This easy vanilla ice cream recipe is a classic custard base infused with fresh vanilla beans, vanilla extract and a splash of bourbon. It’s our simple, go-to recipe made in our handy-dandy ice cream maker.

Who doesn’t love the old-school flavor of home churned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream!? This all-time favorite flavor is perfect as-is-on-the-cone, for dressing up in a sundae cup or scooped a la mode atop warm pies, cookies and brownies.

Check out this recipe to learn more about working with fresh vanilla beans, why you need an ice cream maker stat, tips for making ice cream at home and some of our favorite mix-ins and serving suggestions!

All You Need For Vanilla Bean Ice Cream:

This classic vanilla bean ice cream uses nothing but old-fashioned, wholesome ingredients. Frozen custard made just like life on the dairy farm (but from the comfort of your own kitchen!) Here’s what you’ll need:

All About That Vanilla Bean:

The key to the best vanilla ice cream is using a fresh, Grade A vanilla bean. I know, I know – they’re not cheap BUT, I promise – they are worth every penny! Great vanilla beans can be sourced from several places worldwide. (We buy fresh vanilla online and are big fans of beans sourced from Madagascar or Tahiti). Each vanilla growing location boasts equally fragrant and flavorful vanilla beans each with their own unique character. Grade A vanilla beans are selected as the highest-quality beans. Grade A beans are still moist with their own natural oils lending to stronger, superior vanilla flavor.

Just one Grade A vanilla bean is enough to flavor an entire batch of this delicious ice cream. If you are using Grade B beans – use at least two. Finally, we like to reinforce those warm, floral vanilla flavors with a splash of good-quality vanilla extract and an optional splash of bourbon. Bourbon whiskey is oak-aged and takes on its own notes of vanilla and caramel that further enhance this custard’s intense vanilla bean flavor.

How To Use Fresh Vanilla Beans

To use fresh vanilla beans, start by using a sharp paring knife to split the bean in half lengthwise. Then, use the dull side of the knife to scrape to seeds from the bean.

Even without the seeds, the remaining bean still has a ton of BIG vanilla flavor! For the maximum vanilla flavor, we recommend steeping the bean in with the vanilla custard base.

Ice Cream Makers (What We Use & Why You Need One)

This Vanilla Bean Ice Cream recipe is made in a standard home ice cream maker. As long as your maker can fit a quart of custard base, you can use whatever ice cream maker you have. (Even if it’s an old-school crank churner!) We use a popular model of a Cuisinart ice cream maker. It’s the type of ice cream maker that requires you to freeze the basin before use and it’s been working wonderfully for years.

Our ice cream maker has been an honored guest at nearly every holiday and gathering. (I mean, what occasion doesn’t call for homemade ice cream!?) They make a darn good gift, too! Scott loves to remind me of my child-like squeal when I unwrapped that Cuisinart bad-boy many Christmas mornings ago…and I highly recommend spreading that kind of uncontainable joy whenever you can.

(If you don’t have an ice cream maker, check out our No-Churn Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake recipe instead!)

8 Tips for Scream Worthy Ice Cream At Home

I scream, you scream, we all scream for the best ice cream in town…courtesy of your very own freezer! Check out these trusty practices for making the best, creamiest ice cream around!

Making The Custard

1. Ribbon Stage Sugar & Eggs – Whisk room temperature egg yolks and sugar until they are pale, light and fluffy! The egg and sugar mixture should reach the “ribbon stage” where the thick mixture falls over itself in ribbons. The ribbons will sit on the mixture’s surface for several seconds before settling in.

2. Use Full-Fat Dairy – For the richest, creamiest ice cream, we recommend using whole milk and heavy cream. Save the fat free milk and dairy substitutes for another day!

3. Temper Your Eggs With Care! – Be careful to temper your hot cream mixture into your egg mixture SLOWLY and whisk constantly! Otherwise, you’ll be making scrambled eggs!

4. Keep All Ingredients COLD – Make sure the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Base is completely chilled before churning. We recommend chilling overnight for the best results.

Churning & Freezing

5. Make Sure Your Freezer Bowl is FROZEN SOLID! – Make sure your ice cream maker’s freezer bowl is frozen solid before making ice cream at home!

6. Churn Ice Cream to Your Ice Cream Maker Manufacturer’s Instructions – In our Cuisinart ice cream machine, fresh-churned ice cream takes between 20 – 30 minutes.

7. Wrap Your Freezer Bowl In a Plastic Bag – To prevent freezer burn and ice crystals from contaminating our home-churned ice cream, we like to keep our ice cream maker’s freezer bowl wrapped in a recycled plastic bag in our freezer. This way, our bowl is free of any extra condensation that can create an icy or grainy texture in homemade ice cream.

8. Freeze Your Ice Cream in a Shallow Container – Shallow containers help ice cream freeze faster! The faster your ice cream freezes, the smoother and creamier it will be. We like to freeze our ice cream in a tin or glass brownie pan in the back of our freezer for the quickest possible freezing. Put plastic wrap directly on the ice cream’s surface to prevent ice crystals from forming.

Mix-Ins, Toppings & Serving Suggestions

Now that you have a freezer stocked with Old-Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, you probably don’t need our help deciding what to do with it. (Pssst, grab a spoon!) However, we’ve got some ideas! Of course, this classic flavor is the ULTIMATE choice for swirling in fruits and candies, topping with sauces and syrups or serving alongside your homemade baked goods. Here’s a few suggestions:

• Spoons, Cones & Cups – Get fancy if you want, but all you really need is a spoon and a smile for this simple vanilla bean delight!
• Candy & Sprinkles – On top or mixed in, vanilla bean ice cream is the perfect blank canvas for chocolates, sprinkles, caramels and more!
• Fruits – A simple cherry on top, fresh strawberries or swirls of compote… In the Summer, try our Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream that is made using this recipe!
• Fudges, Sauces & Syrups – Gooey caramels, decadent fudge sauces or flavorful syrups! Try this ice cream with a drizzle of our Peach Syrup, Plum Syrup, or even our tart and tangy Rhubarb Syrup!
• Cookies & Brownies – Nothing compliments a baked good like a scoop of vanilla! Use this recipe for brownie sundaes, skillet cookies or even ice cream sandwiches!
• Cakes & Pies – Bring your homemade vanilla ice cream to your next birthday celebration or serve a scoop on a warm slice of pie! (It’s glorious on this Homemade Peach Mango Pie!)

Share Your Success!

When this Old Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream recipe makes its way to your table, be sure to drop us a star rating! And, as always, mention @foodworthfeed or tag #foodworthfeed in your Instagram posts and stories! We’d love to feature you on social! We love having a seat at your table, you’ll always have one at ours. Cheers!

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