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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
Recipe Video
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 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.
I truly love all things lemon (especially Meyers!). This looks so refreshing and could seriously brighten up any (cold) day. Popped over from Buns in my Oven/What’s Cooking Wednesday! Glad I did 🙂
Welcome! And thank you!
I’m the same when it comes to cold. I’m naughty though. I crawl into bed with the hubs and put my ice cold feet on his to warm them up. He screams like a lil’ girly girl. LOL You had me at lemon. Me loves lemon! Yum yum yum!
Hahahaha! That’s funny! When he’s cold he just cuddles up to me and I radiate enough heat for both of us!
This looks so delicious Dorothy! It also has my head spinning with delicious variations!
I know, right? It totally can be changed up SO many ways!
I HATE the cold too…and went out in it last night to get frozen yogurt! My husband wouldn’t hear me complaining about how cold I was the rest of the night 🙂 Love the lemon flavor in your ice cream…a little bright citrus burst is always what I need in January.
Frozen yogurt waits for no one! 🙂 And yes, brightness is what we need this month!
Ooooohhhhhhh this sounds fantastic! Thank you for sharing! I bet if served with some shortbread, it would be like those delicious lemon cookies that the Girl Scouts used to (possibly still do, I’m out of the G.S. loop) sell??? *drools*
I SO thought of doing that!!! I have some shortbread and it’s all I could do not to smother it in crumbs.
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