The Best Vanilla Raw Milk Ice Cream

If you have access to local raw dairy, raw milk ice cream is a must, both for the nutrition and taste! Filled with nourishing ingredients, it’s far from junk food!

Daily rhythms and a bowl of ice cream

My childhood daily rhythms included snuggling up on the couch with a bowl of ice cream before bed. My love for ice cream continued through my high school years as I worked at our local small town ice cream shop. I even had my senior photos taken at a retro ice cream shop with a cone full of picture perfect scoops. You could say I’m sort of an ice cream connoisseur.

Since clinging to a more ancestral, traditional way of eating, creating a raw milk recipe that we love was a high priority. First, we grew out our own flock of laying hens to provide us delicious raw eggs that quite literally make this recipe. Next, we started brewing our own vanilla extract. Then, we found a trustworthy herd share source for obtaining raw milk. That is, until we one day have our own Queen of the Farm, aka, dairy cow. Once we had all the pieces lined up, we finally purchased an affordable ice cream maker that does it’s job well.

FAQ’s for making raw milk ice cream

Q: What is raw milk ice cream?

A: Raw milk ice cream is simply ice cream made of milk that has not been pasteurized.

Q: How can I find a local trustworthy source for raw milk?

A: There are a couple of ways to go about finding raw milk in your area. A great place to start is by searching the Raw Milk Finder. If that is unsuccessful for you, check your local Facebook homesteading groups to make connections in your area.

Q: Why isn’t my ice cream thickening?

A: From my experience, there can be a few factors:

1. Your ice cream insert was not cold enough. We keep our insert in our garage freezer in the very back where it is coldest and not getting disturbed with frequent openings of the door.
2. Another possibility is that you have forgotten an ingredient. Salt in the recipe, for example, aids in the freezing process and yields a thicker, creamier texture.
3. It is also possible that you did not allow the ice cream maker to cycle long enough. Letting the ice cream maker cycle for twenty-five minutes is typically sufficient for me.
4. The last possibility that I am aware of is that you didn’t keep all of the ingredients cold enough. When I am making ice cream I have the ingredients in the very back of the fridge initially. Then when I’m prepping everything. I move as quickly as possible in order to keep everything very cold.

Q: Why are there chunks of eggs throughout my ice cream?

A: It’s very crucial that you are either whisking them nonstop until pouring the mixture into the ice cream maker or going straight from the blender to the ice cream maker in the on position. This keeps the eggs from freezing separately within your ice cream.

Raw milk ice cream ingredients

• Cream: Raw cream is quite the special super food around here. We do not keep an abundance but it is a sweet treat, especially in this recipe.
• Whole milk: If you haven’t tasted raw, whole milk, you are truly missing out on a traditional superfood and complete protein.
• Eggs: Raw eggs supply us with a wide array of vitamins and minerals: Vitamin A, Folate, Vitamin B5, B12, B2, and B6, phosphorus, selenium, Vitamin D, E, calcium, and zinc.
• Organic cane sugar: We just typically reach for the cane sugar in this recipe. However, honey, maple syrup, or a combination of the 2 or 3 will work in this recipe as well.
• Vanilla Extract: If you have not made your own vanilla extract, you are missing out! In this recipe, not only does the vanilla enhance the flavor, but it also helps the texture to remain soft and scoopable rather than too hard and frozen.
• Salt: As mentioned, the salt in this recipe is useful, not only for enhancing flavor. It also encourages a faster freezing time and creamier texture.

How to make raw milk ice cream

There are at least two ways to make this ice cream. The good news is, both of the methods I am sharing with you are extremely easy.

The first way to make this ice cream is by simply placing all of your ingredients into a blender. Mix until just combined. Then pour into the ice cream maker and continue the cycle until the desired consistency, around 20-25 minutes.

The other option is as follows:

First, whisk milk, sugar (or other sweetener), and salt until completely dissolved. Next whisk in eggs and vanilla extract. Finally, add the cream and continue whisking until pouring straight into the ice cream maker as it is cycling. Allow to cycle for 20-25 minutes.

At this point, I like to transfer the ice cream to these quart-sized ice cream containers and wait at least two hours to serve. We prefer a harder ice cream compared to a soft serve consistency.

Helpful tools

• Affordable Ice Cream Maker
• Set of 4 quart-sized ice cream containers
• Blender

Different variations and add ins

If you are a purist, this recipe is perfect for you. However, if you like to keep things fun, this is the perfect base for all of your favorite add-ins. I find that the chunky add-ins are best added to the ice cream maker 15 minutes into the 20 minute cycle.

Some possible add-in ideas:

• Cookie dough: Our absolute favorite ice cream uses this vanilla recipe as the base but with 1 cup chopped frozen sourdough chocolate chip cookie dough.
• Chocolate: Add in 1/2 cup of cocoa powder to the blender and be sure it is blended very smoothly, without chunks in the mixture.
• Chocolate chip: Add 1/2 cup shaved chocolate.
• Fruit: Add 1/2 cup of your favorite very cold or frozen fruit. If you would prefer this to be flavored and without chunks, just add it to the blender with everything else!
• If you do not have access to raw milk, this recipe can easily be substituted with storebought whole milk and heavy whipping cream.

Learn more about why we choose to keep our fridge stocked with raw milk here!

Find more delicious desserts here:

• Milled Flour Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
• Milled Flour Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Sourdough Milled Flour Pie Crust
• Or search all of our desserts here!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. This means we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We are so appreciative of your support!