I love, love homemade ice cream! It reminds me of my childhood. I remember my grandpa having an old wooden ice cream maker that he’d put out on the back patio. My grandma would bring him the cylinder with the ice cream mixture and he’d layer the ice and rock salt while the machine started to turn. I loved picking up stray pieces of rock salt and letting them melt on my tongue. My grandma would bring out a cake pan when the ice cream maker started to slow down. She’d take out the ice cream dasher and set it in the pan while spooning the rest into a bowl. She’d always let me sneak a spoonful before she took the rest inside. And then after dinner we’d eat homemade vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries on top. 

I cannot possibly be the only one with these kinds of memories, right? And they are the best of memories, aren’t they? My family has a great recipe for homemade ice cream that we’ve been using for years. But as much as I love it, I hate the time it takes to make it. It’s not the mixing it together, but the time in the freezer that I hate. And making it in the heat of the Southern Utah summer is doubly difficult because you are constantly replacing the melting ice around the cylinder. 

So my secret weapon is this: my Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker that I use from the convenience of my kitchen counter. 

I bought mine years ago and it’s still one of my favorite appliance to pull out. You can find one similar on Amazon HERE.   

The instructions are simple and the mess is minimal. I use the recipe straight from the Cuisinart recipe booklet- milk, sugar, vanilla, heavy cream and a pinch of salt. There’s no cooking or boiling, which makes this recipe even better! The only thing I have to remind myself of is to freeze the cylinder overnight when I want to use it. And if that is the hardest part, I’m good! 

The ice cream churns for 15-20 minutes before it’s done. It’s usually a little too soft for my liking, so I spoon it into another container and throw it in the freezer for a couple hours. This is also the perfect time to add in any extras to your ice cream. Crushed Butterfingers is the go-to at our house. Delicious! 

There is just something special about homemade ice cream. I’m not sure if it’s the nostalgia of simpler times or the decidedly summer vibe that it evokes, but I know that I love it. This ice cream maker simply makes those vibes easier to find. It’s the best! 🙂