Homemade Coffee Ice Cream Recipe
Posted Aug 06, 2021, Updated Feb 24, 2024
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Rich, ultra-creamy, with a bold coffee flavor — this is the best homemade coffee ice cream recipe! It’s easy to make with only 7 ingredients and is better than store-bought or ice cream parlor varieties.
We love using our ice cream maker to create the best versions of our favorite flavors in the comfort of our own home.
I created this coffee ice cream for my son! He has always been my coffee kid, the first time I gave him a sip of my black coffee he loved it. Well, on vacation a few years ago he tried coffee ice cream and declared it was his all-time favorite flavor. So naturally, we had to create the best coffee ice cream recipe so we could make it and enjoy it whenever the craving strikes.
This recipe is rich, ultra-creamy, and has a bold coffee flavor. It’s easy to make with only 7 ingredients and is better than any store-bought variety! Plus, you can use decaf instant coffee to make it caffeine-free if you’re making it for coffee-loving kids like my son!
Coffee Ice Cream: Ingredients
Here are a few notes about the ingredients and possible substitutions in this coffee ice cream recipe.
- Half and half/heavy cream. This recipe calls for 3 cups of liquid dairy. You can change the ratios of half and half : cream if desired, as long as the total amount equals 3 cups. You could also substitute some of the liquid with whole milk.
- Granulated sugar. Organic cane sugar works well in place of white granulated sugar.
- Fine sea salt. if using iodized salt, reduce the amount by half.
- Pure vanilla extract. I don’t recommend using imitation vanilla. However vanilla bean paste is a good substitute.
- Instant Coffee. High quality instant coffee is worth purchasing to make this recipe. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated work well.
How to Make Coffee Ice Cream
This coffee ice cream involves making a custard, straining it and then chilling the mixture for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight). So make sure to begin the process the day before you want to enjoy it!
Make the Custard
To begin, warm the half and half, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking to dissolve sugar.
Then, in a separate bowl beat the egg yolks. Add ½ cup of the warm mixture to the egg yolks and whisk to combine.
Next, add the warm egg mixture to the half and half on the stovetop and whisk in the coffee granulates until dissolved.
Cook the custard over medium-low heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly – just barely sticking to the back of a spatula or until it reaches 170 degrees F.
Once thickened, put the heavy cream into a bowl with a fine mesh strainer on top of the bowl. Strain the custard into the heavy cream and discard what is left on the strainer. Add vanilla extract, stir to combine.
Chill
Transfer the coffee ice cream mixture into an airtight container and cool completely in the fridge (preferably overnight).
Churn
Pour the coffee ice cream mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until frozen (about 30-40 minutes).
If desired, add mix-ins like chocolate chunks, a chocolates swirl, or even crumbled coffee cookies (YUM)!
Freeze
Transfer the homemade coffee ice cream to an airtight container and freeze completely, about 4 hours.
Serve
Enjoy this coffee ice cream with a dollop of homemade whipped cream for an extra special treat! Or, serve on top of coffee brownies.
I have also made ice cream cookie sandwiches using coffee cookies and coffee ice cream – to die for!
Store
This homemade coffee ice cream can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Ice Cream Making Tools
- Ice cream maker: I have this Cuisinart Ice Cream maker. I bought it at a garage sale and got a great deal on it! This summer I purchased a new one, this Cuisinart Stainless Steel Ice Cream Maker because it’s bigger and has a few other more desirable features.
- Storage container: I store our homemade ice cream in a glass tupperware with a lid. There are also great containers that are made for storing ice cream, like these 1-quart storage tubs and this jumbo 2.5 quart container (for larger batches).
- Ice cream scoop: I have a little collection of ice cream scoops! I like using a large cookie scoop because it makes pretty, round servings of ice cream due to the shape and release feature. The shape of this scoop makes it easy to serve ice cream!
Coffee Ice Cream Recipe FAQs
Follow this recipe! It’s so easy!
I do not recommend doing this. Use brewed coffee or instant coffee granules (as called for in this recipe) to make the best coffee ice cream.
You can use espresso powder in place of instant coffee.
If you use caffeinated coffee you definitely run the risk of it effecting your ability to fall asleep. To avoid this, use decaffeinated instant coffee.
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Best Coffee Ice Cream Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 to 1 ½ Tablespoons instant coffee (decaf or regular)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm half and half, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking to dissolve sugar.
- Beat egg yolks in a small mixing bowl, add ½ cup of the warm mixture to the egg yolks and whisk to combine. Then add that mixture to the half and half on the stovetop.
- Whisk in coffee granulates until dissolved.
- Cook over medium-low heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens slightly – just barely sticking to the back of a spatula or until it reaches 170 degrees F.
- Place the heavy cream into a bowl with a fine mesh strainer on top of the bowl.
- Strain the custard into the heavy cream. Discard what is left on the strainer.
- Add vanilla extract, stir to combine.
- Transfer to an airtight container and cool completely in the fridge (preferably overnight).
- Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until frozen (about 30-40 minutes).
- Transfer to an airtight container and freeze completely, about 4 hours.
Video
Notes
- Half and half/heavy cream. This recipe calls for 3 cups of liquid dairy. You can change the ratios of half and half : cream if desired, as long as the total amount equals 3 cups. You could also substitute some of the liquid with whole milk.
- Granulated sugar. Organic cane sugar works well in place of white granulated sugar.
- Fine sea salt. if using iodized salt, reduce the amount by half.
- Pure vanilla extract. I don’t recommend using imitation vanilla. However vanilla bean paste is a good substitute.
- Instant Coffee. High quality instant coffee is worth purchasing to make this recipe. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated work well.
- glass tupperware with a lid.
- these 1-quart storage tubs
- and this jumbo 2.5 quart container (for larger batches).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe looks amazing. Can you please tell me which serving size (1x, 2x, or 3x) to make if using a 2 quart ice cream maker? Thank you.
I made this delicious coffee ice cream a few weeks ago and it was so good, I just made it again(it’s chilling for the cuisinart ice cream machine tomorrow). I followed the recipe exactly, but I should try using whole milk for part of it next time so I won’t feel so guilty. I whipped the leftover whipping cream to use on top of the ice cream. Yum! I used Mount Hagen organic decaffeinated freeze dried coffee. That way I can eat it at night. It was fantastic. Everything I used was organic except the C+H pure cane white sugar. I might try organic sugar next time.
Thank you for such a great recipe.
Oh My! This is fantastic!!!! I’m so glad I ran across this recipe. I have been wanting a homemade coffee ice cream recipe forever!! I won’t use any other!!! Better than any!! Thank you.
Soooo good! And I made a mistake! I added only a tsp of coffee instead of TBLS. Still great! Thanks for sharing!!
Excellent recipe, though I used a slight variation. I substitute a canned espresso drink (cream and sugar added) for an equal amt of the cream and milk, using 3 cups total as my guide. The taste was subtle but definitely coffee. Took about 4 days for it to freeze similar to store bought ice cream. Before that it was more like soft serve.
First recipe I made was a frozen yogurt that froze solid like ice in a few hours. Now to try a gelato style without eggs and try less sugar.
I made this tonight and added heath chips. It was the best coffee toffee ice cream I’ve ever had! Recipe was so easy and definitely will make over an over! Thanks so much!
I made this today as the first one in my new machine!
It’s so creamy and smooth and the coffee flavour is exactly what I wanted!
A fabulous recipe, easy to make and with great results.
Thank you Emma!
One of the best recipes on the web. Fabulous without being fussy to make. No lie, it is better than anything in the market. Thanks for your post!
Thank you!
Has anyone tried using fresh brewed coffee??? Curious about how strong to make it.
I plan on making this recipe this weekend but can you substitute the instant coffee for espresso powder by chance?
Yes!