-sealed to maintain freshness and texture.
For a soft serve consistency, freeze your ice cream for 2 to 3 hours. This shorter freezing time results in a softer, creamier texture.
When preparing a single serving of vanilla ice cream, a small 10-ounce ramekin or a similar-sized dish works well. Alternatively, a 4×6-inch or a 5×5-inch freezer-safe dish can be used. These sizes are ideal for single servings and small batch recipes.
To make a vegan version of no-churn ice cream, replace the dairy ingredients with sweetened condensed coconut milk and chilled coconut cream. These substitutes will give you a creamy, vegan-friendly dessert.
If your homemade ice cream is icy, it’s likely due to excessive water content, which leads to ice crystal formation. This can happen when using lower-fat milk options like half-and-half or low-fat milk instead of full-fat cream. For the creamiest results, stick to using heavy cream or heavy whipping cream, as these have the necessary fat content to prevent iciness.
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Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serve ice cream recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
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If you’ve tried this vanilla ice cream recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Vanilla Ice Cream For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 ounces heavy cream
- 2 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Begin by pouring the cream into a medium-sized bowl. Use an electric mixer or a hand whisk to whip the cream until stiff peaks form.Pro Tip: You'll know you've achieved stiff peaks when the cream forms a sharp peak that holds its shape when you lift the beater.
- Next, gently fold the sweetened condensed milk into the whipped cream.
- Carefully fold in the vanilla extract. Pro Tip: Initially, the mixture might appear lumpy. Continue folding until it becomes soft and silky, but be mindful of a few small lumps. Avoid over-mixing to prevent the mixture from deflating.
- Once your mixture is ready, transfer it to a freezer-safe bowl, ensuring it's covered tightly. For soft-serve consistency, freeze for a minimum of 2 hours. For firmer ice cream, freeze for 6 to 8 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Could I add lemon extract to this, in addition to the vanilla?
Sure, a small amount of lemon extract would be a delicious addition.
Can I make this in my little electric ice cream maker? Will that make the ice cream a weird consistency?
Yes, you can make it in an ice cream maker. I recommend that you do not whip the cream. Just add the ingredients to the machine, stir and churn.
i am going to try this recipe.
STELLAR!
awesome
This is brilliant! Just enough ice cream with no leftovers for me to snack on!
My husband and I loved this quick and easy no-churn vanilla ice cream. It was so delicious! We topped ours with hot fudge and a generous sprinkling of nuts. Mmmm….
I had cravings for ice-cream this week but didn’t want to wait for the online shop to come in. Instead I made up this and used the left over condensed milk to make some fudge which I must admit I sprinkled over the ice-cream. It was delicious and perfect for 1 person. Homemade ice-cream in a matter of hours.
I love how simple this recipe is! Perfect when you need an ice cream fix but can’t trust yourself with an entire carton of ice cream in the freezer!