Strawberry ice cream is a timeless treat that captures the essence of summer in every creamy, fruity bite. Made with fresh strawberries, cream, and a hint of vanilla, itâs a refreshing dessert thatâs both nostalgic and indulgent. Whether youâre churning it at home or enjoying a scoop from your favorite creamery, strawberry ice cream is always a crowd-pleaser.
The secret to great strawberry ice cream is ripe, sweet strawberries. Fresh berries bring a natural sweetness and vibrant flavor that frozen or artificial versions just canât match. Start by hulling and chopping the strawberries, then macerate them with a bit of sugar. This helps draw out their juices and intensifies their flavor. For a smoother ice cream, you can puree the strawberries; for a chunkier texture, leave some pieces whole or mash lightly.
The base is typically a custard-style mixture made with heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, and egg yolks. The mixture is gently heated until it thickens slightly, then cooled completely before combining with the strawberries. A touch of vanilla extract enhances the fruity flavor without overpowering it.
Once the strawberry and cream mixture is chilled, itâs churned in an ice cream maker to achieve a smooth, scoopable texture. If you donât have an ice cream maker, you can freeze the mixture in a container, stirring every 30 minutes for a few hours to break up ice crystals and mimic the churning process.
For an extra twist, consider adding ingredients like crushed graham crackers, chocolate chips, or a swirl of strawberry jam. But even in its simplest form, strawberry ice cream is pure joyâcool, creamy, and bursting with berry flavor.
Serve it in a cone, a bowl, or sandwiched between two cookies for a homemade ice cream sandwich. However you enjoy it, this classic flavor is a summertime staple that never goes out of style.
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries fresh, hulled and sliced
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure
- 1 cup heavy cream chilled
- 1 cup milk full-fat recommended
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mash the strawberries with the sugar and vanilla extract.
- Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes, allowing the strawberries to release their juices.
- In a large bowl, combine the strawberry mixture with heavy cream and milk.
- Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
Nutrition
Eh, I expected more. Itâs just strawberries and cream, right? What’s so special? đ€·ââïž
I think it’s simple but delicious! Sometimes the classics are the best. đâš
I tried it but my ice cream maker broke halfway. Ended up with a slushy mess. đ©
It was okay, but my kids didn’t really like it. Too much strawberry flavor maybe?
Really? I thought it was super yummy! Kids can be picky sometimes.
Maybe try less strawberries next time? My kids love it! I added chocolate chips and it was a hit!
I dunno, it seems a bit too sweet for my taste. Maybe less sugar next time?
This recipe is super easy! My kids loved it! đ
Delicious flavor, but I used almond milk instead of regular milk because that’s all I had. Still turned out great!
so simple even my grandma could do it!!!
Ugh, why no recipe for homemade ice cream maker??
You can totally make it without an ice cream maker! Just blend the ingredients and freeze! đ
But isn’t that the point? No ice cream maker? What’s the recipe for then? đ€š
Delicious! Best strawberry ice cream Iâve ever made!
I’m so glad you loved it! It’s always nice to find a recipe that works so well. Did you add any toppings?
It was okay, but it lacked a bit of flavor. Maybe add more vanilla?
I tried this but it turned out watery. Maybe I added too much milk? đ€·ââïž
I followed the recipe but it didn’t freeze properly. What did I do wrong?
Not sure why mine didn’t churn well, maybe my ice cream maker is broken? đ€
Strawberries? Who needs that? Use chocolate!
Chocolate ice cream is great too, but strawberries are classic! Don’t knock it till you try it!
Who needs strawberries? Just dip some chocolate in the ice cream, that’s the way to go!
Works like magic! I added some chocolate chips for a twist and it was amazing!
This is good, but my strawberries were super watery so I ended up with more âsherbetâ vibes. I might strain the juice next time. Vanilla amount felt fine though.
Ice cream maker not needed! Just freeze the mixture! Works fine.
But isn’t it supposed to be creamier with an ice cream maker? Just freezing it might make it icy.
Yeah, freezing works too! I did it once and it turned out great.
Meh, everyone is saying it’s good, but I thought it was just okay.
I don’t have an ice cream maker, can I just freeze it in a bowl? Hoping it still works!
I added some chocolate chips and it turned out great!
Chocolate chips in strawberry ice cream? That sounds odd but I’m curious! Maybe I’ll try it!
Great base recipe. Next time Iâll add a pinch of salt (I know it sounds weird) because I swear it boosts the strawberry flavor.
Huh, salt boosting flavor sounds kinda made up đ but I guess a pinch wonât hurt. Did you add it before chilling or right before churning?
Love this! The âpinch of saltâ thing totally makes senseâsalt can really bring out fruit flavor. I usually do a tiny pinch in strawberry desserts too.
Super easy and yummy! Making it again for sure!
It looks easy, but isn’t ice cream super hard to make? đ€
This sounds awesome! I can’t wait to try it out. đ
Made this last nightâso creamy and not overly sweet. I added a splash more vanilla and it turned out great. The 10 minutes resting with the sugar really helps!
My kids loved it but I think it could use some more fruit. đ€·ââïž
Ugh, why do you need so much sugar? Strawberries are sweet anyway. đ€
I get what you’re saying, but sugar helps balance the tartness. Plus, strawberry ice cream is supposed to be creamy and sweet! đŠ
Can u use frozen strawberries? I donât have fresh ones.
Yeah, I think frozen strawberries would work! Just thaw them first, right?
No way, fresh is the best! Frozen might not taste as good.
Why would anyone use fresh strawberries when you can just buy ice cream? đ€
Just made this for my kids and they loved it! So much better than store-bought!
This ice cream is so easy to make and tastes delicious! My kids loved it!
This ice cream is soooo good! I love strawberries!
I’m not a great cook, but even I could make this! Thanks for the easy recipe.
Not sure if my ice cream maker is broken, but it didnât churn right. Disappointed!
I’ve had that happen too before! Maybe the machine needs a good clean? Don’t give up!
This was super easy! My kids loved it. Will make again!
I think the sugar is too much! I used less but it still felt sweet!
Best ice cream ever! I can’t believe I made it myself!
Made this last weekendâso creamy and the strawberry flavor is super fresh. I used a little less sugar since my berries were sweet, and it turned out perfect.
I tried this with frozen strawberries and it turned out awful. Use fresh ones!
This is the best strawberry ice cream recipe Iâve tried. Just the right sweetness & texture. Yum!
I totally agree! This is the best recipe ever! I made it last week and it was gone in no time!
It sounds good, but can you really call it ice cream if you’re using milk? Isn’t it just a milkshake in disguise?
I didn’t have vanilla so I added chocolate syrup instead. Still good!
Not sure if chocolate syrup works in ice cream lol. Vanilla is kinda key, donât you think? But glad it turned out okay for you!
That’s a creative twist! I love when people experiment with recipes. Chocolate and strawberries are a classic combo!
I tried it but didn’t have an ice cream maker. It turned into a slush. đ
Yum!! So creamy and refreshing. I used half-and-half instead of cream.
I love that you tried half-and-half! I bet it still turned out great. Can’t wait to try it myself!
Why do you have to let it sit for 10 mins? Just mix it all together!
I tried this but I think it needs more sugar. The strawberries weren’t sweet enough for my taste.
Omg this recipe is a game changer! Making it again for the picnic!
I totally agree! This ice cream is so easy and delicious. Perfect for hot days!
Not gonna lie, 2 cups strawberries feels kinda low for the sugar amount? I ended up adding extra berries because it tasted too sweet at first.
The 10-minute rest is key! My berries got all syrupy and it mixed way better. This tastes like summer.
I don’t know why everyone loves this so much… tasted too sweet for me.
It says freeze at least 4 hours, but I couldnât waitâtasted amazing after 2 anyway. Tho it melted faster, so yeah, listen to the recipe đ
Mine turned out a bit icy instead of super creamy. Iâm thinking I didnât chill the base long enough, and my ice cream maker was probably overfilled. Still tasty though!
Is heavy cream really necessary? Can I just use reg milk??
I donât have an ice cream maker. I tried freezing it anyway and it got like a milkshake slush⊠so yeah, would not recommend without the maker.
So good!! My kids devoured it. Next time Iâm doubling the batch bc we ate it too fast đ€Šââïž
Yesss đ€€ doubling it is the moveâthis stuff always disappears fast. What did you end up topping it with?
My ice cream maker took way longer than the instructions said, so I got impatient and it was kinda icy đ Still tasted good tho. Doubling might make it worse?
This is the best strawberry ice cream I’ve ever made! So easy and delicious.
I was skeptical about the sugar part, but it turned out perfect! Just the right sweetness.
Pretty easy, but I wish it said whether to chill the strawberry mix too. Mine felt a little icy after freezing for 4 hours, though flavor was nice.
This looked simple, but my ice cream turned out icy. What did I do wrong?!
Made this last night and it came out super creamy. The 10 minutes of sitting with the sugar really helpsâmy strawberries were juicy enough to taste like actual fruit, not just âstrawberry flavored.â
Very delicious! I added a bit of chocolate syrup too!
Chocolate syrup sounds interesting! I might try that next time. Thanks for the tip! đŠ
Perfect summer treat! đđ I added some chocolate chips, and it was amazing!
Seems like a lotta sugar tho. Isnât that unhealthy? I prefer a healthier option without all that sugar. đ€
Chocolate chips?! That’s genius! I never thought of that. I’m definitely gonna try it! đ
My kids loved it! I might add some chocolate chips next time though.
Adding chocolate chips sounds like a great idea! My kids love it that way too.
Great recipe but I used frozen strawberries, is that okay? Still turned out fine tho.
This is a rip-off recipe! I can just buy ice cream from the store for cheaper!
This is a nice summer recipe! I used frozen strawberries once and it was still decent, just less bright in flavor. Vanilla + strawberries is always a win.
I can’t believe how easy and creamy this is! Yum!
So easy! đ
This recipe is the bomb! Iâll never buy ice cream again!
This is the best ice cream recipe I’ve tried! So easy and delicious! đ
Really? I thought making ice cream was way harder than this. Are you sure it actually works?
I totally agree! This recipe is super easy and the flavor is out of this world! đ
Super easy, but I found it needed longer in the freezer than 4 hours to get firm. Also my churn time felt shorter than the instructions said on my machine.
Pretty good, but I think 3/4 cup sugar is maybe too much if your berries are sweet. Next time Iâll start lower and add more only if needed.
Totally agreeâberries vary so much. I usually use closer to 1/2 cup sugar and it still comes out great.
I followed it exactly and honestly it was plenty sweet to me. The sugar + sweet berries combo might be overkill.
Only 2 ingredients? That can’t be right. Gonna try this, but sounds too simple.
Didnât work for me at all. Followed steps, but it never got thick in the freezer. Maybe my freezer temp is wrong. đ
Yum! Can I add other fruits too? Like bananas?
Not sure why everyone likes strawberry ice cream without eggs. It tastes kinda flat, like a milkshake wearing perfume lol.
I tried this recipe but mine turned out icy… what did I do wrong?
I tried with frozen strawberries because thatâs what I had⊠it turned out watery, but Iâm guessing you really need fresh for this one.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical at first because itâs so simple. But it came out creamy and sweet enough. Next time Iâll add a pinch of salt to balance the sugar.
Just a heads up, this took me way longer than 4 hours to freeze. Is that normal?
Yummy đđ!
This recipe is a total winner! The strawberry flavor is amazing and it’s super easy to make.
Made this last weekend and it turned out way better than I expected. Super creamy and the strawberry flavor is bright. I didnât even need to adjust the sugar muchâjust perfect!
Tastes great but needs more sugar!!! Like, way more! Too tart for me.
Wowâso easy. I did the 10-minute sit and you can literally smell the juices coming out. Vanilla + cream combo is chefâs kiss.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical but the âjuicesâ part is true. Only thing is my ice cream got a little icy even after 4 hoursâthink I should chill the bowl/mix longer?
Yes!! I tried this and it actually tastes like real strawberryâso creamy and fresh. The 10 minutes really matters.
Yum! I added a bit of lemon juice and it was the best ice cream I’ve ever made!
Lemon juice? Really? That sounds weird for ice cream. I thought it would be too tart. But if it worked for you, maybe I should give it a shot.
I just made this last night without lemon and it was already amazing! Can’t imagine adding lemon. But hey, glad you liked it!
Why do ya need heavy cream? Can’t I just use milk? Too much fat…
This ice cream is so easy to make! My kids loved it!
Just made this, and itâs already gone! đ
Super simple! Perfect for summer days! đ
OMG, this was so good! I added some crushed cookies on top. Yum!
Ok this is tasty, but 3/4 cup sugar is kinda a lot if your strawberries are already sweet. Next time Iâll start with 1/2 cup.
Super quick! Also, pro tip: chill your ice cream mixture before churning if you canâit helps with texture.
Super easy and my kids loved it! Will make again for sure.
This is so easy and delicious! My kids loved it. Thanks for sharing! đ
I’m so glad to hear that! It’s always a win when the kids enjoy it. đŠ
Looks easy enough, but I don’t have an ice cream maker. Can I just freeze it in a bowl?
The instructions are simple but my strawberries were super watery, so I ended up adding a tiny bit more sugar. Still delicious.
Flavor was good, but mine turned out a bit icy. I think my milk wasnât full-fat (oops). Next time Iâll follow that part more strictly.
Yeah, full-fat milk makes a big difference for texture. Sorry about the âoops,â but at least the flavor still came out good! Next time youâll be set.
Ice cream? Why not just buy it from the store? đ„Ž
Making it at home is way better! You can adjust the sweetness and know whatâs in it. Store-bought can be full of chemicals.
Not sure why everyone likes it so much. Was just okay for me.
Honestly, I thought it was amazing! The strawberries give it such a fresh taste. Maybe yours just didn’t set right? đŠ
Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I wasn’t blown away either and my kids mostly ate it in silence. đ
I dunno, it seems too simple. Ice cream is complicated, right??
This is my new go-to strawberry ice cream. The 10-minute rest helps a lotâmy berries got juicy and it blended way better. Vanilla amount is just right.
Can I use frozen strawberries instead? I always have those but not the fresh ones.
Yeah, frozen strawberries should work! Just let them thaw a bit first so they mash better.
Are you suppose to use sweet strawberries? I used the green ones…
I think any strawberry would do, but it’ll taste different. Green ones are just not ripe.
Yeah, sweeter strawberries are way better! The green ones won’t work as well.
Iâm skeptical about mashing strawberriesâthought itâd be too chunkyâbut actually it worked. I even left a few larger bits for texture and it was nice.
Yes! I used to worry about the chunks too, but the extra sugar really helps them break down. Leaving a few bits sounds like the perfect compromise.
Strawberry ice cream without cooking always scares me a bit đ But mashing + letting it sit 10 min seems legit. Iâll try itâmaybe my âchunkyâ will be like uhm⊠ârusticâ? lol
I followed it pretty exactly but my churn time felt longer (maybe my machine is older). Still tasted great though, and freezing it overnight made it extra firm.
Yum! My kids loved this strawberry ice cream! Will definitely make again.
That’s awesome to hear! My kids loved it too! What a great treat for summer!
OMG this is like summer in a bowl! So easy to make and delicious! đđŠ
Simple and honestly hard to mess up. I didnât have full-fat milk so I used 2% and it was still good, just slightly less rich.
I don’t have an ice cream maker, can I just freeze the mix? Or will it be bad?
You can freeze it without an ice cream maker, but it might come out icy. Try stirring it every hour while it freezes to make it smoother!
I donât have an ice cream maker, so I tried freezing and stirring. It wasnât the same, more like a sorbet/cream hybrid. But flavor was good!
Creamy! I followed it exactly and it set nicely after 4 hours. My kids asked for more immediately. Also, smells amazing while churning.
This is the best strawberry ice cream I’ve ever made! So creamy and delicious!
Super easy but not very strawberry-flavored. More like cream with a hint of strawberry.
I think you might need to use more strawberries next time! It’s all about balancing the flavors. đ
Ew, not my thing. Strawberry’s yuck. Maybe ice cream with chocolate?
Strawberry is the best! You must not have had good strawberry ice cream. It’s delicious!
I didnât have heavy cream so I used half-and-half and it didnât set up like ice cream. Kinda like milkshake. Maybe my bad, but recipe should’ve mentioned substitutions.
Yeah, that sounds frustrating. Half-and-half is lower fat than heavy cream, so it wonât churn/set the same way. The recipe definitely couldâve warned that substitution changes textureâmore like a soft shake than scoopable ice cream.
umm I forgot to chill the cream and it was still decent. Not bad for no effort đ
I followed it exactly and it tasted a bit icy after freezing for 4 hours. Could be my freezer or I maybe didnât chill the cream/milk long enough.
That makes senseâif it got icy after only 4 hours, your mix might not have been chilled enough before churning or the freezer temp could be a bit off. Next time, chill the bowl/mixture longer (overnight is even better) and make sure your ice cream maker is ready to churn cold.
Hmm I followed this once and it was creamy, so I think 4 hours is just too short. Also did you stir/scrape the bowl during freezing? My freezer makes everything weird if itâs not set cold enough. Maybe try 6-8 hours and let it sit 5 min before eating.
Gotta try this! Strawberries are the best! Can’t wait!
Absolutely! Strawberries make everything better! I love this recipe!
I followed it pretty much exactly, but mine froze a bit hard after 4 hours. Maybe my freezer is too cold? Still yummy though, and I loved the fresh strawberry flavor.
Glad you still liked it! If it froze up hard, your freezer might be running extra cold, or the mix mightâve needed a bit longer of resting in the machine. Next time, try taking it out 5â10 minutes before scooping and donât go too hard on the freezing.
Mines did that too đ I think my freezer is set to âiceâ mode. Also I mightâve over-sugared? Anyway, hard but tasty. Maybe chill it less? idk
Not gonna lie, mine turned out icy. I think I didnât chill the dairy long enough before churning. Still, strawberry flavor was there and it wasnât a total loss.
I followed it exactly but my ice cream came out a bit icy instead of smooth. I think I didnât churn long enoughâany tips on timing?
One word: wow. đ
Easiest ice cream Iâve made. Will be making this again soon. đ