How to Make Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker

Right now, there is some pureed watermelon in my fridge waiting to become sorbet. To preface that post, I wanted to share with you guys how you can make any frozen treat without even using an ice cream maker!

I read a lot of food blogs and would always com across the most delicious ice cream and sorbet recipes where inevitably they would say "process in your ice cream maker according to manufacturers instructions." ::Sigh:: I didn't have one.

But then I found this method where all you need is a blender or hand mixer. It's a little more time consuming but some of my best ice creams and sorbets have been made this way!

How to Make Ice Cream & Sorbets Without an Ice Cream Maker

1. Make room in your freezer for a blender pitcher.
2. When your recipe says to add it to your ice cream maker for processing, pour the whole thing into the blender and put it in the freezer for 40 min to an hour.
3. Every 40 min to an hour, take it out and blend it for a few moments, then return it to the freezer.
4. As it freezes, use a spoon to push the frozen parts off the side back into the blender and blend some more.
5. Eventually, you'll have to transfer it to containers while you can still get it out of the blender.
6. You can use a hand mixer to give it a good mix a few more turns after this.

If you don't have a blender either, you can do the same process with a big metal bowl (some sites recommend a baking dish of sorts, since shallow will be better) and a hand mixer. But the blender is just so much easier.

Happy ice cream making and standby for watermelon sorbet!