Question

How do you make homemade soft serve ice cream without an actual machine or just using your freezer for it instead of buying one from the store?

Answer 1

Making homemade soft serve ice cream without an ice cream machine is entirely possible and can be achieved with a few simple methods. The key is to incorporate air into the mixture to create that smooth, creamy texture. Here's a basic recipe using a hand mixer or a blender:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Start by chilling the mixing bowl and beaters of your hand mixer or the blender jar in the freezer for about 15-30 minutes. Cold equipment will help the cream whip faster.

2. In a separate bowl, mix the heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and vanilla extract until the sugar is dissolved. You can adjust the sweetness to your taste.

3. Once the mixture is well combined, place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Chilling the mixture beforehand will help improve the consistency and creaminess of the ice cream.

4. After the mixture has chilled, take it out and pour it into the chilled mixing bowl or blender jar.

5. Use a hand mixer or blender on low speed to beat the mixture until it starts to thicken. This may take a few minutes, so be patient.

6. Once it thickens, increase the speed and continue beating the mixture until soft peaks form. The mixture should become light and airy, similar to soft serve ice cream.

7. At this point, you can serve the soft serve ice cream immediately, or for a more authentic soft serve texture, transfer it to a piping bag with a large star tip and pipe it into serving dishes.

8. If you prefer a firmer texture, you can put the soft serve ice cream in a lidded container and place it in the freezer for a couple of hours before serving.

Optional Additions:

Feel free to get creative and add your favorite flavors or mix-ins to the ice cream mixture before freezing, such as crushed cookies, chocolate chips, fruit purees, or flavored extracts.

Remember that homemade soft serve ice cream doesn't contain the stabilizers and preservatives found in store-bought versions, so it's best enjoyed fresh and within a few hours of making it.