Well now, if you’re lookin’ to make some ice cream at home, and you’ve got yourself one of them fancy Kitchenaid mixers, then I reckon I can tell ya how to get it done right! Don’t worry, it ain’t too tricky once you know the steps, and it sure beats buyin’ store-bought ice cream that just ain’t got the same taste. You got that big ol’ bowl in the freezer? Make sure that thing’s frozen good, real good, or you ain’t gonna get the right consistency.
First things first, before we get to mixin’ up that ice cream, ya gotta remember one big thing: the bowl needs to be frozen solid. Yup, I mean real frozen. You can’t just throw that bowl in there and hope for the best. That freezer bowl has a liquid inside it that needs to be frozen all the way through, and that takes time. Best thing to do is stick it in the freezer for at least 24 hours. No shortcuts here, folks. If it ain’t frozen, you’re gonna end up with a big ol’ mess and no ice cream.
Once you got your bowl ready, we’ll start makin’ the ice cream base. This is where the magic happens! Now, you can make all sorts of flavors, but today we’ll stick with a simple, creamy vanilla. First thing, get yourself a saucepan, not too big, and pour in some of that half-and-half. About a cup or so will do. Put it on the stove, and heat it up over medium heat. Don’t just leave it there though, keep stirrin’ it so it don’t burn or get all lumpy.
As the half-and-half warms up, you’ll want to add some sugar, around half a cup, or maybe a little more if you like your ice cream sweet. Stir it all in real good until it’s all dissolved. That’s when you add in the good stuff – a couple teaspoons of vanilla extract. Stir that in and let it all simmer for just a minute or two. Don’t boil it, now, just keep it nice and warm.
Now, while that’s going on, go ahead and get your Kitchenaid mixer set up. Stick that frozen bowl on there and lock it into place. Pour the mixture in, and then turn that thing on slow at first. You’ll see the ice cream start to thicken up after a bit, and it’ll start to look more like the ice cream you get in the stores, only homemade and a whole lot better. It usually takes around 20 minutes or so, so be patient.
Once it’s thickened up good and proper, you can start scoopin’ it out and puttin’ it in a container. You could eat it right away if you want, but I like to let mine firm up in the freezer for a few hours. That way, it’s nice and cold when you serve it up, and it holds its shape better.
If you’re feelin’ adventurous, you can add all sorts of fun things to the ice cream mix before it’s done. Like, throwin’ in some chocolate chips, crushed-up cookies, or even swirlin’ in some caramel or peanut butter. My grandkids love it when I add some fresh fruit or even a little bit of crushed-up candy. Get creative! This ice cream is just the start, and you can make it your own however you like.
Now, don’t forget about them little tips I told you earlier. Keep that freezer bowl frozen good, and make sure you stir that half-and-half while it’s heating. The key to good ice cream is makin’ sure everything’s mixed well and cold enough when it needs to be. If you rush it, you might end up with a soft, runny mess, and that’s just a waste of ingredients!
So there ya have it, folks. Homemade ice cream with your Kitchenaid mixer! It’s easy once you know what you’re doin’, and it tastes so much better than the stuff you buy at the store. I hope y’all give it a try and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Tags:[Kitchenaid ice cream recipe, homemade ice cream, how to make ice cream, vanilla ice cream, Kitchenaid mixer recipes, easy ice cream recipe, frozen dessert, making ice cream at home]