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This creamy and refreshing homemade lemon ice cream is made without an ice cream machine and will have you dreaming of summer days. Just mix, stir, and freeze 5 simple ingredients together – it’s a creamy no churn ice cream recipe!
Easy Lemon Ice Cream – No churn!
Lemon lovers, rejoice! This easy no-churn lemon ice cream recipe is full of sweet and tangy lemon flavor that’s sure to be a hit. I love easy ice cream recipes, especially when they don’t require an ice cream machine.
I made this lemon ice cream the “easy” way without the use of an ice cream maker, AKA No Churn Ice Cream.
This recipe is heaven: It has an easy ice cream base that has the perfect lemon and sweet creamy balance. Toss your fresh ingredients together and freeze overnight to get the best no-churn lemon ice cream ever!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- You do not need an ice cream maker
- It’s full of fresh lemon flavor
- It tastes sweet and tangy
- Only 15 minutes of prep time
Ingredients needed
- Lemon: one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Heavy whipping cream: You make fresh whipped cream which becomes the base of the ice cream.
- Sweetened condensed milk: no need to add any sugar to this recipe since the sweetness comes from here
- Lemon Zest: adding lemon zest makes any dessert more aromatic and flavorful
- Lemon extract: this is the secret ingredient to getting the perfect lemon flavor
How to make lemon ice cream
- Beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form then set aside.
- Stir together sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and zest, and lemon extract.
- Fold in whipped cream to the wet mixture.
- Freeze in an airtight container and freeze until hardened, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Expert Tips
- Leave your ice cream in the freezer overnight for a harder ice cream texture.
- Want a fat-free ice cream? Use a fat-free Cool Whip in place of the heavy cream and swap fat-free sweetened condensed milk.
- If you prefer soft serve ice cream, then freeze this recipe for about 3 hours instead of overnight.
FAQs
It’s a Summer favorite frozen dessert recipe since it’s no-bake, so easy, and incredibly refreshing.
If left frozen in an airtight container, your ice cream should remain fresh for up to 1 month.
Yes, you can. I do prefer fresh lemon juice over the store bought and i recommend fresh lemon zest.
Easy Lemon Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Zest of one lemon
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract
Instructions
- Beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- Stir together sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and zest, and lemon extract. Fold in whipped cream.
- Place in an airtight container and freeze until hardened, at least 4 hours or overnight.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Feel free to use fat free sweetened condensed milk
- Want a fat free ice cream? Use fat free Cool Whip (2 8-ounce containers) in place of the heavy cream.
Dorothy, we are like long lost twins! I am always cold (except when I am pregnant, and even now I am just comfortable instead of numb), except at night my husband calls me a radiator. And I eat ice cream ALL THE TIME. We have been known to do Carvel runs when it is snowing.
Ha! Two peas in a pod! 🙂
OMG, I am totally trying this, like tomorrow! You don’t want to be living near me. It is only 30 degrees and I have a foot of snow in the yard. I could only wish for a 70 degree day, but we won’t be seeing that in Buffalo until June, ugh!
I couldn’t do it! But, then again, we lived in AZ too and I was SO hot. I need neutral weather. 🙂
I go for popsicles when the hot flashes hit. They work fabulously!
Lemon ice cream sounds a little odd but I bet it’s fantastic~
I may be doing that soon too… 🙂
Dorothy, this sounds fabulous! We’re supposed to get up to 70 degrees on Thursday I think. If I make this tomorrow I can sit out on the back deck in my shorts and pretend it’s summer while eating a bowl of Skinny Ice Cream!
As much as I love those 70 degree days, we often end up skipping those and heading right to 80s and up. I don’t want to go there! 🙂
Dorothy, your pictures are SO GOOD. Seriously, girl, these are amazing! And so is this ice cream!
Thank you! My husband got me a new lens…and I heart it. 🙂 Thanks Ashley!
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