How To Make Custard Ice Cream + Best Vanilla Custard Recipe

Make the ultimate homemade frozen treat by mastering how to make a custard ice cream base. Plus, the best vanilla frozen custard recipe, and a recovery hack for if the base curdles!

Let’s be honest from the beginning: making custard ice cream is time consuming. The results, however, are proof of the difficult work.

You get a creamy, dreamy, luxuriously smooth ice cream that begs to be eaten. It calls to you in your dream and whisks you away to pleasant places during the day. But more than anything, it tempts you to make poor choices about portion size.

What Is The Difference Between Frozen Custard and Ice Cream?

Custard and ice cream are made of the same three basic ingredients: milk, sugar, and cream. The difference between the two is that custard also has cooked egg yolks in it that provides a silkier texture. Depending on the recipe, standard ice cream may not be churned in an ice cream maker while custard always is.

Custard gives you the classic texture reminiscent of old fashioned ice cream; super smooth, thick, and decadent. Whether you’re making something fancy, or a classic vanilla ice cream recipe, a custard base gives you the best result! Plus, as an added bonus, custard ice creams don’t get freezer burnt as easily. This is because the water particles are fewer and smaller and the eggs work as an emulsifier to contain the water.

When To Use Frozen Custard

I would say that more than anything, it comes down to what kind of ice cream you’re making. The more luxurious and indulgent, the more likely to use custard.

Think of elegant or regal flavors that the custard will help bring out.

• vanilla bean
• dark chocolate
• dulce de leche
• salted caramel
• white chocolate.

It’s also nice to use a custard base when you’re adding in flavors with a high amount of water. ( Peach, mango, or lemon for example.) The egg yolks help capture the water and make the ice cream less watery.

Using a Double Boiler

You don't have to own a fancy double boiler to make custard ice cream at home. A simple deep pot or saucepan with a glass bowl that fits tightly on top will do. (Avoid using a metal bowl, as it can discolor the egg yolks and make your ice cream dingy.)

The purpose of the double boiler is to cook the egg yolks without turning them into breakfast food. This is done by using trapped steam between the bowl and a small amount of water in the heavy saucepan.

If you're new to using a double boiler, I recommend medium low heat. If the water begins to go above a light simmer, you run the risk over overcooking the eggs. Again, this is a little time consuming, but it is so rewarding.

You only need an inch or two of water in the pot. Once the water is to the light simmer, your double boiler is ready to use.

Unlike some other recipes, this one uses the scalded milk mixture to begin cooking the eggs. This is called tempering. By slowly adding in the heated liquid, it begins the cooking process at a slow rate. Once it is all incorporated, the large bowl can be placed over the simmering water.

For the best results when using a double boiler, I recommend whisking constantly. However, there is a catch. As you whisk, it pushes the custard up onto the side of the bowl which cooks it. Whisk slowly and purposely to prevent this.

Once your custard ice cream base is cooked, remove the bowl from the heat. Stop the cooking process by adding in the cold cream and vanilla, stirring occasionally to help it cool. Now you're ready to strain the homemade ice cream, cover it with plastic wrap, and chill overnight.

How To Recover Curdled Custard

Temperature control is key when preparing custard. There is a fine line between silky custard and scrambled eggs.

Tip: keeping a well-calibrated thermometer in the bowl at all times helps this. (You can double check the calibration by putting the thermometer in a glass of ice water. It should read 32°F.)

As soon as the temperature hits 160°F, shut off the heat and remove from the heat. If you let your custard base rest over the burner, the residual heat can take your base over that fine line.

If the unexpected happens and the eggs end up scrambled, all hope is not lost. I have a recovery hack that works excellently every single time.

To recover a curdled custard ice cream base cool the custard to room temperature. Place it in a blender and blend on medium-high for 15-30 seconds or until it is once again smooth.

Blending your curdled ice cream base breaks down the egg into teeny-tiny pieces so it won’t impact the texture. The ice cream may taste bit more “eggy” than if it hadn’t curdled. But nine times out of ten no one notices.

The Best Vanilla Custard Ice Cream Recipe

This is absolutely my favorite way to make custard ice cream. A lot of recipes tell you to cook the base directly in the pot. This recipe doesn't because the double boiler provides fine-tuned temperature control. 

Using a double boiler gives you more temperature regulation since the base isn’t directly touching a heat source. It also gives you more ice cream at the end because less sticks to the pot.

If you would like to heat it up in a pot instead of the double boiler, no problem. I do still recommend adding the chilled heavy cream at the end to stop the cooking. This ensures your residual heat doesn’t overcook your base.

Use this printable grocery list for homemade vanilla frozen custard to make shopping simpler.  All ingredients are listed in standard grocery store amounts. If no size is specified, even the smallest package will provide more than enough.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Cooking! 🙂