Homemade Peach Ice Cream: Your Ultimate Recipe for Unforgettable Creamy Bliss

Prepare yourself! Once you taste this incredible Homemade Peach Ice Cream, it will quite literally redefine your expectations for all other ice creams, forever! Crafted to perfection, it boasts an unparalleled richness and creaminess that is simply beyond delicious. This isn’t just a dessert; it’s an experience you’ll crave and want to recreate again and again, especially during those warm summer months when fresh peaches are at their peak.

This post was originally published on June 29, 2020, and was last updated on July 26, 2023, with enhanced details and tips.

The secret to this extraordinary peach ice cream lies in the vibrant, concentrated flavor of homemade peach jam. While quality store-bought jam can work in a pinch, we highly recommend using our Quick Peach Jam recipe to truly elevate this dessert. The depth of flavor it brings is simply indescribable. We are utterly captivated by this homemade treat, so much so that we’ve vowed never to buy ice cream again! The freshness and robust peach flavor make every spoonful a delightful journey.

Unlocking the Perfect Creaminess: Key Ingredients Explained

What sets this peach ice cream apart is its meticulously balanced base, featuring a luxurious blend of milk, heavy cream, and cream cheese. This rich combination is the secret behind its incredibly luscious texture. The high fat content not only contributes to a profoundly rich flavor but also ensures the ice cream remains remarkably soft and easy to scoop, even when stored in a super-cold freezer. Each bite will have you reaching for words like “decadent,” “velvety,” and “delicious” to describe this peach perfection.

Beyond the dairy, granulated sugar and light corn syrup work in harmony to provide the perfect level of sweetness, while also playing a crucial role in the ice cream’s texture. Corn syrup, in particular, helps prevent the formation of large ice crystals, resulting in a smoother, more palatable frozen dessert that isn’t hard and brittle. But the true star, as mentioned, is the peach jam. Our homemade recipe is not only incredibly easy to prepare but guarantees an intense burst of fresh peach flavor that store-bought varieties often lack. We adore swirling in extra dollops of jam after the ice cream has churned, creating beautiful ribbons of concentrated peach goodness throughout the creamy base.

A note on the unsung hero: Buttermilk. While not as prominent in the initial description, our recipe card reveals buttermilk as a vital component. It adds a subtle tang and depth, balancing the sweetness and richness of the cream and sugar, making the overall flavor profile more complex and refreshing. The combination of these ingredients creates a harmonious symphony of flavors and textures that defines this recipe.

For precise ingredient measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions, please use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or simply scroll down to the bottom for the complete recipe card.

Crafting Perfection: A Step-by-Step Method for Your Best Peach Ice Cream

Embarking on the journey to homemade peach ice cream begins with careful preparation of the base. First, we create a cornstarch slurry by whisking a small portion of the heavy cream with cornstarch. This crucial step ensures that the cornstarch disperses evenly without clumping, which is essential for achieving a silky-smooth, thickened base. Next, in a saucepan, the remaining cream, sugar, and corn syrup are gently warmed together. Bring this mixture to a rolling boil, stirring continuously until the sugar is fully dissolved, typically for about 4 minutes. This process is key to creating a stable sugar syrup and ensuring optimal sweetness.

Once the cream mixture boils, remove it from the heat and thoroughly whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Return the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until it slightly thickens, which usually takes around 20 seconds. This brief cooking time activates the cornstarch, preventing a raw taste. Immediately remove it from the heat. Transfer this hot mixture to a blender, along with the cream cheese and a pinch of salt. Blend until the mixture is perfectly smooth, gradually drizzling in the buttermilk and the peach jam. Blending at this stage ensures a homogeneous, incredibly smooth ice cream base, free of any cream cheese lumps. This recipe yields a generous 8 cups of rich ice cream base.

The next critical step is chilling. Transfer the prepared ice cream base to a large measuring cup or an airtight container and refrigerate it overnight. This extended chilling period is vital for several reasons: it allows the flavors to deepen and meld, ensures the fats fully solidify, and brings the mixture to the optimal temperature for churning. A well-chilled base will churn more efficiently and result in a finer, creamier texture. Once thoroughly chilled, churn the base in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Churning incorporates air and prevents large ice crystals from forming, giving you that delightful, smooth consistency.

Once the ice cream reaches a soft-serve consistency in your machine, transfer it to a freezer-safe container. This is the perfect moment to swirl in some extra peach jam, creating those visually appealing and intensely flavorful ribbons throughout the ice cream. Don’t overmix; you want distinct streaks of jam! Press a sheet of parchment paper directly onto the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming, then seal the container with an airtight lid. Freeze the ice cream until it’s firm, typically at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, for the best scooping consistency. When it’s ready, scoop it into your favorite cones or bowls, perhaps with even more jam drizzled on top for an extra burst of peachy delight. This is homemade ice cream at its absolute finest.

If you ask us, this ice cream is truly best enjoyed in a crispy cone. For the ultimate pairing, consider making your own homemade cones! Our Waffle Cone Recipe will guide you to creating the freshest, most delicious cones you’ve ever had, perfectly complementing your peach ice cream masterpiece.

Choosing Your Ideal Ice Cream Maker: Recommendations

Having the right equipment can make all the difference in your homemade ice cream journey. If you have the space in your kitchen and your budget allows, the Breville Smart Scoop is widely regarded as THE BEST ice cream maker on the market. Its built-in compressor means it can churn batch after batch without needing a pre-frozen bowl, making it incredibly convenient for large recipes or multiple flavors. It excels at producing everything from silky sorbets to rich gelatos and, of course, the creamiest ice cream.

For those seeking a more economical and compact option, the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is a fantastic choice. While it requires you to pre-freeze its bowl (meaning you can typically only churn one batch per day), it’s a highly reliable and efficient machine perfect for making delicious homemade ice cream occasionally. It’s an excellent entry-level option for anyone looking to dip their toes into the wonderful world of homemade frozen desserts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Why is my homemade ice cream hard as a rock? This often happens if there isn’t enough fat or sugar in the recipe, or if the ice cream was churned too slowly or for too short a time, resulting in large ice crystals. Our recipe’s high fat content and inclusion of corn syrup specifically address this, ensuring a scoopable texture.
• Can I make this ice cream without an ice cream maker? While some ice cream recipes can be made “no-churn,” this specific recipe is formulated for optimal results with an ice cream machine. The churning process is crucial for incorporating air and breaking down ice crystals, which is hard to replicate manually for this rich base.
• How long does homemade peach ice cream last? When stored properly in an airtight container with parchment paper pressed against the surface, homemade ice cream is best enjoyed within 1-2 weeks. After that, its texture and freshness may begin to degrade.
• Can I use frozen peaches for the jam? Absolutely! If fresh peaches aren’t in season, high-quality frozen peaches (thawed) work wonderfully for making the jam.

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📖 Recipe Card

Homemade Peach Ice Cream

Get ready for a flavor revolution! This homemade peach ice cream is so irresistibly creamy and bursting with fresh peach flavor, it will undoubtedly become your new favorite dessert. You won’t want any other ice cream ever again!

Ingredients

• 6 oz Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
• 2 ½ cups Heavy Cream
• 4 tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
• 1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
• 4 tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
• 4 cups Buttermilk
• 1 ½ cups Peach Jam, preferably homemade or high-quality store-bought

Instructions

1. Prepare Cornstarch Slurry: Combine ¼ cup heavy cream with the cornstarch in a small bowl, whisking until a smooth slurry forms. Set aside.
2. Whisk Cream Cheese and Salt: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the softened cream cheese and kosher salt until completely smooth and lump-free.
3. Boil Cream, Sugar, and Corn Syrup: In a 4-quart saucepan, combine the remaining 2¼ cups heavy cream, granulated sugar, and light corn syrup. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is fully dissolved (about 4 minutes).
4. Thicken with Slurry: Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the cornstarch slurry. Return to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring for approximately 20 seconds, until the mixture visibly thickens. Remove from heat.
5. Combine Base Ingredients: Gradually pour the hot, thickened cream mixture into the bowl with the whisked cream cheese and salt, whisking continuously until smooth. Stir in the buttermilk and the peach jam until well combined.
6. Chill Ice Cream Base: Cover the mixture tightly with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface. Refrigerate until completely cool, ideally for 3-4 hours or overnight (up to 24 hours).
7. Churn in Ice Cream Maker (in batches): Assemble your ice cream machine. Pour half of the chilled ice cream base into the canister and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions until it reaches a thick, soft-serve consistency. Repeat with the second half of the base.
8. Freeze and Swirl Jam: Transfer the churned ice cream to a freezer-safe container. As you transfer, layer and swirl in additional peach jam (if desired) to create beautiful ribbons. Press parchment paper directly onto the surface and seal with an airtight lid. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight, before serving.

Notes

For the best peach jam flavor, consider using our homemade recipes:

Quick Peach Jam

Bourbon Brown Sugar Peach Jam

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving:
Unsaturated Fat: 0g

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