Episode guide | The Cook Up with Adam Liaw S2 | All episodes and recipes

You Don't Need An Ice Cream Maker For Homemade Ice Cream

Summer is incomplete without ice cream. The creamy dessert practically defines the season! It's been eaten in the United States for centuries, since the inception of the country. The first ice cream parlor in America opened up in 1776, when the early American settlers were the first people to coin the name for the cold treat. Since ice cream is such a classic dessert (and sometimes even a snack), why not learn to make it at home? It's easy to make ice cream with a special ice cream maker, but you don't actually need it.

Homemade Ice Cream Without A Machine

It's easy to make homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker. Did you know you can actually make homemade ice cream in a plastic bag? The most basic homemade ice cream recipe requires only four ingredients, five minutes and two plastic bags, one gallon-sized and one pint-sized. With sugar, cream or half and half, vanilla extract (or another type of flavoring you prefer), ice and salt, you can make ice cream at home. Mix the salt and ice in the larger gallon-sized bag. Combine the sugar, cream and vanilla into the pint-sized bag and seal it carefully into the bigger Ziploc bag. Shake the two bags vigorously. The mixture should harden and become ice cream!

Another way to make homemade ice cream is to simply blend all of the ingredients and flavorings you're using together, and then freeze them. This version also doesn't require an ice cream maker, but is easier to do with a blender or electric stand mixer.

Easy Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Vanilla ice cream may be the easiest to make at home because the only flavoring it requires is vanilla extract. Most recipes for chocolate ice cream call for cocoa powder and unsweetened chocolate. However, once you become a pro at homemade ice cream, you can mix and match flavorings just the way you like.

Easy Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

Homemade Vanilla Ice CreamSalty Caramel Ice CreamThin Mint Cookie Ice CreamFrozen Banana Ice CreamMint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Head over to Style Me Pretty Living for The Ultimate Ice Cream Roundup.

Image Credit: Getty Images

18 Ice Cold Ice Cream Cakes You Need To Try This Summer

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Now that the kids are almost out of school and the summer heat is about to be upon us, there's nothing better to cool off with, than a big slice of homemade ice cream cake. Everyone loves desserts from cheesecakes to sweet bread and even yummy muffins for breakfast, but if you're an ice cream lover, why not take dessert to the next level with one of these cool cake recipes? There's something for everyone—from chocolate ice cream cakes and fruit-forward cakes to vegan ice cream cakes and even gluten-free ice cream cake options here.

Related: 62 Best Dessert Recipes To Make All Summer Long

Why Is Ice Cream Cake So Popular?

Ice cream cakes really came into their own in the 1980s with companies like Baskin Robbins and Dairy Queen coming up with a new, delicious way to celebrate a special occasion.

Over the years, their popularity has never wavered because not only are they yummy, but there is literally no limit on the flavors. You can make any variety of ice cream into an ice cream cake with just a little imagination.

Related: 85 Best Summer Cocktail Recipes

Whether you're getting together with family and friends in the backyard, or celebrating a summer birthday, these cakes will surely impress. Try a few of our favorites (such as Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich Cake or Coconut Lime Ice Cream Loaf), pin them and most importantly, enjoy!

Best Ice Cream Cakes

An Italian In My Kitchen

An easy cake made with a chocolate wafer base, two types of no-churn ice cream, chocolates and a drizzle of melted chocolate to bring it all together.

Get the recipe: Ice Cream Cake

Beyond Frosting

This layered cake features two layers of lemon cake with a no-churn lemon ice cream layer sandwiched between them. It's covered in whipped cream and garnished with candied lemons.

Get the recipe: Lemon Ice Cream Cake

Kitchen Mason

The perfect indulgent dessert, this glorious raspberry brownie ice cream cake recipe is both vegan and gluten-free.

Get the recipe: Raspberry Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Dani's Cookings

Made completely from scratch, this ice cream cake combines a brownie base, vanilla cherry ice cream and chocolate ice cream. It is topped with chocolate glaze and fresh cherries!

Get the recipe: Easy Black Forest No Churn Ice Cream Cake

Bake Play Smile

This cake has a delicious triple layer, of chocolate, vanilla and mint-flavored ice creams. It is packed full of cookies, chocolates and more!

Get the recipe: Peppermint Christmas Ice Cream Cake

An Italian In My Kitchen

A classic Italian dessert, made with an Italian sponge cake your favorite ice cream flavors. Adding a chocolate drizzle brings it to the next level!

Get the recipe: Zuccotto al Gelato

An Italian In My Kitchen

There is so much chocolate, you are going to love it—creamy homemade no-churn ice cream with a deliciously decadent chocolate ganache.

Get the recipe: Death by Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

My Kitchen Love

This ice cream cake has thin layers of brownie cookies with thick chocolate chip ice cream. Topped with whipped cream and extra sprinkles!

Get the recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Let's Eat Cake

This cake has a chocolate cake base and a center of chocolate and hazelnut HemisFares gelato that's wrapped in a layer of crushed hazelnut cookies.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Candy Cake

Up next: 100 Easy Summer Dinner Ideas

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Ice Cream Recipes

Ice cream is a cream- or custard-based frozen dessert. It is thought to have originated in Italy in the 1600s and to have been made popular through the French court. The simplest ice cream recipes are based on cream, sugar and crushed or puréed fruit. Custard-based ice creams have a more unctuous texture than those made from pure cream. The cream can be infused with a flavouring, such as vanilla or cinnamon, or mixed with a fruit purée before it's churned and frozen.

When making the simplest of ice creams, allowing for three parts sugar to seven parts double cream and fruit purée will mean the mixture won't even have to be churned in an ice cream maker (although the texture will be better if it is churned). Whisking the cream into soft peaks before folding in the fruit purée helps to add volume, while adding alcohol will give the finished ice cream a softer texture. Allow about 50ml/1¾fl oz alcohol to 500ml/17½fl oz liquid ice cream.

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