What’s better than cold ice cream when it’s over 80 degrees outside in the shade? And what’s more, when it’s made from your favorite fruit or even with the addition of rum or your favorite chocolate?
I will share several types of ice cream my family eats on warm, sunny days. Why do I prefer to make ice cream rather than buy it? The taste is entirely different, and I also control the ingredients used to make it.
Why Make Homemade Ice Cream?
Ice cream from the store usually contains unhealthy ingredients, such as sugar, fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and allergens.
When preparing this fantastic dessert at home, you decide what quality ingredients to use, which means you know what you are eating. You can choose the flavors you like and avoid allergens, milk, nuts, and sugar.
You can also try ice cream from all over the world because, in the Internet age, you can get recipes worldwide.
Besides, ice cream is the perfect summer dessert to make for and with children. Because who, if not children, have the best ideas for this delicious frozen dessert? This is also an excellent way to encourage children to try different fruits that you can add to ice cream.
Is It Worth Making Ice Cream, Gelato, and Sorbets?
This is a question that everyone should answer for themselves. Apart from their quality values, homemade ice cream, gelato, and sorbet are also great fun when searching for flavors for the whole family.
I will introduce you to the types of ice cream and the technique of making them so you can choose the ones that suit you best. Or maybe they will all be on your table, who knows?
Types Of Ice Cream
Ice cream is a beloved delicacy all over the world. They come in several delightful varieties, each with unique properties and flavors. Here, we’ll cover three popular types: traditional ice cream, gelato, and sorbet.
Traditional Ice Cream
Traditional ice cream is made from a rich mixture of cream, milk, sugar, and often egg yolks, creating a smooth and creamy texture. It is whipped at high speed to incorporate air, resulting in a light and fluffy texture.
An interesting recipe for classic ice cream where the cream has been partially replaced with white chocolate is this rum raisin ice cream.
Pros:
- Creamy and rich texture
- Unlimited flavor possibilities
- Widely liked by all age groups
Cons:
- Higher fat content due to cream
- It requires whipping to obtain the right consistency
Gelato – Italian Ice Cream
Gelato, a favorite Italian delicacy, uses more milk than cream and fewer egg yolks than traditional ice cream, resulting in a thicker and silkier texture. It is whipped at a lower speed and contains less air.
The perfect recipe for homemade gelato recipe is flexible and allows you to make virtually any type of ice cream.
Pros:
- Intensely flavored and smoother texture
- Lower fat content compared to traditional ice cream
- Often considered a healthier option
Cons:
- More labor-intensive to make
- It requires special techniques to achieve the perfect consistency
Sorbet
Sorbet is a refreshing, dairy-free alternative to fruit puree or juice. Depending on the fruit, sugar is sometimes added. Most often, it is whipped or mixed to obtain a smooth, icy consistency.
A sugar-free sorbet that only takes 15 minutes to enjoy is this no-sugar strawberry banana sorbet that you must try.
Another one of the quickest sorbets my children love is a simple mix of frozen water and their favorite blackcurrant juice. This recipe was born out of necessity when there was no time to make blackcurrant ice cream, and the kids were craving it.
It’s a perfectly healthy and low-calorie dessert, especially on hot days.
Pros:
- Does not contain dairy products, suitable for people who are lactose intolerant
- Refreshing and light, perfect for hot weather
- Often lower in calories than cream-based ice cream
Cons:
- It can be too sweet if it is not correctly balanced
- It lacks the creamy texture of ice cream
Making Ice Cream At Home: Advantages And Disadvantages
There are definitely more pros than cons to making ice cream at home, especially when you have small children for whom every step is impressive and exciting. From my experience, teenagers also take an active part in testing them. You may hear that you make the best ice cream in the world!
Pros:
- Fun family activity: Making ice cream at home can be a fantastic opportunity to strengthen family bonds. Kids love being involved in the process, from mixing the ingredients to watching the ice cream churn.
- Customizable flavors: Making ice cream at home gives you complete control over the flavors and ingredients. This allows you to experiment and create unique flavors tailored to your family’s preferences.
- High-quality ingredients: Homemade ice cream means using high-quality, fresh ingredients free from the preservatives and artificial additives often found in store-bought ice cream.
- Match the ice cream to your preferred diet (e.g., keto, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian): You can often replace sugar with xylitol or erythritol, which will fit perfectly into a low-carb or keto diet and be a healthier version of ice cream for the whole family.
- Learning experience: Making ice cream can be educational for children, as it teaches them how to measure, mix, and freeze.
Cons:
- Time-consuming: Making ice cream from scratch can be lengthy, from preparing the mixture to churning and freezing. It requires patience and planning.
- Hardware needs: While making ice cream without an ice cream maker is possible, having one can significantly simplify the process and provide better results. Investing in an ice cream maker may be necessary if you are a frequent ice cream lover.
- Cleansing: The process can be messy as bowls, mixers, and other equipment must be cleaned afterward, which may deter some families. There will be even more mess with children, but the joy of creating this frozen dessert can also be fun and less of a con.
Do You Need An Ice Cream Machine?
Although an ice cream machine is not absolutely necessary, it makes the process easier and provides a smoother consistency.
The time needed to make ice cream using the machine method will depend. Some machines require you to freeze the insert first, and the ice-making time is about 3-4 hours. Some machines do not need a pre-freezer bowl and can make ice cream in 40 minutes.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can still enjoy homemade ice cream.
1. Freezing method
Pour the ice cream mixture into a shallow dish and place in the freezer. Stir the mixture vigorously every 30 minutes to break up any ice crystals until frozen. Duration is approximately 3-4 hours.
2. Plastic bag method
Place the ice cream mixture in a sealed plastic bag. Place this bag in a giant bag filled with ice and salt, then shake vigorously for 10-15 minutes.
My mom has a similar method of making ice cream. She and her sister used two bowls, one larger one filled with ice and salt, into which they placed the bowl with the ice cream mixture and mixed the ice cream until it had the right consistency.
3. Manual crank ice cream machine
A hand-held ice cream maker is a fun alternative, especially for kids. It requires more effort but can be enjoyable. This is the method our grandmothers and mothers used to make ice cream.
Making ice cream at home is not just about the end product; it’s about the experiences and memories you create with your family. Whether you choose traditional ice cream, gelato, or sorbet, the process can be educational and fun.
While an ice cream maker can simplify the process, creating delicious ice cream is possible with creativity and effort.
So gather your ingredients, get the kids involved, and enjoy a sweet journey with homemade ice cream.
This article originally appeared on Hello Sensible.