Carrot Cake Ice Cream

Oct 2, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Extract Medium

Two generous scoops of carrot cake ice cream in a shallow ceramic bowl, softly melting at the edges

Creamy carrot cake ice cream with real grated carrots, warm spices, and chunks of walnuts and raisins, enriched with pure vanilla to capture the classic dessert flavor in a smooth frozen treat.

Prep 30 min

Cook 10 min

Cooling 7 hr

Total 7 hr 40 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)whole milk
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 large (17.0 g)egg yolk
½ cup (55.0 g)finely grated carrots
⅓ cup (40.0 g)chopped walnuts
¼ cup (40.0 g)golden raisins
1.0 tsp (2.0 g)ground cinnamon
¼ tsp (0.5 g)ground nutmeg
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
⅛ tsp (0.7 g)fine sea salt

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine whole milk, heavy cream, and half of the sugar. Warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and mixture is hot but not boiling.
In a bowl, whisk the egg yolk with the remaining sugar until pale and slightly thickened.
Gradually ladle about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into the yolk, whisking constantly to temper the yolk.
Slowly pour the tempered yolk back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture, whisking continually.
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon and reaches 170–175°F (77–79°C). Do not boil.
Remove from heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, fine sea salt, and grated carrots.
Transfer the custard to a bowl. Allow to cool slightly, then cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until thoroughly chilled.
Once chilled, stir in the chopped walnuts and golden raisins.
Pour the custard into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency, about 20–25 minutes.
Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze for at least 4 hours to firm up before serving.

Tips

Use finely grated carrots to ensure they incorporate smoothly and soften well in the custard.
For a stronger vanilla flavor, split and scrape one vanilla bean instead of extract, adding seeds and pod to the milk while warming.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make carrot cake ice cream?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 7 hours to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store carrot cake ice cream?

Store carrot cake ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Let it soften a few minutes at room temperature before scooping.

Can I make carrot cake ice cream ahead?

Chill the custard base overnight to deepen flavors and reduce churn time.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Creamy carrot cake ice cream with real grated carrots, warm spices, and chunks of walnuts and raisins, enriched with pure vanilla to capture the classic dessert flavor in a smooth frozen treat.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

271 Calories / serving

16.6g Fat

28.2g Carbs

4.0g Protein

26.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2168 cal · 133g fat · 226g carbs · 32g protein · 210g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 271 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 51 min·3.0 mi·~5950 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 37 min·1.9 mi·~3700 steps
Moderate cycling 28 min·5.6 mi
Swimming laps 38 min
Jogging 27 min·2.3 mi·~4300 steps
Stair climbing 25 min·~2250 steps
Dancing 44 min
Bodyweight circuit training 28 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 63 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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