Homemade French Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 6 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• pinch of salt (optional)
• 1 cup 2% milk (or whole milk)
• 2 cups heavy cream (or whipping cream)
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 1

   Whisk egg yolks in a heavy medium saucepan. Add the sugar, salt, and milk; whisk till smooth. Add the cream.

2. 2

   Cook over medium-low or or medium heat till it barely comes to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and add vanilla bean and vanilla extract.

3. 3

   Let the mixture come to room temperature, then remove the vanilla bean. Pour the mixture through a mesh strainer to remove any lumps.

4. 4

   Split in half and scrape vanilla seeds from the vanilla pod into the ice cream mixture.

5. 5

   Chill ice cream base for several hours or overnight, until very cold. I like to speed up the process by making an ice bath. Place the metal saucepan in a large bowl filled with ice cubes and water and stir till it is cold.

6. 6

   Freeze in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions.

7. 7

   Place ice cream in a freezer-safe container and let ripen in the freezer for 2-3 hours, or until stiff enough to scoop.