Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Jun 9, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

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

A smooth, creamy vanilla bean ice cream featuring the rich flavor of real vanilla beans for a classic, pure vanilla experience.

Prep 20 min

Cook 10 min

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 (0.75 g)fine sea salt
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
4.0 largeegg yolks
½ tsp (2.5 ml)pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with the back of a knife.
In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, half the sugar, the vanilla bean pod and seeds, and salt. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to steam, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes to infuse the vanilla flavor.
While the cream mixture steeps, whisk together the egg yolks and remaining sugar in a heatproof bowl until pale and smooth.
Remove the vanilla bean pod from the cream mixture and reheat it to a gentle simmer.
Slowly pour about one cup of the hot cream mixture into the egg yolks while whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
Return the egg-cream mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon and registers 170-175°F (77-79°C) on a digital thermometer.
Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any cooked egg bits.
Stir in the pure vanilla extract and let cool to room temperature, then cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until thoroughly cold.
Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions, about 20-30 minutes, until soft-serve consistency is reached.
Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 4 hours to firm up before serving.

Tips

Tempering the egg yolks slowly with hot cream prevents scrambling and ensures a smooth custard.
For extra vanilla intensity, use both the seeds and the pod to steep and strain out before cooking the custard.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make vanilla bean ice cream?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 5 hours to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store vanilla bean ice cream?

Store the ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Let it soften at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping.

Can I make vanilla bean ice cream ahead?

The custard base can be made up to 2 days ahead; keep chilled and covered in the refrigerator.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. 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.

A smooth, creamy vanilla bean ice cream featuring the rich flavor of real vanilla beans for a classic, pure vanilla experience.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

323 Calories / serving

24.8g Fat

22.3g Carbs

3.9g Protein

22.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2584 cal · 198g fat · 178g carbs · 31g protein · 177g sugar

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

Per serving · 323 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 61 min·3.6 mi·~7150 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 44 min·2.2 mi·~4400 steps
Moderate cycling 33 min·6.6 mi
Swimming laps 45 min
Jogging 32 min·2.7 mi·~5100 steps
Stair climbing 30 min·~2700 steps
Dancing 53 min
Bodyweight circuit training 33 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 75 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.