No Churn Coffee Ice Cream

The summer of ice cream continues here at the farmhouse. If you remember the No Churn Sweet Cream Ice Cream I shared with you earlier this month, you already know that I have been making all sorts of ice cream recipes this summer. You also know that you can make a delicious, rich and creamy homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker.

Yes, you really can. I promise. The ease of making this type of ice cream and delicious flavor it creates amazes me with every batch I make. You would think that after dozens of these batches, I wouldn’t marvel at the process and the resulting ice cream, yet I do.

Not long after I started making that No Churn Sweet Cream recipe, I decided to try to adjust the recipe to create a delicious and full flavored coffee ice cream.

I knew that using brewed coffee would introduce a liquid to the mix that would freeze and form tiny ice crystals. Tiny ice crystals are the mortal enemy of smooth and creamy ice cream. They form and create a grainy texture which wasn’t a good option.

Instead, I decided to flavor the ice cream with the instant espresso powder I use in the Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies that my family loves. It has a deep and complex coffee flavor without being bitter. I hoped that it would dissolve well in the heavy cream as I whipped it.

It certainly did. The granules dissolved as I whipped the cream with the powdered sugar and pinch of salt. By the time I added the sweetened condensed milk, the fluffy mixture had a light brown color and aroma of a great cup of coffee.

But the proof would be in the tasting. So, I decided to sneak a taste as I transferred the base into the freezing container. It was delicious. It had a great coffee flavor that was balanced by the cream. It was sweet enough without being too sweet. It was just what I had been hoping for.

I have been making a lot of this coffee ice cream lately because my family just loves it. It’s become a sweet way to end the day together over a bowl of homemade ice cream. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as we do.

Once you have made a batch or two of this coffee ice cream recipe, I hope that you’ll also give the No Churn Sweet Cream Ice Cream a try. It’s equally delicious and perfect for adding your favorite ice cream additions like chocolate chips or your favorite cookie or candy bar pieces.

With a few flavors of this no churn ice cream in your freezer, the sky is the limit on the number of delicious, homemade ice cream treats you and your family can make and enjoy.

This recipe doesn’t require any special kitchen tools or equipment, but I do have a few that I reach for whenever I make it.

Homemade ice cream can be frozen in any food safe and freezer safe container. I purchased a few Tovolo 1.5 quart freezer containers a few years ago. The size is perfect for my homemade ice cream recipes and the lid fits well while being easy to remove. They have held up well and show no signs of wear all these batches later.

I keep this Instant Espresso Coffee on hand in the pantry to flavor my favorite coffee flavored desserts. It can be used to flavor this ice cream, to make Espresso Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies, or to make Tiramisu.

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No Churn Coffee Ice Cream

Jennifer from 1840 Farm

We tend to like our ice cream to be a little less sweet than most of the store-bought brands, and this recipe is plenty sweet for us without being overly sweet. Fortunately, this recipe is extremely adaptable. If you like your ice cream to be sweeter, you can absolutely add more sweetened condensed milk or sugar to your base.

After making dozens of batches using different combinations of cream and condensed milk, I decided to use a bit of powdered sugar to give the cream a bit of structure as I whipped it into medium peaks. I knew from making Chantilly Cream that I preferred powdered sugar to granulated sugar when making sweetened whipped cream and it didn’t disappoint in this recipe. You could also use granulated sugar in an equal amount or completely omit the additional sugar altogether if you prefer.

While I like to whip the cream by hand, you certainly don’t need to. You can use whatever method and helpful appliance you use when whipping cream for other recipes. The end result will be equally delicious and smooth.

Author: Jennifer from 1840 Farm

Ingredients

• 16 ounces heavy cream or heavy whipping cream
• 2 Tablespoons instant espresso powder
• pinch salt
• 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
• 6 ounces (approximately half a can) sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

• Place the cream, espresso powder, salt, and powdered sugar in a large, deep mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Using a whisk or the whisk attachment on your mixer, begin beating the cream until you reach medium peaks.
• Medium peaks have a similar appearance to cool whip. The cream should be glossy and puffy and cling to the whisk if you invert it. The peak of the cream will fall over as gravity pulls on it. This is the point you are attempting to reach before continuing. This stage takes about 3 to 4 minutes to reach when whipping by hand. It may require less time if using a mixer at high speed.
• Add the sweetened condensed milk to the bowl, reserving any unused portion to flavor the next batch and storing in the refrigerator until needed. Using the whisk or mixer, continue whipping the cream until you have arrived at the stiff peak stage.
• Stiff peaks are a bit sturdier (hence stiffer) than the medium peak stage. The cream should be glossy and fluffy. When you invert the whisk from the bowl of cream upwards, the cream should adhere to the whisk and the peak should stand up without falling. I usually reach this stage after about 2 minutes of whipping. A mixer may reach this stage in less time.
• I find that this recipe is very forgiving. So, if you are anywhere past soft medium peaks, it freezes well into a delicious batch of ice cream. If you are unsure, simply stop when your ice cream base looks like whipped cream that could be spooned on top of dessert and hold its shape.
• Transfer the ice cream base to an ice cream freezing container or a loaf pan lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Allow the base to freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight if possible. Depending on the temperature in your kitchen and freezer, you’ll have a delicious soft serve version of the ice cream to taste test after about 4 to 6 hours in the freezer.

Notes

Homemade ice cream can be frozen in any food safe and freezer safe container. I purchased a few Tovolo 1.5 quart freezer containers a few years ago. The size is perfect for my homemade ice cream recipes and the lid fits well while being easy to remove. They have held up well and show no signs of wear all these batches later.

Tried this recipe?Mention @1840Farm or tag #1840FarmFood! We can’t wait to see what you make!