Description
This homemade peach ice cream is a creamy, refreshing treat made with fresh peaches and a smooth blend of dairy ingredients. The recipe involves macerating peaches with sugar to draw out their natural juices, mixing with a rich milk and cream base, and then churning in an ice cream maker to create a soft, luscious dessert perfect for warm days.
Ingredients
Scale
Peach Mixture
- 2 pounds fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and chopped
- 1 cup white sugar
Dairy Base
- 1 pint half-and-half cream
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (12 fl oz) evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional
- 2 cups whole milk (or as needed to fill ice cream maker container)
Instructions
- Macerate the Peaches: Dice the fresh peaches and combine them with the white sugar in a bowl. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes so the sugar can draw out the natural juices from the peaches, enhancing their flavor and softness.
- Mix the Dairy Base: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the half-and-half cream, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined, creating a creamy base for the ice cream.
- Combine Peaches and Dairy: Add the peach and sugar mixture to the dairy base and stir thoroughly until the peaches are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Prepare for Churning: Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker container. Add enough whole milk to fill the container up to the fill line, typically about 2 cups, adjusting as necessary based on your ice cream maker’s capacity.
- Churn the Ice Cream: Follow your ice cream maker manufacturer’s instructions to churn the mixture. This process will freeze and aerate the ice cream, resulting in a smooth, soft-serve consistency.
- Freeze to Firm Up: Once the ice cream reaches soft-serve texture, transfer it to a lidded container and freeze it for an additional 2-3 hours to firm up before serving for the best texture.
Notes
- If fresh peaches are not available, thawed frozen peaches can be used, but fresh is preferred for the best flavor.
- Be sure to adjust the amount of whole milk added based on your ice cream maker’s fill line to avoid overfilling.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute half-and-half, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk with suitable plant-based alternatives, but texture and flavor may vary.
- Ensure the ice cream maker bowl is properly frozen according to the manufacturer’s instructions before starting to achieve optimal results.
- This recipe yields a creamy soft ice cream that can be served immediately or chilled further for a firmer texture.
