Ice Cream

Theme Your Gift : Create a Delectable Ice Cream Theme Gift

Warmer weather or cool weather, this one is everyone's favorite - ice cream! Whether you are an ice cream purist and your favorite is vanilla or you like everything but the kitchen sink in your bowl, nothing beats homemade ice cream. The beauty of this home made treat is using fresh ingredients (traditionally processed or organic) to create your flavor sensations. You control the ingredients and the flavors, so get creative...even if it's just with a Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla bean.

Eggs, Dairy or Neither?

Basic recipes include only a handful of ingredients so quality is key. Use local, seasonal ingredients fresh from your farmer's market whenever available. Sugar, a pinch of salt and heavy cream are the comment components to dairy ice cream.

There are two main types of dairy ice cream - with eggs or without eggs. Custard style ice cream made with eggs is cooked over a double boiler and requires a few extra steps compared to its eggless counterpart, but it is also smoother, creamier and richer. Eggless ice cream is slightly lower in fat due to the lack of egg yolks and can be made even lighter with lower fat milk.

Because of the control you have in making homemade ice cream, if you are lactose intolerant, vegan or have other dietary needs that do not include dairy, homemade is the way to go! Tofu or soy milk is substituted for dairy and often powdered sugar is used instead of traditional sugar. Besides a lower overall cost, soy ice cream or even almond milk ice creams are very expensive and often difficult to find.

Flavors

Once you have your homemade ice cream base mixture, the list of ingredients and flavors to add are endless. Vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, lavender, fresh berries, pumpkin, candy bar, pretzels, peanut butter, cookie dough...we could go on forever! Regardless of the flavorings you choose, your homemade ice cream is worth the effort.

Types of Ice Cream Makers

Making ice cream has become infinitely easier with electric makers, but old fashioned hand crank makers evoke a certain nostalgia and provide a bit of extra physical effort. Hey, you're already burning those extra ice cream calories! Don't have an ice cream maker? You can still make ice cream by alternately freezing then blending with a hand mixer a few times.

Serve and Enjoy

Once your ice cream has been made, it's payoff time. Scoop into festive ice cream bowls or into a waffle cone and add your favorite toppings. Or serve your frosty creation plain. No matter what you do, sit back, relax, and enjoy your efforts!

TIP: GiftStashers, create a registry called Ice Cream and save choices there until you're ready to buy.