Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

I was so excited when I got my new Cuisinart Ice Cream Machine that I had to try out a recipe as soon as I could. Naturally, I wanted to go with something simple to start with but that was equally delicious - Vanilla Bean Ice Cream! Unfortunately, I had to freeze the freezer bowl for 12 hours before I could even start so there was a lot more waiting involved than I likde! 

What you will need: 

2⅓ Cups Full Cream Milk  

2⅓ Cups Thickened (Heavy) Cream

1 Whole Vanilla Bean

3 Large Eggs

4 Large Egg Yolks 

1⅛ Cups Sugar

2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract 

Ingredients

Combine the milk and cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Split the vanilla bean and scrape the seeds out. Put the seeds and vanilla bean pod into the milk/cream mixture and sir. 

Milk, Cream & Vanilla Bean 

Bring the mixture to the slow boil and reduce heat to low, simmering for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. The mixture will get a skin forming on the top but if you stir throughout the 30 minutes this will get melted back into the mixture. 

Cooked milk/cream mixture

Combine the eggs, egg yolk and sugar in a medium bowl.

Eggs mixture

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, mix the ingredients until thick and smooth and pale yellow. This should take about 2 minutes. 

Egg Mixture combined

Remove the vanilla bean pod from the milk/cream mixture. Measure out 1 cup of the hot mixture. With the electric mixer on low add the hot mixture to the egg mixture gradually. 

Combine mixtures

Remove the vanilla bean pod from the milk/cream mixture. Measure out 1 cup of the hot mixture. With the electric mixer on low add the hot mixture to the egg mixture gradually. When thoroughly combined, pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and stir to combine. 

Combine all mixtures

Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick and coats the back of a spoon. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the vanilla extract. All to cool completely. 

Mixture coats back of spoon

Pour the chilled custard mixture into the freezer bowl, turn the machine on and let mix until thickened. This will take about 25 - 30 minutes. 

Churning in the ice cream machine

The ice cream will have a soft creamy texture. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight freezer dish and store in the freezer. Don't forget to taste it before you put it in the freezer, the taste is phenomenal. 

Ready for the freezer

If you don't have an ice cream machine, visit this website for instructions on making ice cream without a machine. 

Do you have a favourite ice cream flavour? 

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