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Homemade Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream: Your Perfect Summer Treat!

Forget about turning on the oven this summer! As passionate bakers, we often find ourselves yearning for warm, comforting treats like banana bread or rich brownies. However, the scorching heat often makes the thought of firing up the oven unbearable. What’s a dessert enthusiast to do when those intense cravings strike and the temperature outside is soaring? The answer is simple, delightful, and incredibly refreshing: you make ice cream!

Imagine indulging in a luscious, velvety vanilla ice cream, so rich and creamy, yet surprisingly easy to prepare. Our fantastic vanilla ice cream base is a dream come true, primarily because it doesn’t require cooking a traditional egg custard. That’s right – no eggs are involved in crafting this delightful frozen dessert, making it a quicker and simpler treat to get from your kitchen to your favorite cone or bowl. You can proudly save your eggs for those future banana bread and muffin masterpieces when the crisp autumn air finally arrives!

But the indulgence doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve expertly churned this incredible ice cream to a soft-serve consistency, the real magic is about to unfold. Just when you’re almost tempted to dive in with a spoon and enjoy it plain, you’ll hold back (we know, it’s hard!) and instead, generously stir in abundant chunks of your favorite, perfectly safe-to-eat funfetti sugar cookie dough. Yes, it’s the very same irresistible dough you can’t bake right now due to the heat, but which you can absolutely enjoy raw! The exquisite combination of the sweet, cool vanilla ice cream and the chewy, vibrant cookie dough bits creates an irresistible symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds.

Creamy Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream with colorful funfetti sprinkles swirled throughout.

This isn’t merely a recipe; it’s an entire culinary experience designed for pure joy. It’s about indulging in the unparalleled pleasure of homemade desserts without the accompanying summer sweat or extensive effort. It’s about seamlessly blending two universally beloved treats – classic vanilla ice cream and nostalgic sugar cookie dough – into one spectacular creation that guarantees to bring smiles, satisfaction, and perhaps even a little happy dance. We absolutely adore sharing our innovative, crazy-sweet ideas, and this Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream is undoubtedly one of our absolute favorites for spreading a little bit of sweet deliciousness into other people’s lives!

Why This Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream is Your Ultimate Summer Dessert

There’s something truly unparalleled about homemade ice cream, and when you combine that irresistible creamy goodness with the nostalgic comfort and chewy texture of edible sugar cookie dough, you’ve unquestionably hit a dessert jackpot. This particular recipe for Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream stands out as a summer essential for several compelling reasons:

Effortless Edible Cookie Dough: Our sugar cookie dough recipe is meticulously designed to be perfectly safe for raw consumption, entirely eliminating the need for any baking. This brilliant feature means you get to savor all the buttery, sugary goodness and tender texture of fresh cookie dough without ever needing to ignite your oven. The delightful addition of vibrant funfetti sprinkles transforms each bite into a festive, colorful celebration.
Streamlined, Egg-Free Ice Cream Base: Many conventional ice cream recipes demand an intricate egg custard base, which typically involves tempering eggs and carefully cooking the mixture on the stovetop. This additional step not only complicates the process but can also be quite daunting for aspiring or novice ice cream makers. Our recipe brilliantly simplifies the entire procedure with a silky, velvety, and entirely egg-free vanilla base, ensuring a flawlessly smooth and rich texture without any of the traditional fuss or potential pitfalls.
Remarkably Easy to Make: From the initial mixing of ingredients to the final delightful scoop, this recipe is crafted with maximum ease in mind. With its straightforward steps and minimal cooking requirements, you’ll spend significantly less time bustling in the kitchen and considerably more time unwinding and thoroughly enjoying your cool, handcrafted creation. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or impromptu gatherings.
The Quintessential Summer Indulgence: When the sun is shining brightly and the heat of summer is at its peak, a frosty, homemade dessert is precisely what you need to cool down and refresh. This Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream offers a truly refreshing escape, making it an absolutely ideal treat for lively family gatherings, casual backyard barbecues, festive summer parties, or simply a tranquil evening spent relaxing on the porch.

Just imagine scooping out a truly generous serving of exquisitely sweet vanilla ice cream, with each spoonful generously laden with delightful chunks of chewy, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie dough and an abundance of playful, colorful sprinkles. It’s so much more than just a dessert; it’s two incredible, fan-favorite treats harmoniously blended into one spectacular, unforgettable experience! This combination elevates a simple ice cream into a truly gourmet and fun indulgence.

Unlocking the Magic of Edible Cookie Dough in Your Ice Cream

Edible cookie dough has, without a doubt, become a culinary sensation, and for incredibly good reason! Traditional raw cookie dough, containing raw flour and raw eggs, can unfortunately pose certain health risks. However, our specially formulated edible sugar cookie dough recipe ingeniously circumvents these potential issues. We ensure its safety by using no raw eggs in this specific recipe, and while the original instructions do not specify, for ultimate peace of mind, it’s always recommended to heat-treat your flour (a quick microwave or oven step) before making any edible raw dough. This simple precaution guarantees a worry-free indulgence straight from the bowl!

The remarkable textural contrast between the intensely cold, exquisitely creamy vanilla ice cream and the soft, delightfully chewy, and slightly firm cookie dough is precisely what makes this dessert so profoundly addictive. Each and every bite offers an explosion of pure vanilla essence, a delicate hint of rich butter, and that unmistakable, comforting sugar cookie flavor, all harmoniously punctuated by the satisfying, delightful texture of the tender dough. The vibrant funfetti sprinkles contribute not only a captivating visual pop of color but also introduce a subtle, playful crunch, elevating the entire tasting experience from merely good to absolutely phenomenal and unforgettable.

Recipe: Homemade Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream

This carefully crafted recipe is designed to yield approximately 1.5 quarts of truly delectable ice cream, making it absolutely perfect for sharing with delighted friends and family (or, let’s be honest, for keeping all to yourself to savor slowly!).

Funfetti Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream Recipe

Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Author:

Anna

Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream – super easy homemade ice cream with bits of vanilla sugar cookie dough.

This recipe makes 1.5 qt.

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Prep Time

15 minutes

Total Time

15 minutes

Course
Dessert

Cuisine
American

Servings

7
people

Calories

528
kcal

Ingredients

For the Edible Cookie Dough:

¼ cup unsalted butter , softened
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ cup funfetti (sprinkles)

For the Vanilla Ice Cream Base:

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup half and half
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Part 1: Crafting the Irresistible Edible Cookie Dough

Begin by placing the softened unsalted butter into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed for approximately 30 seconds until it achieves a smooth, creamy consistency. Next, add the granulated sugar to the bowl and continue whipping the mixture until it becomes delightfully light and fluffy, typically requiring another 1-2 minutes of beating. This essential aeration step is crucial for creating a wonderfully tender and flavorful dough.
Pour in the vanilla extract, mixing it into the butter and sugar for just about 5 seconds, ensuring it is well combined and evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Add all of your dry ingredients simultaneously: the all-purpose flour and the salt. Mix on medium speed only until these dry ingredients are just incorporated into the wet mixture. It is paramount to avoid overmixing at this stage, as excessive mixing can develop the gluten in the flour, potentially leading to a tougher, less tender cookie dough texture. Finally, gently fold in the funfetti sprinkles until they are beautifully and evenly distributed, adding a festive touch to every bite.
Once your delectable cookie dough is ready, transfer it into a medium-sized bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill thoroughly while you proceed with preparing the ice cream base. This vital chilling step allows the dough to firm up, making it easier to handle, and significantly enhances its overall flavor profile.

Part 2: Preparing the Velvety Vanilla Ice Cream Base

In a separate, generously sized mixing bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, half and half, and heavy whipping cream until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, creating a smooth and homogeneous mixture. Incorporate the two teaspoons of vanilla extract, whisking vigorously once more until the vanilla is fully integrated. The quality and quantity of vanilla are crucial here for achieving that classic, irresistible vanilla flavor in your ice cream.
Cover this bowl containing the ice cream mixture tightly with plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerator. Allow it to chill for at least 1 hour. A meticulously well-chilled base is absolutely essential for your ice cream maker to churn with optimal efficiency and to help achieve the finest, smoothest texture in your final ice cream product.

Part 3: Churning and Expertly Assembling the Ice Cream

Carefully pour the thoroughly chilled ice cream mixture into the frozen bowl of your ice cream maker. Initiate the churning process, strictly following your appliance manufacturer’s specific directions. This step typically takes approximately 20-30 minutes, though the exact duration may vary depending on the model and efficiency of your machine.
During the crucial last 5 minutes of the churning cycle, retrieve your chilled cookie dough from the refrigerator. Break off small, irregular bits of the dough using your fingers or a small spoon, and gently drop them directly into the ice cream maker while it is still actively churning. This method ensures that the delightful cookie dough pieces are evenly distributed and suspended throughout the soft-serve consistency ice cream.
Alternatively, once the churning process is fully complete and the ice cream has reached a delightful soft-serve consistency, you can meticulously scrape the ice cream into an appropriate freezer-safe container. Then, with a gentle hand, stir in the cookie dough bits along with any desired extra sprinkles by hand. This alternative method often allows for larger, more distinct, and satisfying cookie dough chunks in the final product.
Finally, transfer the soft ice cream mixture into an airtight container. Securely cover it and place it into the freezer to chill and harden further. For the ultimate, most desirable scoopable consistency, freeze the ice cream for a minimum of 4 hours. However, for truly optimal texture, allowing it to freeze for 8 hours or even overnight is highly recommended. This final hardening period is absolutely essential for achieving that perfect, creamy, ice cream parlor-quality texture.

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Expert Tips for Crafting Perfect Homemade Ice Cream

Achieving that perfect, lusciously creamy texture and delightful flavor in your homemade ice cream is often simpler than you might initially imagine. By following these expert tips, you can ensure your Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream turns out absolutely amazing every single time, delighting everyone who tries it:

Thorough Chilling is Paramount: This is arguably the single most crucial step for the success of almost any ice cream recipe, especially when utilizing an ice cream maker. Begin by ensuring your ice cream maker’s bowl is frozen solid, ideally for a minimum of 12-24 hours prior to use. Furthermore, make certain that both your freshly prepared cookie dough and your exquisite ice cream base are meticulously well-chilled before they are introduced into the churning machine. Consistently cold ingredients contribute to faster, more efficient churning and promote the formation of smaller ice crystals, which ultimately results in a remarkably smoother, richer, and creamier ice cream.
Avoid Overmixing the Cookie Dough: When you’re in the process of creating the edible cookie dough, it’s essential to mix only until the flour is just barely incorporated into the wet ingredients. Overmixing has the undesirable effect of developing the gluten within the flour, which can unfortunately lead to a tougher, less tender, and less enjoyable cookie dough texture. A light hand is key here.
Embrace Quality Ingredients: Since this recipe places a significant emphasis on the delicate flavors of vanilla and sweet cookie dough, opting for a high-quality vanilla extract will undeniably make a noticeable and superior difference in the final taste. Similarly, utilizing full-fat dairy products, such as rich heavy cream and creamy half and half, is absolutely essential for achieving the desired richness, luxurious mouthfeel, and perfect consistency in your homemade ice cream.
Understand Your Ice Cream Maker: It’s important to remember that different models and brands of ice cream makers often have varying churning times and specific operating instructions. Take a moment to familiarize yourself thoroughly with your machine’s particular guidelines. Some models might require a longer churning period, while others could be quicker than the suggested 20-30 minutes. The primary goal during churning is to achieve a velvety soft-serve consistency before you even consider adding any delightful mix-ins.
Mastering Scoopable Consistency: Immediately after the churning process, your ice cream will naturally be quite soft, resembling soft-serve. The subsequent freezing time in an airtight container (ideally 4-8 hours, or for truly optimal results, overnight) is absolutely critical for it to harden properly and develop that satisfyingly scoopable texture. If, upon removal from the freezer, it appears too hard, simply allow it to rest on the counter for a brief 5-10 minutes to soften ever so slightly before attempting to scoop.
Unleash Your Inner Sprinkles Artist: While traditional funfetti sprinkles impart a wonderfully classic and festive touch, feel entirely free to unleash your creativity and experiment with a myriad of other types of sprinkles! Consider using different shapes, colors, or even incorporating mini chocolate chips, crushed candies, or other delightful mix-ins if you crave even more variety and personalized flavor.

Creative Variations and Customizations for Your Ice Cream

While this Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream recipe is truly fantastic in its original form, it also serves as an incredibly versatile canvas for your unique culinary creativity. Feel empowered to explore these delightful ideas to customize your frozen treat precisely to your preferences:

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: For a timeless favorite, simply swap out the funfetti sprinkles in the cookie dough for an equal amount of mini chocolate chips. You can even combine both funfetti and chocolate chips for a double dose of delight!
Rich Brownie Batter Swirl: For the ultimate chocolate lover, prepare an edible brownie batter (ensuring it’s safe for raw consumption) and swirl it generously into the vanilla ice cream base. This creates a deeply rich, fudgy, and intensely chocolatey twist.
Nutty Crunch Delight: Introduce an appealing textural contrast and an extra layer of flavor by adding finely chopped toasted nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds, directly to your edible cookie dough.
Bright Citrus Zest Infusion: For those who appreciate a brighter, more refreshing flavor profile, consider adding a teaspoon of finely grated lemon or orange zest to the vanilla ice cream base. The subtle citrus notes will beautifully complement the sweetness.
Elevated Vanilla Boost: If you are a true vanilla aficionado and seek an even more intense vanilla experience, think about incorporating a tiny pinch of pure vanilla bean powder or the delicate scraped seeds from half a vanilla bean directly into your ice cream base.
Seasonal or Thematic Sprinkles: Tailor your ice cream to specific holidays or party themes by using seasonal sprinkles, specific color combinations, or even unique sprinkle shapes. The visual appeal will be as delightful as the taste!

Thoughtful Serving and Storage Suggestions

Once your magnificent homemade cookie dough ice cream has achieved its perfect, enticingly scoopable consistency, it’s finally time to indulge and enjoy!

Classic Presentation: Serve your delicious ice cream simply in traditional sugar cones, elegant waffle cones, or your favorite charming dessert bowls. Sometimes, less is truly more when the flavors are this exquisite.
Gourmet Toppings: Elevate the experience further by adding a luscious drizzle of warm chocolate syrup, a swirl of rich caramel sauce, a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream, or even a few extra vibrant sprinkles for a final, inviting garnish.
Decadent Milkshakes: Transform a few generous scoops of this incredible ice cream into a thick, indulgent milkshake by blending it with a splash of milk and perhaps a touch more vanilla extract. It’s a perfect treat for a hot afternoon.

Optimal Storage: To maintain its pristine quality, prevent the formation of unwelcome ice crystals, and keep it wonderfully fresh, store your homemade ice cream in an impeccably airtight container. Place this container in the coldest available section of your freezer. For the absolute best flavor and luxurious texture, homemade ice cream is ideally enjoyed within 1-2 weeks of preparation. While it can certainly remain safe to eat for a longer duration, its creamy texture might gradually diminish over time if stored improperly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About This Ice Cream

To help you confidently navigate your ice cream-making journey, here are some common questions you might have about preparing and enjoying this delightfully creamy dessert:

Do I specifically need an ice cream maker for this recipe?

Yes, this particular recipe is specifically formulated and designed for optimal results when used in conjunction with a dedicated ice cream maker. The continuous churning action provided by an ice cream machine is absolutely essential for creating the incredibly smooth, creamy texture that prevents the formation of undesirable large ice crystals. While various “no-churn” ice cream recipes do exist, they typically rely on a base of whipped cream for their texture, and this specific recipe’s ideal consistency is achieved through the mechanical churning process.

Is the raw flour in the edible cookie dough safe to consume?

Traditional raw flour, straight from the bag, can sometimes contain bacteria. While the original recipe for the cookie dough here doesn’t explicitly detail heat-treating the flour, for the utmost safety and peace of mind when consuming it raw, it is highly recommended that you heat-treat your all-purpose flour before incorporating it into edible cookie dough. This simple safety measure can be accomplished by spreading the desired amount of flour evenly on a baking sheet and baking it in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for approximately 5-7 minutes, or by microwaving it in a microwave-safe bowl for 1-2 minutes, stirring thoroughly every 30 seconds, until it reliably reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Always allow the flour to cool completely to room temperature before using it in your cookie dough mixture.

Can I prepare this ice cream without adding the cookie dough?

Absolutely! The vanilla ice cream base, on its own, is remarkably delicious and utterly delightful. If your preference leans towards a pure, unadulterated vanilla ice cream experience, simply omit the steps involving the preparation and addition of the cookie dough. You will still be left with an exquisitely rich, wonderfully creamy, and deeply flavorful homemade vanilla ice cream that is perfect in its simplicity.

How long can homemade ice cream be stored in the freezer?

For experiencing the very best quality, most vibrant flavor, and most appealing texture, homemade ice cream is ideally best consumed within a timeframe of 1-2 weeks after preparation. Beyond this period, it may gradually begin to develop noticeable ice crystals and lose some of its initial creamy texture, even if stored diligently. However, rest assured, it will generally remain safe to eat for a longer duration if it is kept consistently frozen in a properly sealed, airtight container.

Explore More of Our Delightful Frozen Delights

If you thoroughly enjoyed the process of making this luscious Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dough Ice Cream, you might be inspired to delve deeper into the exciting world of homemade frozen treats. We’ve curated a selection of other fantastic recipes that perform beautifully with an ice cream machine, offering a variety of flavors and textures to explore:

Caramel Iced Coffee Ice Cream: A truly delightful and invigorating blend of robust coffee flavor harmoniously swirled with sweet, gooey caramel. This is an absolute must-try for all coffee aficionados and those seeking a sophisticated frozen treat.
Berry Frozen Yogurt: A lighter, wonderfully tangy, and incredibly refreshing option that bursts with the vibrant flavors of fresh, ripe berries. It offers a delightfully healthier and guilt-free alternative to traditional, richer ice cream.
Easy S’Mores Ice Cream: Effortlessly recreate the beloved campfire classic in the form of a decadent frozen dessert. This recipe comes complete with crunchy graham cracker pieces, rich chocolate chunks, and swirls of fluffy, toasted marshmallow.

Furthermore, for those bustling days when time is of the essence and you crave a quick yet satisfying frozen fix, I’ve even experimented with adapting my popular Whipped Milk Ice Cream (originally a no-machine recipe) for use in the ice cream maker. The results were outstanding – it significantly reduced the preparation time while simultaneously yielding an even more exquisitely creamy and smooth result!