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A close up of three scoops of homemade vanilla bean ice cream in a container of the ice cream.
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5 from 5 votes

French Vanilla Ice Cream (Vanilla Bean Custard Ice Cream)

This homemade vanilla custard ice cream is a velvety smooth, French style, custard based ice cream flavored with real vanilla beans. It's the perfect homemade ice cream, or delicious added to your favorite pie, cookies, or cake.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Chilling Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, French
Keyword: Custard, French vanilla, ice cream, vanilla bean
Servings: 8
Calories: 323kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Vanilla Custard Base:

  • 2 cups heavy cream (divided)
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean (split in half lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds to use)
  • 1 dash salt

Instructions

  • Freeze the bowl of your ice cream maker for at least 12 hours, until frozen solid according to manufactures instructions.
  • Add 1 cup of the cream, and the milk to a medium sauce pan, and heat it over medium until the edges start to bubble.
  • While the milk is heating, add the egg yolks and sugar to a large bowl and whisk them together for a couple of minutes until the color lightens up.
  • Remove the milk from the heat, and slowly pour 1/2 cup of the warm mixture into the egg yolks, whisking them together as you pour.
  • Then add another 1/2 cup of the milk mixture into the eggs and whisk it together.
  • Pour the mixture back into the sauce pan and let it continue to cook over medium heat, for a couple of minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.
  • Pour the custard mixture through a strainer into another large bowl.
  • Add in the remaining cup of heavy cream, vanilla bean seeds, and salt.
  • Add ice to another large bowl, and place the custard mix bowl over the ice bath. Let it sit to cool down slightly for about 15-20 minutes, while you stir it occasionally.
  • Cover the custard mix bowl with a lid, or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours to chill.
  • Pour the custard mix into a prepared 2QT ice cream maker and run it for about 25 to 30 minutes, according to manufactures directions, until it is like a soft serve consistency.
  • Scoop the ice cream into a 2QT container, and cover it with a lid, or plastic wrap and foil.
  • Place it in the freezer for at least 6 hours, or until frozen solid enough to scoop.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 168mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 112mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 1054IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 0.3mg