Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (2024)

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By: Leigh Anne Wilkes

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This light and refreshing Lemon Ice Cream is perfect enjoyed by itself or use it to top your favorite fruit crisp or cobbler for an amazing flavor twist.

Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (1)

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Ice Cream

I am a huge ice cream fan and it is usually my dessert of choice.

As you know one of my other loves is lemon so coming up with the perfect lemon ice cream was a pretty big priority for me. I think I may have found it.

The perfect ice cream needs to have just the right amount of lemon. It can’t be too tart or too sweet. It needs to be just right, and this one is just that.

Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (2)

Ingredients Needed

  • Lemons. You will use the juice and the zest.
  • Sugar. Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Whole Milk
  • Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Salt

Tips from Leigh Anne

  • The base for this ice cream is a cooked custard because there are eggs in the recipe. You will need to plan ahead with this ice cream as the ice cream base needs to be cooked and then cooled before churning into ice cream.
  • I always use real, fresh squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
  • I usually allow my ice cream to harden up in the freezer a while before serving. You can serve it right after processing though if you can’t wait, it will just be more soft serve like.
Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (3)

How to Make Lemon Ice Cream

  • Combine the eggs, sugar, salt, lemon juice and zest and one cup of milk.
  • Cook over medium heat until it comes to a simmer. After cooking the mixture you may want to pour it through a strainer to remove the lemon rind and any pieces of egg that might not have gotten mixed in. There are times when I don’t do this though and my ice cream always turns out great.
  • After straining put it in the refrigerator to chill.
  • After it has chilled, just process according to the directions of your ice cream maker.
  • Place ice cream into freezer after it has processed to allow it to set up and harden a bit.
Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (4)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will homemade ice cream last in the freezer?

Stored in an airtight, insulated ice cream container it will last for a couple of weeks.

Do I have to use an ice cream maker?

This homemade ice cream recipe is designed to be made in an ice cream maker and is not meant to be a no churn ice cream.

What kind of ice cream maker do you use?

I use a Cuisinart 2 qt. ice cream maker.I then transfer the ice cream into this insulated ice cream container to let the ice cream harden up.

Pair this with:

  • Berry Crisp
  • Marionberry Cobbler
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp for Two
  • Blueberry Dump Cake
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
  • Razzleberry Pie

For other yummy ice cream recipes try these:

  • Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
  • Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream
  • Ice Cream Pie {Only Takes 10 Minutes}
  • Ice Cream Recipes
  • Fresh Blueberry Ice Cream

4.90 from 49 votes

Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (5)

Lemon Ice Cream

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes

This light and refreshing Lemon Ice Cream is perfect enjoyed by itself or use it to top your favorite fruit crisp or cobbler for an amazing flavor twist.

serves: 8 (1/2 cup) servings5

Prep:5 minutes minutes

Cook:10 minutes minutes

Freezing Time:30 minutes minutes

Total:45 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  • In a pan mix together zest, juice, sugar, salt and eggs.

  • Add in 1 cup whole milk and vanilla.

  • Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until it comes to a simmer.

  • Strain through a sieve to remove zest if desired..

  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.

  • Add in whipping cream and freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions.

Tips & Notes:

  • Recipe makes 1 quart of lemon ice cream.
  • The base for this ice cream is a cooked custard because there are eggs in the recipe. You will need to plan ahead with this ice cream as the ice cream base needs to be cooked and then cooled before churning into ice cream.
  • I usually allow my ice cream to harden up in the freezer a while before serving. You can serve it right after processing though if you can’t wait, it will just be more soft serve like.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 298kcal (15%) Carbohydrates: 29g (10%) Protein: 4g (8%) Fat: 19g (29%) Saturated Fat: 11g (69%) Cholesterol: 126mg (42%) Sodium: 54mg (2%) Potassium: 112mg (3%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 27g (30%) Vitamin A: 794IU (16%) Vitamin C: 8mg (10%) Calcium: 74mg (7%) Iron: 1mg (6%)

* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:American

Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (6)

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Ice cream newbie says

    Made it once, turned out perfect. Second attempt was soup, any ideas. Didn’t stray from the recipe.

    Reply

    • Leigh Anne Wilkes says

      My guess is it may have to do with your ice cream maker. Had you frozen the container for 24 hours?

      Reply

  2. Lior says

    Hi, about the recipe, 3 eggs or 3 yolks ?

    Reply

    • Leigh Anne Wilkes says

      The whole egg

      Reply

  3. Deb says

    I added two drink size packs of lemonade water flavoring before churning and a box of crushed Lemonheads after churning. Everyone wants the recipe! Yummy!!

    Reply

Older Comments

Homemade Lemon Ice Cream (2024)

FAQs

How to prevent ice crystals in homemade ice cream? ›

Chill Your Base Well

The initial mixture should be very cold before it hits the ice-cream machine; ideally, you'll want to refrigerate it overnight. It'll need less churning time this way, and that will keep ice crystals from snowballing.

How much citric acid to use instead of lemon juice? ›

¼ teaspoon powdered Citric Acid is equivalent to 1 Tablespoon lemon juice. 1 teaspoon powdered Citric Acid is equivalent to ¼ cup lemon juice (4 Tablespoons). Citric Acid lowers pH and imparts tartness to the fruit mixture, but it doesn't add a particular flavor.

Can I substitute bottled lemon juice for fresh lemon juice? ›

Is Lemon Juice in a Bottle the Same as Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice? Nutritionally speaking, bottled and fresh lemon juice are the same.

Why put lemon juice in ice cream? ›

And it's the combination of the puckery acidity of the lemon, and the richness of the dairy, that naturally thickens the mixture, working it's magic to make an ice cream that is truly smooth, silky, and salacious.

How to make homemade ice cream creamy and not icy? ›

Whole milk – I don't recommend replacing it with reduced fat or skim. Whole milk's higher fat content ensures that the homemade ice cream comes out creamy, not icy. Cane sugar – For sweetness.

What is the best stabilizer for ice cream? ›

The most common ones used in ice creams are guar gum, cellulose gum and carob bean gum. They are used to reduce ice crystal growth, deliver flavour cleanly, increase smoothness, body and creaminess and slow down melting. They also help hold the air bubble structure together and give the ice cream a better texture.

What happens if you use too much citric acid? ›

Citric acid may be good for you, but in higher amounts may cause damage to your tooth enamel, digestive issues, allergic reactions, and interactions with medications. Most people do not need to supplement citric acid, though. Citric acid is a weak organic acid found in many foods.

What can I use if I don't have citric acid? ›

You can replace citric acid with white vinegar or lemon juice. Use around 1/3rd of a cup of white vinegar, or around 1/3rd of a cup of lemon juice. You will get a mild to moderate flavor of the substitute acidifying agent.

Which is better lemon juice or citric acid? ›

From a nutritional perspective, vitamin C is perhaps the most important component of lemon juice. You can't get vitamin C from pure citric acid. Furthermore, vitamin C helps you absorb iron, explains Dr.

Why not use bottled lemon juice? ›

However, if you've ever tasted bottled lemon juice, you'll notice that the flavour is a little off – not bright and lemony like the real stuff. This is because bottled lemon juice usually contains additives and preservatives such as Sodium Metabisulphite (E223) or Potassium Metabisulphite (E224).

Is ReaLemon the same as lemon juice? ›

ReaLemon is prepared from lemon juice concentrate that is formulated at a controlled consistent strength, and after the addition of water, the end-product is a 100% lemon juice product. When bottled, filtered water is used and the product is reconstituted to the strength of natural lemon juice.

Is Jif lemon juice as good as fresh lemon? ›

Lemon juice from concentrate will lose some of the health benefits vs. fresh squeezed. It also usually has some form of additives used as a preservative. Fresh also tastes better.

What is the secret to good ice cream? ›

At the very least, chilling your base ensures it'll churn into ice cream as fast as possible, which translates into small ice crystals for creamier ice cream. Chilling your base also gives you the added advantage of tasting it in close-to-final form, so you can make final flavor adjustments.

How do you make homemade ice cream taste better? ›

"You can also try diced pineapple tossed in li hing mui powder, which will add sweet, salty, and sour flavors to a simple bowl of vanilla ice cream." In addition to dried fruits, try tossing in chopped nuts, crushed cookies, bite-sized candies, or even bacon bits.

What is lemon ice cream made of? ›

In a large bowl, place milk, whipping cream, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Whisk to combine, or use a mixer on low speed. Add lemon juice and lemon zest. Combine well.

How can ice crystals be prevented? ›

To prevent excess ice crystal formation, use only freezer-safe containers and moisture-proof, vapor-proof freezer wrap. This wrap will help prevent moisture loss during the defrost cycle. When the freezer defrosts (self-defrosting models only), the freezer air temperature will rise.

How do you make crystal clear ice at home? ›

Freeze your ice cubes for about 24 hours. Hammond says that slow freezing is vital because it allows enough time for impurities to be forced out of the ice. She likens it to how lake water freezes slowly, so that by the time the lake is frozen solid, the top appears glass-like.

What can be added to homemade ice cream to act as a stabilizer? ›

Xanthan gum (E415)

Its blend with guar gum and/or locust bean gum makes an effective stabilizer for ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, and water ices. Hydrates cold.

Which ingredient prevents the formation of ice crystals? ›

time can lead to a coarse texture in ice cream, because large ice crystals are formed. retarding ice crystal growth during storage (25). (guar and locust bean gum) are the most widely used to inhibit ice crystal growth. most commonly used secondary stabilizer and helps prevent wheying off in the mix.

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