Homemade ice cream, the creamy treat we all deserve. When we were kids, we all loved a big bowl of ice cream on a hot day; now, you may be more likely to eat it straight from the tub after a break up or, if you’re a student, right after a tough exam. However you eat it, ice cream is delicious, but there’s nothing better than making something yourself. Today, we’re going to give you two ways to make ice cream at home without a machine, followed by a few suggestions to add some unique flavor to the dessert.
Grab some friends from your shared flat to help make this recipe. We all know they’ll want to try some, and you’ll definitely want their help for at least one of these methods.
Before you can get into any of these techniques, you have to have a place to follow them, don’t you? If you’re looking for an accommodation in Madrid, take a look at some of our blogs to see which neighborhood is the best for you! In our blogs we do things like tour the barrios and districts in Madrid, discuss events you cannot miss, and highlight cultural aspects you should be aware of. All of these are important, but none are as fun as the recipes we occasionally get into; let’s chill out and get back to the ice cream.
For both of these methods, we’ll use the same base ingredients. You will need:
- 2 cups of heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup of sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Method 1:
Do you want the good news or the bad news first? I’ll start with the bad news; the first method is a bit of a workout. Don’t worry though, the good news is that you won’t have to worry about any of the calories you’re going to eat. To make ice cream this way, you’ll need 2 empty coffee cans, one big can and one that will fit inside the first. If you don’t want to make coffee flavored ice cream, you’ll need to wash the smaller can really well.
To get started, you’re going to mix the three ingredients in a mixing bowl (along with a small pinch of salt if you’re feeling a little crazy). Once these are combined, pour the mixture into the small can and seal it tightly. You may want to tape it shut just to be sure nothing spills. Next, set it inside the larger can and surround it in ice cubes. Scoop some flakey salt (like ice cream salt) into the big can with the ice, then seal it too. Now, your workout begins. Move the can around, shaking and rolling, for about 30 minutes to allow it to freeze. This is when your friends can come in handy; let them take a turn. At this point, it will have a more solid structure, but you may need to toss the small can in the freezer for another 30 minutes to get it to the right texture. When you’ve got it, take it out and share it with your friends.
Method 2:
Before you start, place a baking sheet in the freezer and allow it to chill. Once you’ve done this, mix all of the ingredients in a bowl just like in the other recipe, then pour them into the cold baking sheet and place it back in the freezer. Let it rest in there for about 30 minutes, then take it out. At this point, it should be just beginning to harden. Using a hand mixer on low, churn the mixture lightly, just to smooth it out, then place it back in the freezer. Repeat this step every 30 minutes until it’s the texture you’re looking for (depending on your freezer, this can take around 3 hours). Though this method doesn’t take as much physical effort, it definitely takes longer, so plan accordingly.
No matter which method you choose, you might find yourself wanting some more flavor. Feel free to add anything you want when you are mixing the ingredients in the first step. Personally, I think a chopped bar of dark chocolate would be delicious added to this recipe. You could also add something like mint extract or a berry puree into the mix for a more interesting flavor. Even something like lemon zest could brighten this up and totally change the flavor profile.
Thanks for checking out our blog this week. Don’t forget to check out the rest of our blogs for more fun tips and help finding the perfect shared flat for students and young workers.
Hasta luego,
Your helpMadrid Team