How to Make Ice Cream Without Heavy Cream

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 11, 2023

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. You might want to scream louder if we want to make ice cream at home and don't have any heavy cream. Luckily, it is possible to make delicious ice cream at home without any heavy cream. Best of all, some of these recipes don't require an ice cream maker either. If you are vegan, don't worry, there's an option for you too!

Ingredients

Using Condensed Milk^{[1]
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1 14-ounce (397-gram) can condensed milk, chilled
2 cups (475 milliliters) half-and-half
2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) vanilla extract

Makes about 1 pint

Using Coconut Milk

1 13.5-ounce (398-milliliter) can full-fat coconut milk, chilled overnight
1 cup (240 milliliters) almond milk
2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) vanilla extract
3 tablespoons (45 grams) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt

Makes about 1 pint

Using Bananas

2 to 3 overripe bananas, frozen
2 to 4 tablespoons (30 to 60 milliliters) milk
1 pinch salt

Makes 1 to 2 servings

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Condensed Milk

1
Chill the bowl of your ice cream maker ahead of time. How far in advance you do this depends on the type of ice cream maker you are using, as each brand is a little different. In most cases, you need to freeze it the night before.
- An ice cream maker will give you the best results for this recipe. If you don't use one, then you will have to add heavy cream.^{[2]
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2
Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl. You will need a 14-ounce (397-gram) can of chilled condensed milk, 2 cups (475 milliliters) of half-and-half, and 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of vanilla extract. Stir everything together with a whisk until the color and texture are consistent.
- If you are using sweetened condensed milk, reduce the vanilla extract to 2½ teaspoons.
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3
Process the mixture in an ice cream maker for 10 to 15 minutes. Set up your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions first, then pour the mixture into the bowl. Churn the ice cream maker for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the ice cream is set.
- Add some tasty additions half-way through the churning period, such as mini chocolate chips.
4
Freeze the mixture in for 6 to 8 hours. Pour the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container, such as a Tupperware container or an ice cream container. Freeze the ice cream for 6 to 8 hours.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Coconut Milk

1
Open the coconut milk and separate the fat from the water. Take the coconut milk out of the fridge and open it without shaking it up. Use a spoon to scoop the thick, fatty layer from the top of the can, and transfer it into a mixing bowl. Discard the coconut water or save it for another recipe.
- You must use full-fat coconut milk.
- You must chill the coconut milk overnight in the fridge.
2
Stir in the almond milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt. Add the remaining ingredients into the bowl with the coconut cream in it. Use a whisk to mix everything together for about 2 minutes, or until the sugar dissolves.
3
Transfer the mixture into a freezer-safe container. Pour the mixture into a shallow container that's safe to go into the freezer. Great examples include metal loaf pans and Tupperware containers. The ice cream will be frozen in this container, so make sure that it is convenient to use and store.
4
Freeze the mixture, stirring it every 30 minutes. Place the entire container into the freezer. Every 30 minutes, give the mixture a stir with a whisk. After about 3 to 4 hours of doing this, the ice cream should be ready.
- You can try freezing the ice cream in an ice cream maker instead. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- The ice cream may be very hard when you take it out of the freezer. Let it sit on the counter for about 5 minutes before scooping it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Bananas

1
Peel, cut, and freeze the bananas ahead of time. Get 2 to 3 overripe bananas that are starting to turn brown. Peel them, cut them into bite-sized pieces, then freeze them in a plastic freezer bag or container.
- The size of the banana pieces does not matter. This is simply to make it easier on your blender or food processor.
2
Place the ingredients into a blender or food processor. Once the bananas have frozen, transfer them into a blender or food processor. Add 2 to 4 tablespoons (30 to 60 milliliters) of your choice of milk and a pinch of salt.
- The more milk to add, the smoother the ice cream will be.
- Whole milk is a great choice, but you can also use non-dairy milk, such as almond or coconut.
3
Add some extras, if desired. This recipe is only a base, and it will yield somewhat-banana-flavored ice cream. It is still very delicious, but you can give it more flavor with some tasty extras. For example:
- For chocolate ice cream, add ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons (22.5 grams) of cocoa powder.^{[3]
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- For peanut butter ice cream, add 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 grams) of peanut butter. ^{[4]
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- For cookies'n cream, add 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of coconut butter. Crush up some chocolate sandwich cookies and have them ready for later.^{[5]
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4
Blend the ingredients. Keep blending until the mixture takes on the texture of soft-serve ice cream. From time-to-time, you may want to open up the blender or food processor, and push down any unmixed ice cream towards the bottom with a rubber spatula.
- If you are making cookies'n cream ice cream, fold in the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies after you blend everything together.^{[6]
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5
Freeze the ice cream for 30 minutes. Transfer the mixture into a freezer-safe container, such as a Tupperware container or an ice cream container. Place it into the freezer, and leave it there for 30 minutes, or until it becomes scoop-able.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I use condensed milk or evaporated milk instead of whole milk?

Community Answer

Condensed milk would be your best option if you do not have whole milk.
Question

How long do I have to freeze the bananas?

Anna Peterson

Community Answer

It doesn't matter as long as they're cold and somewhat compact, especially if you're making ice cream.
Question

Is it compulsory to add the vanilla extract and cocoa powder?

Qamar

Top Answerer

Both the vanilla extract and cocoa powder add flavor to the ice cream, so it's highly recommend to add them. If you cannot add them, try replacing them with another sweet substitute.