Homemade Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream

June 23, 2025

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A bowl of creamy homemade strawberries and cream ice cream, garnished with fresh strawberry slices and mint leaves.

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Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream is the taste of summer joy. I mean, you ever crave something so sweet and creamy while standing in a hot kitchen, and you just don’t wanna run to the store for another blah pint? Homemade solves everything. Especially if you ever peeked at a fancy dessert shop and thought, “I can do that at home, probably better—at least my strawberries are honest.” Looking for real-deal flavor and actual fresh berries, you’re in the right spot. Oh, if you’re interested in other classic frozen treats, check out my write-up on the best ways to make old fashioned ice cream – lots of ideas there.
Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream

Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Recipe

Alright, let’s break down how to nail this at home. Simple, I promise. You’ll need about two cups of fresh strawberries (chopped is best), heavy cream, whole milk, a bit of sugar, and honestly, a squeeze of lemon if you’re wild like me. The magic? This ice cream doesn’t come from a fancy lab but your regular old mixing bowl.

Start by mashing the berries. Some folks blend ’em smooth, but I like little fruity bites. Toss them with sugar and let them hang out—gosh, the syrupy results are wild. Stir together the cream, milk, and a generous pinch of salt (trust me on the salt). Mix in the fruity syrup, chill for a bit (I know, this part is tough), then churn it all in your ice cream maker. If you don’t have one, you could use the old freeze-and-stir method. It’s not five-star science, but it works.

And here’s the kicker: when fruit’s ripe, that’s all the flavor you really need. I’ll argue that point to anyone. Homemade Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream is better than any you ever bought.

Popular Strawberries and Cream Variations

People get creative—and weird, sometimes—with this combo. Some like to add a dash of vanilla or swirl in extra berry sauce. Down South, I’ve seen folks stir in bits of shortbread for a strawberries-and-cream-shortcake hybrid. Kids love pink sprinkles on top (absolutely not required, but who can blame ’em).

In the UK (yep, eaten it there, lucky me), it’s common to just pour sweetened cream over fresh berries, especially during tennis season. For a British-style ice cream, I chop the fruit finer and skip the lemon for a simple, mellow taste. If you’re more adventurous, try tossing in a splash of balsamic vinegar—sounds strange, but it pops with the berries. Nothing fancy needed if you use bold, in-season strawberries.
Homemade Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream

Tips for Making the Perfect Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream

Look, I’m no scientist, but there are a few things I’ve learned after a dozen or so melty bowls:

Use room temp strawberries—they mash smoother and release more juice
Don’t over-whip your cream, unless you want butter, which you don’t (trust me)
Let the ice cream base chill really well before churning. It’s annoying but worth it
Taste as you go—sometimes berries surprise you (sweet or sour), so adjust that sugar

Sometimes my freezer is packed and I just make a half batch (nothing wrong with that). And if you want extra creamy bites, swirl in a touch of sweetened condensed milk near the end.

Summer Desserts to Try

If you’re anything like me, once you unlock the homemade ice cream skill, you wanna make everything. Strawberry ice cream is a safe bet, but you can mix and match. Blueberries, fresh peaches, even a handful of chocolate chips—heck, toss in some crunchy granola for a breakfast-for-dessert vibe.

Here, let me show you a quick table with a few of my favorite mix-ins and ideas:

Dessert Idea	Main Add-In	Kid-Friendly?	Difficulty
Classic Strawberries & Cream Ice Cream	Chopped Strawberries	Yes	Easy
Berry Shortcake Sundae	Shortbread Chunks	Absolutely	Medium
Breakfast Swirl	Granola	Mostly	Easy
Banana Split Remix	Banana Slices & Choc Chips	Oh, yes	Medium

And, if you’re new to mix-ins, ease in with just fruit first—a lesson I learned after some failed experiments.

Psst, for more fun summer recipes, peek at this collection of homemade ice cream recipes for a spot of inspiration!

Reader Interaction and Recipe Ratings

Here’s the thing: nobody gets this perfect the first time (except liars). I adore seeing photos when you try the recipe, ESPECIALLY if your kids get into the action. If you have suggestions, don’t be shy. Leave a note in the comments or rate how it turned out.

One reader, Sarah from Kent, piped up:

“Honestly, this was the creamiest, dreamiest ice cream I’ve made at home. My kids begged for seconds and my husband swiped spoonfuls right from the bowl. Five stars easy!”

Have opinions? Share ’em. Plus, every rating bumps up my motivation—hint, hint.

Oh, and if you want to check out another crowd favorite, see my take on homemade fruit sorbet—it’s ridiculously simple and super refreshing.

How to make strawberry ice cream?

What is the tradition of strawberries and cream?
How to add fruit to ice cream?
How to make strawberry ice cream in the UK?

So let’s tackle these quick-fire.

How to make strawberry ice cream? Simple. Mash berries, mix with sugar, swirl into cream and milk, then freeze—stir every half hour if you’re ice cream maker-less.

What is the tradition of strawberries and cream? Wimbledon, baby. It’s a British classic—just berries drowned in sweetened cream. Summer in a bowl.

How to add fruit to ice cream? Gently, always. Stir into your creamy mix after churning starts, not before. That way, you get delicious fruity chunks, not mush.

How to make strawberry ice cream in the UK? Same basics—just use double cream (British thing) and maybe British strawberries if you can get ’em. Less sugar, let the fruit shine.

If you need more UK tips, I’ve rounded up a Strawberry Fool recipe before which leans heavily local, but that’s another story.

Here’s a quick chart matching top ice cream types folks ask about:

Recipe Name	Maker Required?	Sweetener	Main Flavor
Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream	Optional	Sugar (or condensed milk)	Strawberry
Old fashioned strawberry ice cream	Nope	Sugar	Fresh Fruit
Strawberry ice cream with condensed milk	No	Condensed Milk	Berries
4 ingredient strawberry ice cream	Nope	Sweetened Cream	Strawberry

Common Questions

How do I keep my ice cream soft?
Try adding a couple tablespoons of vodka or honey. Sounds odd, but keeps it from setting up like a brick.

Can I use frozen strawberries?
Absolutely. Just thaw ’em out and let some of the liquid drain so it won’t get too icy.

Is an ice cream maker really necessary?
Nope, not a must. The freeze-stir-repeat trick works well, just takes more patience.

My ice cream turned icy—what gives?
Too much water in your berries, or maybe you skipped the extra cream. Next time, dry the berries and add a splash more cream.

Can I make this dairy-free?
You bet—swap in coconut cream or your fave plant milk. The flavor will shift a bit, but it’s still tasty.

Give It a Go: Dig Into Homemade Happiness

Look, making Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream at home is one of those small kitchen joys—like discovering your grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe stashed away. It’s easy, genuinely fun, and way tastier than anything from a carton. So I say: grab your berries, invite the kids, and let some sticky fingers happen. More tips and full walk-throughs can be found at Strawberries & Cream Ice Cream – Life Made Simple and another fab how-to at Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream – Simple Joy if you want step-by-steps from more seasoned folks. Honestly, don’t let another summer go by wishing you tried—get in there and give it a churn.

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Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream