Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)

Pin

Share

Tweet

Share

This Vanilla Frozen Custard Ice Cream is rich, decadent, and oh so creamy. Pair with your favorite pie, cake, or cookie or simply perfect on its own.

This Vanilla Custard Ice Cream serves 6 and costs $8.45 to make. That is just $1.41 per serving. This ice cream is creamy and decadent and perfect for a warm summer day.

There is simply nothing better than homemade ice cream. I love all of the fun flavor combinations. Some of my favorites include Fresh Peach Ice Cream, Cookie Dough Ice Cream, and Holy Cannoli Ice Cream.

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (1)

Table of Contents

You will love this frozen Vanilla Custard Recipe

This Vanilla Frozen Custard Ice Cream is the best because it is rich, decadent, and oh so creamy. After making it just once, you’ll understand why I (almost) always have a pint on hand in the freezer.

It’s perfect on its own, or amazing when paired with your favorite pie, cake, or freshly baked cookie. It honestly tastes like your favorite vanilla custard, in ice cream form, {think the luscious custard hidden beneath the crispy burnt sugar layer of crème brûlée}.

This frozen custard is the kind of treat I like to enjoy all to myself in peace and quiet on the couch, watching my favorite show after the kids are in bed. Anyone else with me on this “me time” strategy?!

What is Frozen Custard?

Frozen custard is a frozen dessert similar to ice cream but has a richer and creamier texture. It is made from a base of cream, milk, sugar, and pasteurized egg yolks. The key difference between frozen custard and traditional ice cream is the addition of egg yolks, which gives frozen custard its smooth and velvety consistency.

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2)

Vanilla Custard Ice Cream Recipe ingredients

RECIPE COST: $8.45

PER SERVING COST: $1.41

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (3)
  • 1 cup whole milk – $0.12
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar – $0.18
  • 2 cups heavy cream – $1.94
  • Pinch of salt – $0.10
  • 1 vanilla bean – $5.50
  • 6 large egg yolks – $0.30
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – $0.31

Cook’s Tools:

  • Ice Cream Machine– I use a Cuisinart Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Maker. For me, it’s the best buy for ice cream makers on the market. It’s probably not the best (or highest priced) model out there, but its modest price tag and excellent results make it the best buy in my book. Plus it comes in a ton of wicked cute colors.
  • Instant-Read Thermometer– I use a CDN ProAccurate Quick-Read Thermometer. I love this little thermometer; it’s speedy, accurate, and inexpensive.
  • Strainer– I use a fine mesh strainer that comes in a set of 3. It’s an inexpensive set that does more than just strain, I also use these for sifting ingredients and sifting powder sugar for garnish.
  • Ice Cream Containers– I use these white pint frozen dessert containers. They’re inexpensive (less than $19 for a set of 40!) and super cute. When giving ice cream away to friends and family, I like the decorate the containers with scrapbook paper and pretty string or ribbon.

How to make Frozen Custard Ice Cream

STEP ONE: First place a medium pot over medium-high heat and stir together the milk, sugar, and 1 cup of the heavy cream.

STEP TWO: After adding the vanilla bean to the pot, heat the mixture while stirring often until the mixture reaches 110 degrees.

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (4)

STEP THREE: Next, cover the pot and let the mixture cool until it reaches 80 degrees. This will take about 25 minutes.

STEP FOUR:Remove the vanilla bean, and add the egg yolks to the pot. While stirring the mixture, cook until the mixture reaches 170-175 degrees F.

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (5)

STEP FIVE: After removing the pot from the heat, place a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl, and pour the custard mixture through the sieve.

STEP SIX: Then mix in the remaining cup of heavy cream and vanilla extract. After cooling the mixture for 10 minutes, cover and refrigerate it for at least two hours.

STEP SEVEN: Finally, churn in an ice cream maker, following the manufacturer’s instructions. You’ll want to churn until the frozen custard is the consistency of soft-serve ice cream.

STEP EIGHT: Transfer the custard to a freezer-safe container and freeze until solid, about 3 hours.

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (7)

STEP NINE: Scoop and serve!

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (8)
Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (9)

Desserts to serve with this Vanilla Frozen Custard Ice Cream:

  • New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cake
  • Deep Dish Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Pie
  • Triple Chocolate One Bowl Brownies
  • Black Forest Cake
  • Better than Pecan Pie Bars
  • Deep Dish Apple Pie
  • Buttermilk Pie
  • Boston Cream Pie
  • Quick Dutch Apple Pie
  • Cherry Crumble Pie
  • Mixed Berry Crisp

I have the perfect cake to go along with this custard ice cream. My mom’schocolate chip cake screams for a scoop of custard ice cream to complement the richness of the cake.

Or who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie with custard ice cream? I know I love it! How delicious would this raspberry sauce be drizzled over the top of the custard ice cream? I want to make all of these right now!

I also like serving this frozen custard with my salted caramel recipe. SO good.

How to store this Ice Cream Custard Recipe

Homemade ice cream custard is best consumed within 1 to 2 weeks for optimal flavor and texture. Over time, ice crystals can form, affecting the creamy consistency.

Place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper directly on the surface of the custard before sealing the container. This helps prevent ice crystals from forming on the top layer of the custard.

Frozen Vanilla Custard Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between ice cream and frozen custard?

Custard vs ice cream, that is the question of the day! Custard ice cream and regular ice cream are both made with a base of milk, cream, and sugar. However, egg yolk is the major difference between custard and ice cream. According to the FDA, acustard should have 1.4% egg yolk solids by weight of the finished food.

What is healthier custard or ice cream?

The ice cream usually has more calories and saturated fat than custard. But ice cream does have less sugar and salt than custard. So, it’s kind of tied.

What makes frozen custard so creamy?

Frozen custard has a particularly creamy texture due to a few key factors:
Higher Fat Content:Frozen custard typically contains more milk fat than regular ice cream. It commonly includes a higher percentage of cream, contributing to its rich and creamy consistency. The additional fat content provides a smoother mouthfeel and enhances the overall creaminess.
Egg Yolks:One of the main ingredients that set frozen custard apart from traditional ice cream is the inclusion of pasteurized egg yolks. The egg yolks contain emulsifiers and proteins that help stabilize the mixture and create a smoother texture. They also add richness and contribute to the custard’s velvety mouthfeel.
Churning Process:Frozen custard is churned in an ice cream maker during freezing. The churning incorporates air into the mixture and helps create smaller ice crystals and a denser and creamier consistency. The continuous churning helps distribute the fat and air throughout the custard, enhancing its creaminess.

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (10)

4.74 from 19 votes

Vanilla Frozen Custard Recipe

Recipe Cost $ 8.45

Serving Cost $ 1.41

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

6 people

ThisVanilla Frozen Custard Ice Creamis rich, decadent, and oh so creamy. Pair with your favorite pie, cake, or cookie or simply perfect on its own.

Equipment

  • medium saucepan

  • whisk

  • fine mesh strainer

  • Medium bowl

  • Instant-read thermometer

  • ice cream machine

  • ice cream container

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups heavy cream divided
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 vanilla bean cut lengthwise
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

PREP MILK, CREAM, AND VANILLA BEAN:

  • Place a medium pot over medium-high heat, and whisk together the milk, sugar, and 1 cup of the heavy cream.

  • Use a spoon or the back of a butter knife to scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the pot. Add the vanilla bean to the pot, too.

HEAT MILK MIXTURE:

  • Heat the mixture, while stirring often, until the mixture reaches 110 degrees.

  • Cover the pot and let the mixture cool for about 25 minutes, or until it cools to 80 degrees.

MIX CUSTARD MIXTURE:

  • Remove the vanilla bean and add the egg yolks to the pot and whisk it into the warm milk mixture until combined.

COOK CUSTARD MIXTURE:

  • Place the pot back on the stove and heat it over medium heat. Cook, while stirring constantly (make sure you scrape all around the bottom of the pan and edges).

  • Cook until the mixture reaches 170-175 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. The mixture will be thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove the pot from the heat.

STRAIN:

  • Place a fine-mesh​ strainer over a medium bowl and pour the custard mixture through the strainer.

MIX AND CHILL:

  • Whisk in the remaining cup of heavy cream and vanilla extract. Cool the mixture for 10 minutes, and then cover it and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

CHURN AND FREEZE:

  • Churn in an ice cream maker as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Churn until custard resembles soft-serve ice cream.

  • Transfer the frozen custard to an airtight container and freeze for 3 hours.

SERVE:

  • Scoop and serve!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 457kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 308mg | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 133mg | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 1492IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1mg

did you love this recipe?

Share it with me on Facebook and find more recipes on foodfolksandfun for more!

This recipe first appeared on FFF during August of 2013. I have since updated the pictures and post copy.

Pin

Share

Tweet

Share

Related Posts

Decadent Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
Fresh Peach Ice Cream
75+ Delicious and Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes

subscribe for new recipes

Get all the latest recipes in your inbox!

connect with us

Make sure to tag #foodfolksandfun on instagram!

Homemade Custard Ice Cream Recipe • Food Folks and Fun (2024)

FAQs

Which is healthier, frozen custard or ice cream? ›

Brands vary, but vanilla ice-cream typically has about 10 per cent more calories than custard, as well as twice the saturated fat, less protein and half the calcium and potassium. However, ice-cream usually has less sugar and salt, too.

What are 2 ways your custard is thickened from your recipe? ›

Mix flour and cold water well, making sure the mixture is smooth. For 1 cup (240 mL) of custard, use 2 tablespoons (17 g) of flour mixed with 4 tablespoons (59 mL) of cold water. Add the mixture into your custard ingredients as they cook on the stove. Use cornstarch as an alternative to flour.

What makes custard ice cream? ›

The main difference between frozen custard and ice cream is that frozen custard is made with egg yolks and ice cream is not, giving the former a richer flavor and mouthfeel. Some ice creams are made with egg yolks, however, which would technically make them custards based on the USDA guidelines.

What are the three types of custard? ›

There are three types of custard: baked, stirred, and frozen. Baked custards include bread pudding, flan, and cheesecake, and are prepared by baking in an oven or water bath. Boiled Custards include beverages like eggnog. Puddings, creme anglaise (krem on-GLAYZ), and pastry cream are some examples of stirred custards.

Is custard better than ice cream for diabetics? ›

Glycemic Index

Frozen custard, on the other hand, contains more protein. Because of its nutritional breakdown, it usually has a lower GI than ice cream and will not cause a blood sugar spike as rapidly.

Can a diabetic eat custard? ›

You can buy NAS (no added sugar) custard powders, which some may tolerate in small amounts when well-paired. However, for those who want proper custard that is much more tolerable, you could try this recipe for a low-carb homemade REAL custard!

What are common mistakes making custard? ›

The most common mistake people make in baking a custard is not putting enough water in the hot-water bath. The water should come up to the level of the custard inside the cups. You must protect your custard from the heat.

Can you whip custard to make it thicker? ›

Heat the custard base, over medium heat, while whisking vigorously until it starts to thicken – this should take about 1 – 2 minutes depending on the heat of your stove and size of your saucepan.

Why is my homemade custard grainy? ›

MAKING CUSTARD

Don't stir the sugar into the egg yolks too far in advance. It can 'cook' the yolks and cause them to go grainy.

How to thicken custard for ice cream? ›

After endless tests and reading extensive literature about the numerous gelling and thickening agents on the market – guar gum, kappa carrageenan, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, agar, chia seeds, cornstarch, tapioca starch, arrowroot starch, rice flour (to name a few) – I settled on a mixture of rice flour, locust bean ...

What is Culver's custard made of? ›

Vanilla Frozen Custard [Milk, Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Egg Yolk, Guar Gum, Mono & Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Vanilla Flavor], Pecan Pieces [Vegetable Oil (Peanut, Cottonseed, Soybean and/or Sunflower Seed), Sea Salt], Salted Caramel [Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed ...

How long to chill custard for ice cream? ›

Strain and Cool the Custard

Cool the mixture slightly, then stir in the half-and-half cream and the vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold—several hours or overnight.

What is the fancy name for custard? ›

While custard may refer to a wide variety of thickened dishes, technically (and in French cookery) the word custard (crème or more precisely crème moulée, [kʁɛm mule]) refers only to an egg-thickened custard.

Is custard healthier than ice cream? ›

While the calorie count may vary with flavors, ice cream in general is likely to have more calories and fat than frozen custard: 207 calories and 11 grams of fat for 100 grams of vanilla ice cream vs. 122 calories and four grams of fat for 100 grams of frozen custard.

What is custard called in America? ›

The US equivalent of custard is custard. We also have pudding which is thicker and more set than custard usually with flour or cornstarch. We do not refer to the dessert course of a meal as pudding.

Is frozen custard full of sugar? ›

Custard ranges from runny to thick or viscous, and always has milk or cream and egg yolk; custard is also mostly made of sugar, but it can be savory as well. Ice cream is made out of cream or milk and sugar in a traditional ice cream freezer, and usually does not contain egg.

Does frozen custard have less dairy than ice cream? ›

Ingredients-wise, this seemingly teeny-tiny calculation of egg yolk is basically the difference between frozen custard and ice cream. Other than that, both treats are essentially some combination of milk, cream, and sugar. For those wondering about the nutritional comparison of the two, they're just about the same.

What's the difference between Culver's custard and ice cream? ›

You may notice that Fresh Frozen Custard has a thicker, creamier texture than hard-packed ice cream. That's because custard is frozen slowly, just a little bit at a time, so that hardly any air bubbles are mixed in. It's also served at a slightly warmer temperature.

Does McDonalds serve real ice cream? ›

Notice how "ice cream" isn't part of the name, or the product's description: "Our Vanilla Cone features creamy vanilla soft serve in a crispy cone." That's because the Vanilla Cone at McDonald's isn't made with real ice cream, it's just plain ol' soft serve.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 6207

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.