Philadelphia Style Ice Cream

22 Comments 5

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

Wonderfully simple to make, and with an incredibly bold vanilla flavor, Philadelphia Style Ice Cream is hands down, the best simple vanilla ice cream I have ever made.

egg free ice cream in small white bowl

Served on its own or with a drizzle of caramel sauce or hot fudge, this is an ice cream worthy of any occasion.

Try scooping the ice cream over a warm brownie or stir brownie chunks or crumbled cookies into the churned ice cream before tucking it in the freezer. However you make and serve this ice cream, it’s certain to be a win with everyone.

Save The Recipe

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email and I’ll send this recipe right to your inbox! Plus, I’ll send you new recipes every week!

Philadelphia Style Ice Cream

Did you know that Philadelphia style ice cream is simply ice cream made with no eggs? I have tried some impressively rich ice creams (made with eggs) over the years.

However, we are not used to ice creams that rich, so they are not frequently made in my home. Besides, I’ll be honest, I like to make things simpler and not more complicated in the kitchen wherever possible.

I’ve made this recipe both cooked and uncooked. If you are really in a rush, you can simply stir everything together cold and pour it into the machine. But, simmering just long enough to dissolve the sugar and then cooling it again truly makes it even better. So, that is how I usually make it.

Stir, Simmer, Stir, Chill and Freeze; less than 10 minutes of actual prep time. If I put the mixture together in the morning, and then freeze it in the afternoon, we are easily having Philadelphia ice cream for dessert the same evening.

creamy eggless ice cream scooped into white bowl

Eggless Ice Cream

Because this is an eggless ice cream recipe, there’s no fussing with a custard base. That simplifies the process of making it quite a bit, and generates very consistent results.

This homemade vanilla ice cream stands on its own, or atop a warm slice of pie or cake. But, my favorite way to eat it is with a handful of my favorite mix-ins. Soft cookies, brownies, blondies, fresh fruit, or candy. The sky is the limit.

If you like having baked goods as a mix-in option, but don’t want to bake a fresh batch for ice cream every time, I’ve got you covered. Just chop up a couple of servings and freeze them for later use.

caramel sauce drizzled over vanilla ice cream

With over 70 ice cream recipes here to choose from, there’s sure to be an ice cream for everyone! If you’re new to making ice cream, the best and easiest vanilla ice cream is a great place to start.

These are my favorite inexpensive containers for storing ice cream. They’re perfect for gifting (who doesn’t love homemade ice cream?) storage, re-using, etc. I write the flavors on the lids with a sharpie and it washes off with dish soap.

I have more ice cream scoops than I can keep track of at this point and I definitely play favorites. This ice cream scoop does the best job ever of cutting through firm ice cream and still delivers a pretty scoop. It gets bonus points for being one of the least expensive scoops I own as well.

Don’t miss our Ice Cream Maker Review for all the information you need to find the BEST Ice Cream Maker for your needs! Spoiler alert – our top-rated machine under $50 just might surprise you. It sure surprised me!

Philadelphia Style Ice Cream in freezer container with wooden scoop

Eggless Ice Cream Recipe

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this ice cream:

  • heavy cream
  • whole milk
  • sugar
  • salt
  • vanilla bean or vanilla bean paste
  • vanilla extract

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

caramel sauce poured over ice cream

Start by pouring 1 cup of the heavy cream into a medium saucepan. Then, add the sugar and salt. Scrape the seeds of the vanilla bean into the pot and add the vanilla pod to the pot.

Warm the mixture over medium heat, whisking just until the sugar dissolves. Then, remove from the heat and add the remaining cream, milk and vanilla.

Whisk again to combine, then let it cool completely. For best results, transfer the mixture to the refrigerator to chill for a few hours. This lets the vanilla completely infuse the dairy mixture for the best taste.

When ready to churn a fresh batch of ice cream, remove the vanilla pod. Then, whisk the mixture a final time before pouring it into your ice cream maker. Freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

caramel sauce poured over bowl of vanilla bean ice cream

Philadelphia Ice Cream

Looking for more egg free ice cream recipes like this?

This is not your average Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, this isn’t Oreo dust or a few crumbles of cookies, this is nearly an entire package of chocolate sandwich cookies stuffed into a batch of ice cream.

Peach Crisp Ice Cream is creamy vanilla ice cream filled with chunks of peach crisp, a peach lover’s dream come true. With chunks of buttery brown sugar and oat crisp with syrupy peaches in every bite, this ice cream is irresistible.

The satisfying crunch of Nutter Butter cookies in creamy homemade ice cream makes this Nutter Butter Ice Cream positively irresistible.

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream is an old-fashioned favorite made simply with strawberries, sugar, cream, and milk. Just a few ingredients add up to a summer ice cream treat that everyone loves.

Rich banana ice cream, decadent chocolate chunks, and crunchy walnuts create a tantalizing dessert you won’t soon forget. This delightful recipe for Chunky Monkey Ice Cream is the perfect indulgence.

Get New Recipessent to your inbox!
We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Philadelphia Style Ice Cream in freezer container with wooden scoop

Vanilla Ice Cream, Philadelphia Style

5 from 1 vote
Wonderfully simple to make, and with an incredibly bold vanilla flavor, Philadelphia Style Ice Cream is hands down, the best simple vanilla ice cream I have ever made.
Pin Print Review
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups heavy cream divided
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste OR 1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise, seeds scraped
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Combine 1 cup of cream, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Scrape the seeds of the vanilla bean into the pan and then add the scraped pod to the pot. Warm the mixture over medium heat, just until the sugar dissolves.
  • Remove from the heat and add the remaining cream, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine and refrigerate until fully cooled.
  • When ready to churn, remove the vanilla pod, whisk the mixture again, and pour it into the ice cream maker. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcal · Carbohydrates: 30g · Protein: 4g · Fat: 30g · Saturated Fat: 19g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 8g · Cholesterol: 95mg · Sodium: 134mg · Potassium: 138mg · Sugar: 30g · Vitamin A: 1232IU · Vitamin C: 0.5mg · Calcium: 103mg · Iron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @barefeetkitchen or tag #barefeetkitchen!

{originally published 4/1/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 1/19/24}

recipe from and with thanks to The Perfect Scoop

old fashioned wooden ice cream scoop holding Philadelphia Style Ice Cream

Filed under: , ,

Share this Article

PinYummly

Related Posts

Mary Younkin

Mary Younkin

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the author, cook, photographer, and travel lover behind the scenes here at Barefeet In The Kitchen. I'm also the author of three cookbooks dedicated to making cooking from scratch as simple as possible.

Reader Interactions

22 Comments Leave a comment or review

    Rate & Comment

    Rating