Contents

A Sweet Tradition: Celebrating International Ice Cream Day with Homemade Delights

Just last night, as I was performing the sacred ritual of tucking my youngest daughter into bed, she imparted a rather significant piece of information derived from her beloved iCarly calendar: today, she declared, was “International Ice Cream Day.” Now, as someone who spends a considerable amount of time navigating the vast expanses of the internet – indeed, one might call me a “googlemaniac” – I’m well aware that it often feels like there’s a national holiday dedicated to something new every single day. However, an *international* one? And for something as universally cherished and simply delightful as ICE CREAM?! This wasn’t merely a fun fact; it was an urgent call to action, a clear directive from the universe that such a momentous occasion could not, under any circumstances, pass without due recognition and, of course, a proper celebration.

Ice cream, in its myriad forms, holds a special place in the hearts of people worldwide. It’s more than just a dessert; it’s a symbol of summer days, childhood memories, spontaneous treats, and family gatherings. The idea of an “International Ice Cream Day” resonated deeply, promising a perfect opportunity to pause, indulge, and create some cherished new memories. The thought of homemade ice cream, with its unparalleled freshness and customisable charm, instantly sprang to mind as the ideal way to honor this deliciously declared holiday.

The genesis of our family’s homemade ice cream adventures dates back several years, to a time when I was pregnant with our twins. Like many expectant mothers, I experienced intense and sometimes peculiar cravings. One particular day, an overwhelming, almost primal desire to make and then, naturally, devour homemade ice cream took hold. It was an urge that couldn’t be ignored. My immediate thought was to reach out to my mom, hoping against hope that she still possessed our old crank-style ice cream maker. The romantic notion of a hand-cranked dessert, passed down through generations, appealed to my nesting instincts. Of course, the practical side of me, heavily pregnant, also thought: what did I care if it was a crank one? Surely, with my condition, someone would volunteer to do the cranking for me, right?

My mom, with a chuckle, informed me that the trusty old crank machine had been donated to Goodwill years prior. Undeterred, and with my cravings intensifying, I set off to our beloved “Wally World” (as we affectionately call Walmart). There, I invested in a brand-new electric ice cream maker. My reasoning was quite sound: why endure the laborious cranking when a convenient electric model offered such ease? I figured sooner or later, my pregnancy excuse would expire, and I certainly didn’t fancy wrestling with a hand-cranked contraption in the future!

Armed with my new appliance, I returned home, brimming with anticipation. We gathered the ingredients, mixed the creamy base, and set the machine to churn. The hardest part, I recall vividly, was the excruciating wait for it to harden sufficiently in the freezer. More often than not, our collective impatience would lead us to enjoy it as a wonderfully soft-serve cream, a delightful consistency that never failed to satisfy. Despite its soft texture, the taste was absolutely phenomenal, a pure expression of fresh ingredients and homemade goodness. That first batch was an unforgettable success, laying the foundation for a cherished family tradition, even if it was largely forgotten in the years that followed.

Life, as it tends to do, continued to unfold at a rapid pace. Our family grew from two children to four, transforming our household into a bustling hub of activity and joy. In the midst of school runs, playdates, and endless laundry, that electric ice cream maker, once a beacon of culinary promise, had quietly receded into the background. It found its home on the top shelf of my pantry, a silent sentinel amidst other seldom-used kitchen gadgets. For almost nine years, since the birth of our twins, it had been used only one single time after that initial pregnancy-induced batch. It was a testament to how quickly time flies and how easily even the most delightful intentions can be sidelined by the demands of a busy family life. Yet, I always knew it was there, a reliable presence waiting for its moment to shine once more.

Today, with the announcement of International Ice Cream Day, that moment had finally arrived. This wasn’t just another casual dessert request; this was a global mandate, a celebration demanding a sweet, frozen tribute. The dormant ice cream maker needed to be resurrected, its churning mechanism set in motion once more. For heaven’s sake, this was International Ice Cream Day! Such an occasion warranted nothing less than a grand, homemade gesture. It was time to dust off the machine, gather the family, and embark on a new chapter of our ice cream making saga, transforming a simple declaration into a tangible, delicious reality.

Our day leading up to this grand ice cream endeavor had been particularly arduous. We had spent the better part of a sweltering 100+ degree day at a baseball game, feeling as though we were slowly melting into the bleachers. The heat was relentless, sapping our energy and patience. I swear, the vivid thought of returning home and making that creamy, cold, homemade ice cream was the sole beacon of hope that pulled us through the oppressive afternoon. It was the delicious promise that kept our spirits from completely wilting under the scorching sun.

Finally back within the cool confines of our home, we wasted no time. With renewed vigor, we meticulously mixed the ingredients for our vanilla ice cream base, ensuring every component was perfectly incorporated. We then carefully placed the top on our trusty (or so we thought) ice cream maker and plugged it in, eager to hear the familiar hum of churning. Silence. A profound, disheartening silence filled the kitchen. My heart sank, the vision of creamy dessert evaporating before my eyes. My husband, ever the engineer and problem-solver, immediately sprang into action. He gave the machine a few frustrated smacks, uttered a string of exasperated words under his breath, then proceeded to dismantle and reassemble it. This cycle of frustration and hope repeated itself about four times, each attempt yielding the same deafening silence.

Just as despair began to set in, a stroke of genius (or perhaps desperation) hit me. I suggested we try borrowing an ice cream maker from his sister, who, by a fortunate coincidence, lives just at the top of our hill. Without a moment’s hesitation, our son, sensing the gravity of the ice cream crisis, sprinted off to secure the borrowed appliance. To our immense delight and relief, he returned not with one, but with TWO machines! This unexpected bounty was incredibly fortuitous, as I then realized I had, quite serendipitously, prepared enough ingredients for two separate batches. “Yay!” I cheered, feeling a surge of renewed optimism and excitement. With both machines now happily churning away, their rhythmic hum a comforting soundtrack, we finished dinner, knowing that a truly sweet ending to our challenging day was finally within reach. The sound of the ice cream makers working in tandem was pure music to our ears, promising double the delight for our International Ice Cream Day celebration.

After a quick and somewhat rushed dinner, the true main event of our evening began. I enthusiastically prepared an impressive array of toppings, laying out bowls of fresh, vibrant berries, colorful sprinkles, rich chocolate syrup, and more. The entire family gathered around, a buzz of excitement and anticipation filling the kitchen. We waited, not-so-patiently, for the ice cream to reach its perfect consistency. Every few minutes, a hopeful child (or adult!) would peer into the churning machines, only to report that it was still gloriously, stubbornly soft. The waiting game, it seemed, was proving to be a true test of our collective willpower.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of tantalizing churning, a unanimous declaration rang out: “Ah… just forget it! Let’s eat it soft!” And just like that, the decision was made with joyous abandon. There is an undeniable, unique charm to freshly churned, homemade soft-serve ice cream. It’s less about perfect firmness and more about the immediate gratification, the creamy texture that melts on your tongue, and the pure, unadulterated joy of sharing a spontaneous treat. Each bowl was eagerly scooped, a generous swirl of the delightfully creamy vanilla goodness, then adorned with vibrant, fresh berries. The combination was simple yet sublime.

It was soft, yes, but oh so incredibly, memorably good! The flavors were pure, the texture delightfully smooth and refreshing, especially after our scorching day. The laughter and chatter around the table were priceless, a testament to the simple happiness that homemade ice cream, especially on International Ice Cream Day, can bring. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated family bliss, a sweet reward that tasted all the better for the challenges we had overcome to create it. This soft-serve masterpiece perfectly encapsulated the relaxed, celebratory spirit we aimed for, proving that sometimes, imperfection can be utterly perfect.

Homemade vanilla ice cream with berries, ready to be enjoyed

Beyond the sheer bliss of eating it, one of the most satisfying aspects of this impromptu celebration was finally getting to use my charming new miniature trifle bowls. I had received them for my birthday, and they had been patiently waiting for the perfect occasion to make their debut. They were absolutely adorable and proved to be the ideal vessel for showcasing our soft, creamy vanilla ice cream, topped generously with those vibrant, fresh berries. The presentation added an extra layer of delight to our casual dessert, elevating the experience. Looking back, I wish I had taken the picture more from the side, to truly highlight their cute little selves and how beautifully they framed our homemade creation, capturing every delicious detail for posterity.

The deliciousness, thankfully, did not end with our initial soft-serve indulgence. The next day, the remaining ice cream, after spending ample time in the freezer, had transformed into a perfectly hardened, scoopable treat. This allowed for a delightful second round of enjoyment, where we experimented with different toppings to complement the rich vanilla base. Crushed Butterfinger pieces provided a satisfying crunch and a salty-sweet contrast, while a generous drizzle of rich chocolate syrup added an extra layer of decadent flavor. This second tasting session proved that homemade ice cream is incredibly versatile and consistently a crowd-plepleaser, whether enjoyed soft or firm, plain or loaded with toppings. It was a wonderful continuation of our International Ice Cream Day celebration, extending the joy and creating even more sweet memories for the family.

Day two after it hardened, served with Butterfinger and chocolate syrup

LIKE THIS RECIPE?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and
leave a comment below the recipe!

overhead of ice cream with berries in it

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (from 1 vote)

Print Recipe

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream for International Ice Cream Day!

Indulge in this delightful homemade vanilla ice cream, perfect for celebrating International Ice Cream Day or any warm occasion. Simple to make and utterly delicious, especially when served with fresh berries or your favorite toppings.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Additional Time: 3 hrs (for hardening in freezer)

Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Ice Cream Day, Homemade Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream

Servings: Approximately 1 tub (about 2 quarts)

Calories: 6555 kcal (approximate, for the entire batch)

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Ingredients

For the Vanilla Ice Cream Base:
4 large eggs
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 cups heavy cream
2 Tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 cups whole milk

Instructions

In a large bowl, beat the eggs vigorously until they are light and fluffy, resembling a pale yellow.
Gradually add the sugar, a little at a time, continuing to beat until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is well combined and smooth.
Pour in the remaining ingredients: the heavy cream, pure vanilla extract, salt, and whole milk. Stir everything together thoroughly until all components are evenly distributed.
Carefully transfer the prepared mixture into the canister of your ice cream maker. Ensure the canister is properly placed within the machine according to your ice cream maker’s specific instructions.
Add ice around the canister in the outer bucket, filling it about halfway. Distribute a generous amount of rock salt over the ice. Then, fill the rest of the bucket with more ice. (The rock salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, allowing the mixture in the canister to freeze more effectively.)
Plug in your ice cream maker and allow it to churn until the mixture freezes to a soft-serve consistency. This process typically takes approximately 20-30 minutes, but timings can vary based on your specific model and the initial temperature of your ingredients.
For a firmer, scoopable ice cream, carefully transfer the freshly churned soft-serve into a freezer-safe container. Place the container in the freezer for a minimum of 3 hours, or until it reaches your desired level of firmness.
Serve your homemade vanilla ice cream with fresh berries, chocolate syrup, crushed candies, or any of your favorite toppings, and enjoy your delicious creation!

Nutrition Information

Please note: Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.