There’s no better way to celebrate summer than with ice cream. This strawberry ice cream recipe does not disappoint. Using ripe strawberries and a few other simple ingredients, you can have a fresh strawberry ice cream for dessert worth of an ice cream parlor.
This Philadelphia-style ice cream skips the custard base entirely, which means no tempering eggs on the stovetop. Just macerate the strawberries, blend everything together, chill, and churn.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Strawberries – For best results, use in-season fresh strawberries. If it’s out of season, use frozen strawberries instead as they’re picked at the height of their ripeness. To use frozen strawberries, let them thaw completely and drain them before proceeding with the recipe.
- Lemon Juice – Use fresh lemon juice from a lemon. You can also add some lemon zest if you’d like. One lemon typically yields 2-3 tablespoons of juice.
- Whole Milk – Use whole milk to make a super creamy ice cream. If you use skim milk, 1% milk, or lower fat milks it will throw off the fat ratio and result in a thinner, icier ice cream
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract for best results, not imitation vanilla extract. You can also add vanilla bean for flecks in the finished ice cream.
- Granulated Sugar: The recipe divides the sugar between macerating the strawberries and sweetening the base.
Strawberry Season Matters
If strawberries are in season, use fresh strawberries for this recipe. If it is not strawberry season, use frozen strawberries instead for best flavor.
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Equipment
For this recipe, the only special equipment you’ll need is an ice cream machine. I have two ice cream makers in my kitchen that I use regularly for making ice cream. I use both my Cuisinart ice cream maker and my Breville compressor ice cream maker.
The Cuisinart ICE30BC is a 2 quart ice cream maker that churns ice cream using a cold ice cream bowl. You will need to freeze the bowl for at least 24 hours before churning, otherwise the ice cream will not solidify. I typically will churn the ice cream for about 25 minutes in this ice cream maker.
The Breville Smart Scoop BCI600XL Ice Cream Maker is a compression ice cream maker that has a built-in compressor to constantly cool the ice cream as it churns. You do not need to pre-chill the ice cream bowl for this machine, or any compression ice cream maker.
I’ve had my Cuisinart ice cream maker for over 12 years and it’s still working great, so that’s the one I will typically recommend you use and start with. The Breville compression ice cream maker is great if you are short on freezer space or are making multiple batches of ice cream in a day and can’t wait between churns for the bowl to freeze. However, since it is a compressor ice cream maker, it is much more of an investment.
Step-by-Step instructions
This strawberry ice cream recipe is very easy to make at home!
Follow the step-by-step instructions below with matching pictures to help you make this ice cream recipe perfectly every time.
For the ingredient list with measurements, full instructions, printable recipe, and additional notes, please scroll down to the recipe card.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries instead of fresh strawberries. In fact, if strawberries are not in season, I’d suggest using frozen strawberries as they’ll have more flavor. To use frozen strawberries, let them thaw and then strain them before proceeding with the recipe as frozen strawberries will have more moisture than fresh strawberries.
This recipe uses heavy whipping cream and whole milk which helps it get the proper fat content ratio. I do not recommend substituting either as it will change the fat content.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free as written. You can serve it with store-bought gluten-free ice cream cones. As always, check all ingredients to be sure that they are in fact gluten-free. Sometimes products are made on the same manufacturing lines as gluten which is something to watch for if you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy.
Expert Tips
Storage Instructions
Freezer: Store in an airtight container with parchment paper pressed directly on the surface of the ice cream. Freeze for up to 3 weeks. For best texture, store in pint-sized containers.
Serving: Let ice cream sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping for easier serving.
Serving Suggestions
Strawberry ice cream is great served in a bowl or in a gluten-free ice cream cone. However, you can take this ice cream to the next level, too!
Make an ice cream sundae with a few scoops of this strawberry ice cream and a drizzle of my homemade strawberry coulis. Make a peanut butter and jelly ice cream sandwich by sandwiching a scoop of ice cream between two of my flourless peanut butter cookies.
Make a brownie sundae using my almond flour brownies recipe and drizzle with some chocolate sauce and top with macerated strawberries. Serve a scoop over my gluten-free strawberry shortcake recipe for a frozen take on the summer classic.
Strawberry Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 lb (453 g) strawberries - sliced or quartered (3-4 cups)
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar - divided
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) lemon juice
- 1 cup (240 g) whole milk
- 2 cups (480 g) heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons (8 g) vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
**Use the toggle button above to turn the instruction photos on and off!
Instructions
Macerate the Strawberries:
- Add 1 lb (453 g) strawberries, 0.5 cups (100 g) granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons (30 g) lemon juice to a large bowl. Stir together. Let sit at room temperature for an hour to let the juices release from the strawberries.
Make the Ice Cream Base:
- Add the strawberries and their juices to a food processor. Process until smooth.
- Pour the strawberry mixture back into the large mixing bowl. Add remaining 0.75 cups (150 g) granulated sugar, 1 cup (240 g) whole milk, 2 cups (480 g) heavy cream, 2 teaspoons (8 g) vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Churn and Freeze:
- Churn ice cream according to your ice cream machine's directions (mine took about 30 minutes), until it is a soft serve consistency.
- Scoop the ice cream into a shallow container or loaf pan and freeze for 3 hours, or until firm.
- Let the ice cream sit out at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften before scooping and serving.
Video
Notes
- Yield: This recipe makes 2 pints of ice cream as written.
- Frozen Strawberries: If using frozen strawberries, let them thaw completely and drain excess liquid before proceeding with the recipe.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container with parchment paper pressed directly on the surface. Freeze for up to 3 weeks for best texture and flavor.
- Ice Cream Maker: You’ll need an ice cream maker for this recipe. If using a freezer bowl style (like Cuisinart), freeze the bowl for at least 24 hours before churning.
OMG! YUM! This sounds and looks amazing!
New to your blog; happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
strawberry with gummy bears has been my fav for years- thanks for sharing!
Your ice cream looks so light and fluffy. Perfect for the summer. Happy cooking and baking:)
@claire
ever since i was little i always get an ice cream with gummy bears and candy nerds in it from an ice cream shop near my cabin. everyone thinks im nuts but its soooo good. im glad you at least like ice cream with gummy bears in it!
Wow this looks amazing! Thanks for your comment on my blog. I’m so glad I found yours. This post especially is resonating with me because I am in love with strawberries…and ice cream is basically my fave food of all time, haha! Nice to meet you!
This looks and sounds delicious. We don’t yet have local berries but hopefully the weather will settle down and they will soon be available. This is my first visit to your blog so I’ve taken some time to poke about and read your earlier entries. I’m so glad I did that. I really like the food and recipes you share with your readers and I’ll definitely be back. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary