Making homemade strawberry ice cream is a delightful and relatively simple process. Here’s a classic recipe that you can follow:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions:
- Prepare the Strawberries:
- In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries with 1/2 cup of the sugar.
- Mash the strawberries with a fork or potato masher until they are broken down and have released their juices.
- Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes.
- Make the Ice Cream Base:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, heavy cream, whole milk, and vanilla extract until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add the mashed strawberries and their juices to the cream mixture.
- Stir in the lemon juice to enhance the strawberry flavor.
- Chill the Mixture:
- Cover the mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. This helps the flavors meld and ensures the mixture is cold before churning.
- Churn the Ice Cream:
- Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually takes about 20-25 minutes.
- If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can pour the mixture into a shallow dish, freeze for about an hour, then beat it with a hand mixer. Repeat this process every 30 minutes until the ice cream is creamy and fully frozen.
- Freeze the Ice Cream:
- Once the ice cream reaches a soft-serve consistency, transfer it to an airtight container.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours, or until it is firm.
- Serve:
- Scoop and enjoy your homemade strawberry ice cream!
Tips:
- For an extra burst of flavor, consider adding a splash of balsamic vinegar to the strawberries when mashing them.
- You can also fold in some chopped fresh strawberries or chocolate chips during the last few minutes of churning for added texture.
Enjoy your delicious homemade strawberry ice cream!
