Real Ice Cream

*** Note this post is also part of Real Food Birthday Party (plus Ice Cream Recipe). It has been slightly updated, and given a page of its own for simplicity’s sake.***

When my husband and I were in Scotland, we discovered something wonderful: ice cream. Plain and simple ice cream. It didn’t have an ingredients list a mile long (containing, to be frank, some pretty scary stuff from high fructose corn syrup to antifreeze); it didn’t even have any flavoring. It was just plain and simple and delicious.

This is my basic recipe (adapted from the one in Nourishing Traditions) to mimic the wonderful confection we had in Scotland, and the base of every ice cream recipe I have made so far. It uses only wholesome, real food ingredients… and is pretty darn close to a health food. No? Okay… but there is nothing in here that you need to feel guilty about when you indulge in a nice bowl of ice cream on a semi-regular basis! 😉

Real Ice Cream

3 egg yolks from pastured hens

1/2 cup pure maple syrup OR 1/3 cup raw, local honey

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (like this)

1 teaspoon gelatin (like this) — technically the gelatin is optional, but I have taken inspiration from the Homestead Lady, and always use it in my ice cream recipes — it keeps the ice cream from freezing rock-solid!

3 cups of the best heavy cream you can find (ideally from grass-fed cows; and not ultrapasteurized) — you can, if you like, substitute up to one cup of the cream with a cup of whole milk… but it won’t be nearly as delicious, or as creamy

Beat the egg yolks, then blend in the rest of the ingredients. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but never use an electric mixer–only a whisk–to mix my ice cream.

Chill for a few hours, until ready to make the ice cream. (You’ll need to give it a quick stir, as the honey, especially, tends to settle.) Pour into an ice cream maker and process according to the instructions. This is the ice cream maker we have, and I love it!

This recipe makes about a quart of the creamiest ice cream… with only the barest hint of maple or honey flavor.

For some of my other homemade ice cream recipes, be sure to check out:

Cherry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Apple Rhubarb Sauce with Vanilla Ice Cream

Mint Chip Ice Cream with Fresh Mint

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