INTRODUCTION

Even the thought of ice cream is enough to conjure dreams of sunny weekend days lounging around in the yard, running through the sprinkler, and taking a break from the heat with a delicious ice-cold treat. While the store-bought stuff is nice, it's not hard to make a batch of really rich, bend-your-spoon thick ice cream without breaking the bank.

If you've never tried your hand at making this sweet dessert before, you might be surprised by just how easy it is. Though it takes some planning, most of your time will be spent letting it cool or freeze. You can often whip together a good ice cream base in less than half an hour. Then all you need to do is chill it, give it some time in a best ice cream maker, and let it freeze. What you get for all that "work" is an incredibly delicious dessert that tastes great and has exactly the flavors and ingredients you want Wish your favorite chocolate chip ice cream had more chocolate chips? It can Wish your favorite banana ice cream didn't have walnuts? That's all up to you now.

Homemade ice cream is also great way to treat guests. Nothing says spectacular like pulling out ice cream made from fresh berries or mint from the garden. And ice cream goes well with plenty of other summer desserts and no-bake dessert recipes.

It's also needed when making delicious homemade ice cream sandwiches, too. Check 48 of our favorite ice cream recipes