Lesson 2 of 5 · Ice Cream at Home

Churning and hardening

  • Free video
  • Beginner
  • Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
  • 6 min
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Video by America's Test Kitchen on YouTube: “How to Make Homemade Ice Cream Without A Machine” Watch on YouTube ↗

What you'll learn

Lesson 2 of 5

Churn ice cream in a machine, or make it without one as in this video, then harden it in the freezer for a scoopable texture.

  • Freeze the machine's bowl at least 24 hours
  • Churn until thick like soft-serve
  • Harden in the freezer for 4+ hours

Ingredients for this lesson

Madagascar Vanilla Beans, Grade A, 5 BeansVanillaGoods$15.00
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Uganda Vanilla Beans, Grade A, 5 BeansVanillaGoods$18.00
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Madagascar Vanilla Extract, 4 oz BottleVanillaGoods$19.00
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Lesson notes from VanillaGoods

With a machine

  • Freeze the canister at least 24 hours; it should not slosh when shaken
  • Churn a well-chilled base until it looks like soft-serve, usually 20–25 minutes
  • Add mix-ins in the last minute

Without a machine

This video uses a whipped-cream style base. Because the air is whipped in before freezing, the ice cream sets light and creamy without churning, which makes it ideal for flavor variations.

Hardening

Transfer the ice cream to a chilled container, press parchment onto the surface to prevent ice crystals and freeze at least 4 hours before scooping.

← Lesson 1Next: No-churn vanilla ice cream →

Tools for this lesson

The equipment that makes this easier. VanillaGoods vanilla is always our own; these tools are from Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate, VanillaGoods earns from qualifying purchases. We only suggest tools that fit what you're learning.

Put it into practice

Bake along with a VanillaGoods recipe that uses this technique.

Find vanilla ice cream recipes

Videos are embedded from YouTube with the official player and belong to their creators. VanillaGoods is not affiliated with these creators unless stated; lesson notes and product suggestions are our own.