This blackberry ice cream is about to become your new favorite. Sweet, smooth, and packed with real blackberry flavor, it works with fresh or frozen berries so you can make it any time the craving hits.
This blackberry ice cream recipe is the perfect way to turn the berries into a rich, and smooth treat. It works with fresh or frozen berries, so you can make it any time you want to.
We are huge fans of homemade ice cream. We have tried so many different flavors over the years.
Despite being spoiled with all that goodness, there is one ice cream that people still talk about years after we had it the first time. That is this blackberry ice cream.
Part of its appeal is it’s deep berry flavor and it such pretty color too. I think the fact that we only make it once a year makes it especially appealing as well.
My husband is one of those (crazy!) people who could do without sweets. In most instances he would just assume have another helping of meat than save any room for dessert.
He is also one of those (even more crazy!) people who’s appetite is directly linked to his activity output for the day and therefore maintains a pretty darn steady weight all of the time. But that’s a complaint for another day!
One of the few desserts that he is almost guaranteed to save room for is MiMi’s homemade ice cream. She gets in trouble if she doesn’t give fair warning before dinner that there will be ice cream on the other side.
He needs to know ahead of time to save room for a giant bowlful. That goes doubly for this blackberry ice cream, he talks about it more than he does any other food except for maybe tacos.
Our Blackberry Patch
I know I’ve said it before, but our little berry patch produces the biggest berries I’ve ever seen and we tend to get berries a little earlier than everyone else too.
I don’t know if it’s the variety (they’re thornless canes) or the fact that they are against a brick wall and get some radiant heat. Maybe it’s a little bit of both.
Either way, we’ve had a chance to eat our fill. We’ve had them in a blackberry pie and I’ve made a blackberry crisp.
Plus there are two gallons of berries in the freezer for this winter. I love baking with them, but turning on the oven will sound a lot more pleasant a few months down the road!
If you aren’t so lucky, you could buy fresh or frozen blackberries. You could also mix in other berries if you would like.
Raspberries would be delicious, or you could even use some blueberries. Really any mixture would be good.
Email Me The Link
I'll email this post to you, so you can easily find it later. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
The Process
This ice cream is really pretty simple to make. Just cook down the berries with some sugar and lemon juice.
You don’t want to cook it too much, as that may change the color. However, you do want the berries to give up their juice.
You also want to completely dissolve all of the sugar into that juice. Once the sugar is dissolved and the berries are softened, you can remove the seeds.
Little Dude loves using a food mill for this. You can also use a mesh sieve and the back of a spoon.
It’s ok if the juice isn’t perfectly smooth. However, you do want to get as much juice from the berries as possible.
That is where you are going to get your flavor and color. So you want to get as much out as possible.
Once the juice is extracted, chill it for a while. This will help to freeze the ice cream in a more efficient manner.
Stir in heavy cream and half and half, then pour into your ice cream machine. Churn according to your machine’s directions.
When the ice cream is done churning, scoop it into your storage container and freeze for several hours. Then it is ready to scoop and serve.
What makes homemade ice cream creamy?
Most recipes use eggs to help keep the ice cream smooth and creamy, it acts as an emulsifier. This recipe uses the fat in the cream to keep the ice cream smooth and creamy.
Carlee’s Tips and Tricks
This recipe avoids using eggs so you don’t have to worry about buying pasteurized eggs or rolling the dice with standard eggs. It combines half and half, and heavy cream to still give you a great scoopable texture without the eggs.
If you don’t have half and half, you can use ¾ cup whole milk and an extra ¾ cup heavy cream.
Play with different berries. You can use all of one kind, or you can mix and match berries.
Frozen berries actually release their juice really easily. So, you don’t have to cook them much to get lots of good juice.
Blackberry Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 6 to 8 cups blackberries
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1½ cups half and half
Instructions
- Put 6 to 8 cups blackberries, 1¼ cups granulated sugar and 2 Tablespoons lemon juice in large saucepan. Cook over low heat until the sugar is dissolved in blackberry juice. Mash the berries as they cook to help release their juices.
- Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer. Press on the berries to release as much juice as possible. Discard the solids and put the juice in the refrigerator to chill.
- Stir 2 cups heavy cream and 1½ cups half and half into the sweetened blackberry juice. Pour into ice cream maker and churn according to your machine's directions.
- Scoop into ice cream storage containers and freeze at least a couple of hours.
Notes
Video
Email Me The Link
I’ll email this post to you, so you can easily find it later. Plus you’ll get new recipes from me every week!
Did you try this recipe?
Don’t forget to leave a rating below and make sure to follow on Pinterest and Instagram for more!
More Popular Berry Treats
Get social!
Recipes in your inbox
I added a half cup of ground pistachio, as well as a pinch of sea salt. Delicious!
That sounds fabulous!
How many total cups of juice are you looking to mix with the 2 cups heavy cream, 1½ cups half and half?
I’ve never measured it, and it is a little bit different each time. But, it has always been good. I will try to slow down and measure it the next time we make some!
Hello Carlee, and thank you very much for the recipes you so faithfully send out to us.
My top favourite ice cream flavour would be the blackberry, without a doubt. I saved it, and will be making it as soon as I have the ripe berries to do so. Again, thank you! 🙏🏻
Our berries just started ripening. We are already saving some up for a batch too!
This was easy and delicious.
Yay! I’m happy you liked it.
When do you add the heavy cream?
At the end with the blackberry juice. I hope you love the ice cream as much as we do!
I have black raspberries and followed your recipe. It turned out great!
YAY! Black raspberry ice cream sounds amazing and I can't wait to try that too!
Hi I want to try your recipe. I had a bumper crop of blackberries so cooked down berries and strained the purée. So how much is2 quarts cooked and strained for your recipe?i have many containers with the purée.
I would start with a 2-3 cups. I think as long as you are close it would work. The only worry I could think of would be going too far overboard could make the ice cream a little grainy because of the water content. I hope you love the ice cream as much as we do, it is definitely one of our favorite ways to use our berries!
My daughter just asked about picking blackberries! and she has an ice cream maker.. so..
Then it sounds like fate! This one was an instant hit with our family!
I am going to have to come and see you and have you make me some! Ok maybe it would be easier to just make it myself, but I'm thinking that it wouldn't be nearly as much fun!!!
You should totally come and have ice cream! Head this way!
This recipe looks simple enough to make, I love the idea of using fresh fruit.
It is a great way to enjoy blackberry season!