Perfect Peach Ice Cream

 Packed with peach flavor, this Perfect Peach Ice Cream truly does it all. It's loaded with bites of peaches that are swirled into a peachy vanilla ice cream base making for the most refreshing summer treat. It's one of summer's best gifts to us.

Growing up, we would always take at least one or two trips to the peach orchards each summer. We would come back with all sorts of goodies like watermelons, jams, salsas, cantelopes, tomatoes, corn, and blackberries. However, there was nothing that could beat those fresh peaches we would bring home.

We would eat and preserve peaches for weeks making cobblers, crisps, salsas, and other recipes with them - but, best of all was the peach ice cream that came from these summertime adventures. 

Sure, frozen peaches are fine and still taste good. But, there is no comparison to a fresh peach from the Sandhills of North Carolina. They're juicy, soft, tender, and so sweet. They make the perfect ice cream and that's just what I've been loving to do this summer.

Peach ice cream is my husband's allllll time favorite ice cream, and no ice cream beats homemade. He's a bit of a peach ice cream snob, and through the years, I've seen him consume his fair share of peach ice cream. So, for him to say that THIS recipe is THE BEST he's ever had was a huge deal for me. 

Our qualifications for the best peach ice cream are: needs to be sweet and vanilla-y, loaded with small pieces of peach, and a ton of peach pureed in the ice cream base. We don't want just a vanilla ice cream with peach pieces. That's not what we're about here. This is PEACH ice cream, alright?! 

Ingredients You'll Need for Homemade Peach Ice Cream:

- Heavy Cream, or half and half : I have used both and either work. Obviously, heavy cream will give you a bit of a thicker and creamier end product - but the half and half is phenomenal too. I make it with the Land 'O Lakes Lactose Free Half and Half so that I can eat it, and it's amazing.

- Whole Milk: lactose free works great, too

- Granulated Sugar

- Salt

- Vanilla Extract OR Vanilla Bean Paste

- Fresh Peaches, peeled and pitted - some pureed and some diced

How to Make Peach Ice Cream with Fresh Peaches:

1. Pour 1 cup of the cream into a saucepan and add the sugar, salt, and vanilla bean paste (if using). Warm the cream mixture over medium heat, just until the sugar dissolves.

2. Remove from the heat and add the remaining cream, milk, and vanilla extract (if using extract). This helps to speed up the cooling process of the warm cream. Stir to combine and chill in the refrigerator until cold.

3. When ready to churn, add in the pureed peaches to the ice cream base and whisk to combine.

4. Pour into ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

5. Add reserved chopped peaches towards the end of the churning process (during the mix-in stage). 

6. Transfer the finished ice cream to an airtight container and place in the freezer until ready to serve. Let sit out for 5 minutes, scoop, and enjoy!

Other fruity & fun recipe ideas 

Ice cream is never strictly a summertime treat, and I'll argue about that one. This Roasted Strawberry and Honey Ice Cream happens to be DAIRY FREE and is so smooth, creamy, and flavorful! YUUUUM.

One can never go wrong with a fresh fruit crisp, and in addition to this delicious recipe - this Perfectly Spiced Apple Crisp is phenomenal and tastes amazing during any time of the year. 

Speaking of crisps, a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp is the perfect thing for any occasion, party, or holiday. Rhubarb makes everything better, in my opinion. This crisp is just so fantastic and soooo easy.

Morning Glory Muffins are a staple in our home, and I just love how much nutrition is packed into a little cupcake wrapper. Fruits, veggies, nuts, dried fruits, and warm spices all combine together to make this so yummy, and so yummy that even most kids love these. too.

As a fruit lover, I've gotta mention this Strawberry Chili Jam. It's to die for. With only the perfect amount of spice, it works with so many things and can be used in so many ways. It's perfect, and I absolutely adore it. I competed with this recipe on Food Network, and that just proves how killer or a recipe it is. 

This peach ice cream still has you feeling fruity? Well, this fresh Blueberry Buttercream is a great choice and so easy to make. It's fast, simple, light, buttery, and sooo creamy. It's perfect on any cupcake, cake, brownie, or other dessert. However, its dang good on THIS pistachio cupcake, or lemon, coconut, or almond cake. Gracious. I'm hungry now.

made the recipe?

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