How to make ice cream in a blender

How to make homemade ice cream in a blender: the basics

There are several ways to make ice cream at home using a blender. You can go traditional by building a base with ingredients like whole milk, condensed milk or heavy cream for a rich flavor profile, or you can opt for dairy-free options that utilize almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk to get a creamy consistency that’s lactose-free. Whether you’re a fan of tropical fruits, a classic vanilla lover or a chocoholic, you can easily whip together your creation using a blender.

Easy blender ice cream recipe

To make your own ice cream in a blender, start with some basic ingredients like a liquid base and some sweeteners. You can customize your blender ice cream recipe by mixing in whatever flavors and toppings you’re craving. Try cookie crumbles, candy pieces, brownie chunks, fudge, salted caramel or whatever else your heart desires. Get creative with these ice cream sundae bar ideas.

Types of ingredients

Ice cream:

• Liquid base (heavy cream, whole milk or full-fat coconut milk can work or try a combination)

• Star flavor (cocoa powder, chopped fruits, peanut butter and cheesecake pieces are just some ideas)

• Sweetener (honey, maple syrup or stevia are all great options)

• Accent flavor or enhancer (try vanilla, lavender or citrus)

Toppings (optional):

• Cookie crumbles

• Candy pieces

• Brownie chunks

• Fudge

• Salted caramel

Tools

• Blender

• Ice cream scoop

• Spoon

• Spatula

• Glass or metal loaf dish

• Plastic wrap

Typical time needed

• 20 minutes plus several hours freezing

Step 1: Add ingredients

Add a liquid base like heavy cream first, followed by the star flavor and your sweetener of choice into the blender.

Step 2: Blend

Blend on high until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Place in freezer

Pour the mixture into a freezer safe container like a glass loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 4-6 hours.

Step 4: Mix in toppings (optional)

Mix in any additional toppings and freeze for another 1-2 hours.

Step 5: Serve

Scoop, serve and enjoy!

What are the pros and cons of making ice cream in a blender?

Making homemade ice cream in a blender is one of the simplest ways to put together a classic frozen treat at home.

Blender ice cream pros

The pros are that it’s quick, it’s simple, it doesn’t require advanced knowledge or skills in the kitchen and it’s deliciously satisfying.

Blender ice cream cons

However, you may not get the same kind of slow churn as an ice cream machine, like this ice cream maker attachment from KitchenAid. You’ll get more rapid blending, which can result in a slightly different texture than typical churned ice cream.

Tips for making creamy blender ice cream

Making creamy blender ice cream can be simple if you follow these quick tips.

1. Avoid over-blending

To avoid over-mixing your blender ice cream, look for a blender with a built-in setting that’s capable of starting the motor at a slower speed to pull ingredients carefully into the blade, then quickly increasing to the selected speed to avoid splatter. The KitchenAid K400 Variable Speed Blender comes with Intelli-Speed^® Motor Control that senses contents and maintains the optimal speed to power through all ingredients.

2. Use a custard base ice cream

If you’re looking for a richer consistency for your blender ice cream, you can also try using a recipe for a custard base ice cream that’s made on the stove top. Start by decreasing the dairy levels when making the custard base. Save and refrigerate the extra liquid for later. Freeze the custard mixture in ice cube trays. Lastly, blend the frozen cubes with the remaining milk you set aside earlier.

3. Freeze your ice cream base before blending

A blender can provide the power you need to blend tough ingredients if you decide to go the route of freezing your ice cream base before blending. Some blenders come with specialized features for easily crushing ice, like the KitchenAid K150 3 Speed Ice Crushing Blender with a unique asymmetric blade that blends at four distinct angles. Get more help learning how to choose a blender and find one that comes with the kinds of settings that are most important to you.

How to make creamy dairy-free ice cream

Make creamy, dairy-free ice cream, or nice cream, in a blender with ingredients like bananas, mangos, avocados or full fat coconut cream and any other dairy free add-ins like nuts or caramel. Blend until smooth and freeze in an airtight container until solid, then scoop and enjoy. Avoid using high water content fruits like pineapple or melon.

What are different ways to make ice cream?

There are so many different ways you can learn how to make ice cream at home. You can make ice cream using a food processor, a hand mixer, a blender or using a KitchenAid stand mixer with the Ice Cream Maker Attachment.