Cranberry Orange Ice Cream

Jun 8, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Extract Medium

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

Creamy cranberry orange ice cream made with fresh cranberries, real orange zest, and pure vanilla for a tangy, refreshing frozen treat.

Prep 30 min

Cook —

Cooling 5 hr

Total 5 hr 30 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (480.0 ml)heavy cream
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)whole milk
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
⅛ tsp (0.8 g)fine sea salt
1.0 tbsp (15.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
1.0 cup (100.0 g)fresh cranberries
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)fresh orange juice
1.0 tbsp (6.0 g)fresh orange zest

Make it at home

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Instructions

Combine fresh cranberries, 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar, and fresh orange juice in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and the mixture thickens slightly, about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in orange zest. Let cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, whisk together heavy cream, whole milk, 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar, fine sea salt, and pure vanilla extract until sugar dissolves.
Once the cranberry-orange mixture has cooled, blend it into the cream mixture. For a smoother texture, strain through a fine mesh sieve if desired.
Cover and refrigerate the ice cream base until thoroughly chilled, about 4 hours.
Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions until it thickens, about 30-40 minutes.
Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze for at least 1 hour to firm up before serving.

Tips

Cook cranberries until they burst for natural sweetness and a vibrant red color.
Add vanilla extract toward the end of mixing to preserve its aromatic flavor.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make cranberry orange ice cream?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep, plus 5 hours to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store cranberry orange ice cream?

Store leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week. Let soften at room temperature for 5 minutes before scooping.

Can I make cranberry orange ice cream ahead?

You can prepare the cranberry orange base up to 2 days in advance and keep it refrigerated until ready to churn.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract (15 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 cranberry orange ice cream made with fresh cranberries, real orange zest, and pure vanilla for a tangy, refreshing frozen treat.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

354 Calories / serving

22.4g Fat

36.6g Carbs

2.5g Protein

35.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2832 cal · 179g fat · 293g carbs · 20g protein · 285g sugar

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

Per serving · 354 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 67 min·3.9 mi·~7850 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 48 min·2.4 mi·~4800 steps
Moderate cycling 36 min·7.2 mi
Swimming laps 50 min
Jogging 35 min·2.9 mi·~5600 steps
Stair climbing 33 min·~2950 steps
Dancing 58 min
Bodyweight circuit training 36 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 82 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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