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Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe

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In this post you will learn how to make homemade ice cream the easy way and how to add your own flavour. Using just one magical ‘cheat’ ingredient, you could be chilling out with a freezer full of your favourites in no time at all.

It’s seriously creamy and luxurious, and all you have to do is add your flavour. Yep – that’s it! No need to worry about making a custard base from scratch… are you intrigued? Read on for my easy homemade ice cream recipe and top tips to help you succeed every time.

Rather make it the traditional way? Check out my rhubarb and custard ice cream recipe instead!

Homemade ice cream in a waffle cone

So you’ve heard of the ‘no churn’ ice cream recipes right? I’ve made them a few times and, while they are super delicious, they’re also incredibly rich too. In the midst of Summer, you don’t really want a crazy heavy ice cream do you? Nope! You want a light and refreshing treat to cool you down.

Well I’ve found an epic middle ground that will give you exactly that! Yes you need an ice cream churner, but no, there’s no need to slave over a hot stove making a custard base from scratch. My secret? Tinned ambrosia custard! I kid you not.

Worried about having to buy an expensive ice cream churner? There’s tons of really cheap options out there nowadays that are really quite good. In fact, I’ve dropped a link to the exact one I used to make this near the end of the post.

Homemade ice cream in a waffle cone in glasses

Mango and lime homemade ice cream recipe tips

  • Want to create your own flavour? Make sure you add strong flavours or it will just taste of custard. (Most tinned custards have quite a strong flavour.)
  • Adding citrus flavours? Don’t add too much acid or you may curdle the custard. Try instead to use the zest of citrus fruits, not the juice. Or use the method in my lemon ice cream recipe.
  • Want an even creamier, more luxurious ice cream? Buy a good quality carton of ready made custard (the fresh kind out the fridges) and use that instead. Still not luxurious enough? Add 150ml of double cream.
  • Don’t forget to taste the ice cream mixture before churning it! The flavour should be quite strong and sweet as, once churned, this will mellow a bit.
  • Make sure that all ingredients going into the ice cream churner are cold. This is really important.
  • The higher the fat content, the softer & creamier the ice cream.
Homemade ice cream in a waffle cone in a glass

Here is how to make mango and lime ice cream using my ‘cheat’ ice cream recipe. If you want to make other flavours, there’s some tips and ideas a little further down the post.

Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipe (Mango and Lime) – Step by Step Picture Recipe

PLEASE NOTE: Chill all ingredients AND put the ice cream maker bowl in the freezer for at least 12 hours (or overnight) before starting this recipe!

Here is what you will need to make 1 litre.

Ingredients

  • 2 x 400g Tins of Ambrosia
  • 1 x 400g Tin of Mango Slices, Drained
  • Zest of 2 Limes

Essential Equipment

  • Food Processor/Mini Food Chopper
  • Large Bowl
  • Ice Cream Maker
  • 1 Litre Loaf Tin or Plastic Tub

Instructions

Plug the ice cream maker in and set up according to the manufacturers instructions.

In a small mini chopper/food processor, blitz the drained mango slices until it becomes a smooth puree.

Homemade ice cream: mango puree in a mini food chopper

Then, in a large bowl, pour in the chilled tinned custard and give it a little mix.

Homemade ice cream: custard base in a glass bowl

Next, add in the mango puree and the lime zest.

Homemade ice cream: custard base, mango puree and lime zest in a glass bowl

Then give it all a good mix. Have a taste, is the flavour strong enough? Don’t forget that the flavour strength and sweetness will mellow slightly once churned!

Homemade ice cream: custard base, mango puree and lime zest in a glass bowl mixed together

If you’re happy, start up your ice cream churner then pour in the mixture. I churned mine for 30 minutes but you should double check the manufacturers instructions before you begin.

Homemade ice cream in a churner

It will start out quite loose but should become cold, thick and airy by the end of the 30 minutes.

Homemade ice cream in a churner
Homemade ice cream in a churner bowl

When it’s ready, pour it into a loaf tin or plastic tub and smooth out.

Homemade ice cream in a loaf tin

Cover with a double layer of cling film or a plastic lid and place into the freezer to freeze completely for at least 12 hours.

When you’re ready to serve, take out the freezer and let sit on the side for 20 minutes to soften a little. Scoop into a cone, into a bowl or have with a dessert and enjoy!

Homemade ice cream in a waffle cone in a glass

Can I change the flavour?

All you have to do to add your own flavours is follow the recipe as above but replace the mango puree and lime zest with any of the following:

  • Mint Choc Chip – Add 2 tsp of peppermint extract and a little green food colouring gel (optional). Then add 200g Chocolate Chips just before it sets.
  • Vanilla – Add 2-3 tsp of good quality vanilla extract.
  • Cookies and Cream – Add 2-3 tsp of good quality vanilla extract then add 300g of roughly chopped Oreo biscuits just before it sets.
  • Lemon – Add the zest of 2 large lemons.
  • Strawberry – Hull and quarter 400g of strawberries then mash as much as you can in a bowl with the back of a fork. Add this to the custard and make as above.

Most importantly – don’t forget to taste it before you churn it! You want a really strong flavour before you start as this will weaken slightly once churned.

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Homemade ice cream in a waffle cone
Homemade ice cream in a waffle cone in glasses
Homemade ice cream in a waffle cone

Easy Homemade Ice Cream (Mango and Lime) - Printable Recipe

Yield: 1 Litre
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Churn/Freeze Time: 12 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 12 hours 35 minutes

This recipe will teach you how to make the easiest homemade ice cream ever! In a refreshing mango and lime flavour, this is a perfect Summer treat.

Ingredients

  • 2 400g Tins of Ambrosia Custard
  • 1 400g Tin of Mango Slices,, Drained
  • 2 Limes,, Zest Only

Essential Equipment

  • Mini Food Chopper or Food Processor
  • Large Bowl
  • Ice Cream Churner
  • 1 Litre Loaf Tin or Plastic Tub

Instructions

Advance Preparation

  1. Chill all ingredients & place the ice cream churner bowl in the freezer for at least 12 hours (or whatever the manufacturers instructions say).

To Make the Ice Cream

  1. Puree the drained mango slices in a mini food chopper.
  2. Put the cold custard in a bowl then add the mango puree and lime zest. Stir it all together then churn in your ice cream maker as per the manufacturers instructions. (Mine was for 30 minutes.)
  3. Pour into a loaf tin/plastic tub, cover with cling film/plastic lid & freeze for 12 hours until set.
  4. Take out the freezer 15-20 minutes before serving to soften slightly.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 98mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 5g

Nutritional information on kitchenmason.com should only be used as a general guideline, I am not a certified nutritionist. Please always check labels for allergens where applicable.

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About Emma Mason

Emma is a professional blogger. Utilising over 20 years of cooking experience, she’s passionate about making your life easier, one recipe at a time! Drawing on her 12+ year background in recipe research and development, photography, copy writing and marketing, Emma has turned kitchenmason.com into a successful career. Known as ‘the organisation queen’ among friends, she is passionate about creating easy to follow recipes that anyone can follow and enjoy. She lives in Nottingham (UK) with her husband, daughter and 2 naughty cats. In her spare time she can be found reading a good book, training at the dojo preparing for her black belt grading, or dreaming up the next crazy colour combo for her hair!

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iza

Monday 9th of July 2018

delicious ice cream

Miss KitchenMason

Monday 9th of July 2018

Thank you :) Emma x

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