Homemade No Churn Roasted Almond Ice Cream

Name: Homemade No Churn Roasted Almond Ice Cream
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 500 ml whipping cream; 1 can sweetened condensed milk; 45 g mascarpone cream; 250 g whole almonds; 1 tbsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp almond extract; 2 tbsp honey; 100 ml butterscotch sauce (optional)

This creamy homemade no churn almond ice cream needs just a few simple ingredients. No ice cream maker needed for this easy, rich, and nutty frozen dessert recipe perfect for summer and indulgently delicious.

Naturals Ice Cream. Roasted Almond Ice Cream. Bombay. Growing up this ice cream and the tender coconut ice cream was my absolute FAVORITE flavor to get, apart from the mango ice cream (when it was in season ofcourse). The ice cream was creamy, smooth, luscious and so good but what made it stand out was the flavor. It tasted like the ingredients were supposed to taste. Since then I have not had a roasted almond ice cream that is as good…until I made this recipe. Disclaimer – it takes a bit of patience to make this recipe around 36 hours but also you aren’t doing anything for those hours – you are just allowing time to do its thing.

I was craving these flavors and happened to get a kilo of almonds on a really good deal, which got me thinking – how about I try to recreate the recipe at home? I have made a few no churn ice creams before on this blog which have been a delicious addition to the my dessert recipes so it seemed only fitting to find a way to incorporate this into the blog but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to nail the flavors because my expectations were so high from my nostalgia. I am very happy to report, this recipe has surpassed my childhood expectations and I am afraid Naturals ice cream won’t taste the same again but that just means you can make and enjoy this recipe too.

What is a no churn ice cream?What is no churn ice cream?

No-churn ice cream is a simple, creamy, homemade frozen dessert made without an ice cream machine, relying instead on a whipped mixture of sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. It is incredibly easy to make with just a few ingredients, requiring only a hand mixer and a freezer, and produces a velvety texture without icy crystals.

Can you make ice cream without churning? How does no churn ice cream work?

Yes you can. There are a couple of ways to make it. You can freeze the mixture, or you can use dry ice to form the ice cream. Alternatively you can freeze the mixture and blend the frozen mixture to form a creamy ice cream mixture.

What is no churn almond ice cream?

No churn almond ice cream is ice cream flavored with almonds, this is a no churn ice cream hence it needs no ice cream machine. We use whole almonds that are roasted that gives a deeper intense roasted almond flavor all through the ice cream. It is creamy, smooth, studded with roasted almond bits and delicious pockets of butterscotch sauce. The ice cream gets its creamy texture from the whipped cream and condensed milk that ensure it stays smooth, soft and lusciously indulgent.

Ingredients needed to make homemade no churn almond ice cream?

To make the ice cream we need whole almonds that are roasted – you could also just buy roasted almonds but ensure the almonds are roasted well to give that flavor. We also need condensed milk, whipping cream, vanilla extract, almond extract, salt and a little honey. The honey keeps the ice cream creamy and soft making it easy to scoop once frozen. You could also do vodka. I use a small amount of mascarpone cream here and I think in most homemade no churn ice cream recipes it is beneficial to use a fat like this or even cream cheese in the mixture to keep it rich, smooth and easy to scoop later as the fat helps with this.

I have used a butterscotch sauce as well to amp up the nutty and fudge like flavor in the ice cream, it is a simple recipe made with butter, brown sugar, whipping cream, salt and vanilla. You could just as well use a store bought butterscotch sauce or a caramel sauce or just leave it out as the ice cream works well without it too.

Do you need to roast the almonds?

Absolutely. I wouldn’t recommend making this ice cream without roasting the almonds as it really gives you that deeply rich roasted almond flavor once the ice cream sets. It is a small step but really is essential. Even if you are using store bought roasted almonds make sure to taste them and see if they are roasted enough or you can roast it further in a pan or in the oven to get the most out of the almonds before making the ice cream.

Why use condensed milk in ice cream?

The sugar in the condensed milk is cooked down which not only makes the ice cream sweet but also prevents it from crystallizing in the freezer, giving you a creamy and rich ice cream once set. According food52, The sweetened condensed milk keeps the ice cream soft at low temperatures because it is low in moisture. When folded into the whipped cream, it creates a luscious, stable, and velvety texture that does not require the constant churning needed to prevent ice crystals in traditional recipes.

Equipment needed to make homemade no churn almond ice cream?

To make the ice cream we need a large mixing bowl with electric beater or use a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. I have steeped the cream in the roasted almonds in a bowl. The almonds can be roasted in a pan on low heat until it reaches a deep brown or in the oven in a baking tray. The cream is heated in a heavy bottom sauce pot. It is stored in a 9 inch loaf tin in the freezer, covered, until firm and set. We need an ice cream scoop to serve the ice cream once set.

How to make no churn ice cream at home?

All you need to make no churn ice cream is a stand mixer or hand beater to whip air into the heavy cream which creates the creamy, light texture for the ice cream. It is stabilized with the condensed milk ensuring the mixture doesn’t crystalize and get solid. Another great addition to homemade no churn ice creams is vodka or vinegar or honey or cream cheese or mascarpone cream and these ingredients do not solidify rock hard once frozen and help keep the ice cream creamy, soft and luscious.

Pro tips to make no churn roasted almond ice cream:

Roast the almonds to ensure you extract most of the flavor of them – do not skip this step.
Allow the cream to steep in the almonds for a minimum of 12 hours but ideally for 24 hour, this will allow the cream to really absorb all those roasted almond flavors.
Blend the cream with the almonds for as long as possible to ensure you get most of the flavor out, strain it out really well to keep the flavor but also texture.
Let the ice cream chill for at least 8 hours before scooping but ideally 12 hours.
To scoop out the ice cream easily make sure to dunk the ice cream scoop into hot water as this will help give you scoops easily.
The honey and vinegar, help keep the ice cream at a scoop able texture when needed, you can also use a shot of vodka to ensure this doesn’t get frozen rock solid.

Storage and serving options:

The best way to store this no churn almond ice cream is in the loaf tin you set it in, cover it with plastic wrap to ensure the flavor stays in the ice cream. The leftovers also can be stored in the freezer, as the base does not have any eggs in it, this ice cream keeps well in the freezer for up to 2 months (if it lasts that long). To serve the ice cream, take out the ice cream 10 minutes before and soak the ice cream scoop in hot water before scooping and enjoying. You can serve it with a more roasted almonds and sea salt flakes. You could also serve it with my got to salted caramel sauce.

Looking for more no churn homemade ice cream recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make this homemade no churn almond ice cream recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.