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Homemade Peach Ice Cream

Homemade peach ice cream made with a custard base that’s heated to 175°F, strained, then churned for a creamy churned texture with visible peach chunks. Pale golden peach ice cream swirled with fresh peaches—fragrant, fruity, and unmistakably summer.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling + freezing 4 hours 24 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 54 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 510

Ingredients
  

Peach custard base
  • 3 cup fresh peaches peeled and diced (about 4 peaches)
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar divided
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.25 tsp cinnamon

Equipment

  • 1 ice cream maker
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Macerate and prep the peaches
  1. Toss the diced fresh peaches with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the lemon juice, then let macerate for 30 minutes until glossy and juicy.
  2. Blend 2 cups of the macerated peach mixture until smooth, then leave the remaining peaches chunky so you have visible pieces for later.
Make the custard
  1. Heat the heavy cream and whole milk in a Dutch oven until steaming, then whisk slowly into the egg yolks beaten with the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar.
  2. Return the mixture to the heat and cook to 175°F, stirring constantly until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  3. Strain the custard and stir in the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and the blended peach puree until smooth and fragrant.
Chill
  1. Cool the custard completely over an ice bath until no longer warm, watching for the mixture to thicken slightly as it chills.
  2. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until cold throughout.
Churn and freeze
  1. Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker until it reaches soft-serve consistency, then add the chunky peach pieces during the last 5 minutes so they stay suspended.
  2. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2 hours until scoopable.

Notes

Pro tip: strain the custard for a silkier texture before chilling—then reserve chunky peaches so every scoop shows fresh fruit. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days if partially thawed, or keep tightly wrapped in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Freezing is yes; texture is best within 1 week. For a lower-fat option, use half-and-half in place of the heavy cream, but expect a slightly softer set.