Homemade Cherry Ice Cream (Without a Machine!)

Everyone loves ice cream, and homemade is the best.  But did you know that you can make homemade ice cream without a machine? That's right, you don't need one more kitchen gadget to take up room in your pantry. It's possible to make creamy ice cream without an ice cream maker.

This cherry ice cream recipe is one of my favorites for many reasons. If you like cherries you'll love it too. But if you want to substitute another kind of frozen fruit for the cherries, fee free! Frozen mangoes or strawberries would work well.

WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Sneaks in fruits. You get a little antioxidant bonus when adding fruits like cherries to ice cream. Cherries are a source of vitamins A, C and K.

• No thickeners, stabilizers and additives. Store-bought ice cream often contains unnecessary additives like xanthan gum that are harmful to our digestion. When you make anything homemade you have control over what goes into it.  

• It's pretty! I love the pink color, and it can be garnished with fresh cherries, a fruit sauce, whipped cream and some shaved white chocolate. I went simple with just a few cherries.
• Easy recipe. I was committed to creating an easy homemade ice cream recipe for you, and I succeeded! No cooking steps or anything tricky. You'll love how easy this is.

INGREDIENTS

Here’s what you’ll need to make this cherry ice cream recipe:

• 1 cup heavy cream (I used dairy but you could use coconut-based cream for non-dairy)
• 2 cups frozen sweet cherries 
• ¼ cup powdered sugar
• Pinch sea salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla powder (or vanilla extract)
• Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon juice & 1 pasteurized egg yolk

INGREDIENT NOTES

• Heavy cream. If you prefer to make this recipe non-dairy you can use canned coconut cream instead. However if you do this, I recommend heating the mixture after blending it. Just warm it on low for a minute or two. To add the egg yolk, let the mixture cool down before whisking it in. Then freeze.
• Frozen cherries. I opted for organic to avoid the pesticides found in conventional cherries.  If this is not within your budget and you want to use conventional fruit, frozen mangoes might be a better option as far as low pesticides.
• Vanilla Powder. I love the fact that vanilla bean powder doesn't contain any alcohol. And the flavor is amazing! If you prefer to use pure vanilla extract that works well as a substitute.
• Egg yolk. If you feel squeamish about adding a pasteurized raw egg yolk to your ice cream, just skip it. But if you want to learn more about why eggs yolks make ice cream creamier, this is a great article to check out.

HOW TO MAKE CHERRY VANILLA ICE CREAM: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: WHIP THE HEAVY CREAM

Pour the heavy cream into the bowl of a food processor. Whip it until fluffy.

STEP 2: PUREE THE INGREDIENTS TOGETHER

Add the frozen cherries, heavy cream, sugar, sea salt, vanilla powder, and optional lemon juice and egg yolk. Puree until completely smooth.

STEP 3: FREEZE THE ICE CREAM

Freeze the ice cream using one of these two methods:
1. Pour the ice cream into small single serving containers and freeze them. This makes it easy to take out and bring to room temperature for a few minutes to help it soften before serving.
2. Or, pour the whole batch into a shallow pan and freeze for 1 hour. Swirl with a fork and freeze again. Stir every hour until firm, then transfer into a storage container.

NOTE: This is a firmer ice cream once it’s frozen, so just allow for letting it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving and you’ll be all set to enjoy delicious creamy ice cream!

EXPERT TIPS

• Egg yolks. Egg yolks add fat to your ice cream that makes it more creamier and richer in taste. They also contains lecithin which helps bind fat and water to create a creamy texture.  
• Sugar. Using regular sugar may cause your ice cream to crystallize. Using powdered sugar will help prevent this.
• Air Tight Containers. Your homemade ice cream should be well kept using airtight containers. These will be good for 2 weeks (texture can become grainy and crystals may appear after 2 weeks).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What can I use if I don't have an ice cream maker?

There are a few other ways to make ice cream without an ice cream maker. You can use a blender, stand mixer or a food processor. I chose the food processor for this recipe, but you can even use a mason jar.

How do you make ice cream without a mixer?

Try the homemade ice cream in a bag hack. Yes, you can make ice cream using a plastic bag! This is a great hands-on method you can do with your kids that will also teach them some cool science at the same time.

How do you keep cherries from freezing in ice cream?

Fortunately, because cherries have a natural sugar content, they don't freeze solid and will remain slightly soft. That's why they are one of my favorite fruits to use to make homemade ice cream.

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HOW TO USE CHERRIES IN RECIPES

• Vegan charcuterie board Recipe that will be perfect for your next get-together. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
• Vegan Butternut Squash Pancakes with Cherry Compote combine naturally sweet butternut squash with heart-healthy cherries to make healthy pancakes that happen to be gluten-free.
• This Poached Pears Recipe is delightfully elegant and too delicious for words!

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