Make Delicious Ice Cream With Aroma Ice Cream Maker

Making ice cream at home is a fun and tasty activity. While there are many ways to make ice cream, using an ice cream maker is one of the simplest. The Aroma 4-Quart Traditional Ice Cream Maker is a highly-rated option that comes with an electric motor and an old-fashioned hand crank. It has a quart capacity, which is enough to make ice cream for the whole family.

To make ice cream in an ice cream maker, you will need a few basic ingredients: cream, milk, sugar, and flavouring. The process is simple: cook the milk, cream, and sugar until the sugar has dissolved, then chill the mixture. Once it's thoroughly chilled, pour it into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. You can eat the ice cream immediately, or place it in the freezer to firm up.

Prepare the ice cream base

To prepare the ice cream base, you'll need to gather your ingredients and decide on your flavour. The basic ingredients for ice cream are cream, milk, sugar and flavour.

For a vanilla base, you'll need vanilla extract, milk, heavy whipping cream and sugar. You can cook the milk, cream and sugar in a saucepan over low heat until the sugar has dissolved, then transfer the mixture to a measuring cup and add the vanilla extract. Chill this mixture overnight before pouring it into your Aroma ice cream maker.

For a French vanilla ice cream, you'll need to prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice cubes, water and a medium bowl fitted with a fine strainer. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, cream, sugar, salt, vanilla seeds and vanilla pod. Set this over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is warm and begins to steam.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the remaining sugar until well combined and lightened in colour. Slowly ladle half of the warm milk mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, before slowly whisking this mixture back into the saucepan. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Strain the mixture through the fine strainer into the prepared ice bath and discard the vanilla pod. Cool the custard in the ice bath, stirring often, before pressing plastic wrap against the surface and refrigerating for at least four hours or up to one day.

For a chocolate ice cream base, you can add melted chocolate or cocoa powder, or both! If you're feeling adventurous, you could try adding other ingredients like peanut butter, Nutella, or even alcohol to your base. Just be aware that alcohol will prevent your ice cream from freezing as firmly, so you may need to decrease the amount of sugar you use.

Once you've prepared your ice cream base, simply pour it into your Aroma ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Churn the ice cream

Churning is the process of incorporating air into the custard while it’s being frozen. The Aroma 4-Quart Traditional Ice Cream Maker comes with an electric motor that does the churning for you. Simply chill the cooked mixture, and then let the machine do the rest.

• Wash all parts of the ice cream maker (except the electric motor) and dry them thoroughly.
• Fill the wooden bucket with water to allow the wood to expand.
• Freeze the mixing canister and dasher for at at least 12 hours before you plan to churn the ice cream.
• Prepare your ice cream base by mixing together the cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Warm the mixture over medium-low heat, whisking often, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is warmed through.
• Chill the ice cream base in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Once the ice cream base is chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and whisk well.
• Pour the chilled mixture into the frozen mixing canister. Insert the dasher and place the cover on top.
• Place the mixing canister in the center of the wooden bucket and secure the electric motor on top.
• Layer ice and rock salt all around the canister, filling up to the top.
• Turn on the electric motor and let it run for 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the desired consistency of your ice cream. The longer you churn, the firmer the ice cream will be.
• When the ice cream is done, it will start to expand and rise to the top, and the motor will slow down. You will hear a change in the motor sound.
• Remove the ice cream from the canister and serve immediately for a soft-serve texture, or transfer it to an airtight container and freeze for 2 to 4 hours until it reaches your desired firmness.

Now you know how to churn ice cream with the Aroma 4-Quart Traditional Ice Cream Maker! With this machine, you can make delicious, creamy ice cream at home with just a few simple steps.

Choose your ice cream maker

The Aroma Ice Cream Maker comes in two models: the AIC-204EM and the 4-Quart Traditional Ice Cream Maker. Both models can make up to 4 quarts of ice cream, feature a solid pinewood exterior bucket, an aluminum mixing canister for fast freezing, and offer the choice between a traditional hand-operated crank or an electric motorized crank.

The AIC-204EM model has a natural wood exterior, while the 4-Quart Traditional model has a handcrafted solid fir wood bucket. The 4-Quart Traditional model also comes with a convenient electric motor and an old-fashioned die-cast hand crank.

The Aroma Ice Cream Maker is a great option for those looking to make homemade ice cream, offering flexibility and convenience with its dual crank option and ability to make large batches of ice cream.

Add mix-ins

Adding mix-ins to your ice cream can be a fun way to experiment with different flavours and textures. Here is a guide on how to do it:

Timing

There are two ways to add mix-ins to your ice cream. The first is to add them while the ice cream is still churning in the ice cream maker. Add your mix-ins just before the ice cream is finished; they only need to mix for about a minute. The other option is to add the mix-ins after the ice cream is complete. Use a large spatula to gently fold the ingredients into your ice cream. This method is better for delicate ingredients like fresh berries, and it also allows you to make one batch of ice cream and turn it into several flavours.

Types of Mix-ins

There are endless possibilities when it comes to mix-in ingredients. Here are some popular options:

• Chocolate chips: Look for high-quality chocolate chips made from your favourite type of chocolate. Miniature chocolate chips work well in ice cream as they spread out more evenly throughout the mixture.
• Baking chips: If you're bored of chocolate chips, try using baking chips in other flavours like butterscotch, peanut butter, or mint.
• Cookies and candy: Break up cookies and candy bars into small pieces and add them to your ice cream. The classic option is chocolate sandwich cookies, but feel free to experiment with different types of cookies and candy.
• Fruit: You can make fruit-flavoured ice cream or simply fold fresh fruit into vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Good options include strawberries, cherries, blueberries, pineapple, and mango. Chop the fruit into small pieces before adding it to your ice cream.
• Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, and cashews all make great additions to ice cream. Lightly toast the nuts before adding them to enhance their flavour and add extra crunch.
• Cookie dough: Most store-bought cookie dough ice cream uses chocolate chip cookie dough with extra chocolate chips. However, when making your own, you can use any type of cookie dough you like. Just make sure to use an egg-free recipe since the dough will be eaten raw.

Tips for Adding Mix-ins

• Make sure your mix-ins are cold before adding them to your ice cream so that they don't melt it.
• Be careful not to overmix delicate mix-ins like cake, as they can become grainy.
• Some mix-ins, like chocolate chips, can damage your ice cream maker by jamming between the dasher and the bowl.
• If you're adding ribbons or pockets of liquid mix-ins like caramel, try using a large piping bag to scoop the ice cream and mix-ins into your container.

Store the ice cream

Once you've made your ice cream in the Aroma Ice Cream Maker, you'll need to store it in a freezer. Here are some tips to ensure your ice cream stays tasty and has a good texture:

Check your freezer temperature: Ice cream is best stored at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below. If you don't have a freezer thermometer, set your freezer to its coldest setting.

Use airtight containers: Store your ice cream in freezer-safe, airtight containers. Plastic containers are best, as ceramics and glass are poor conductors of heat, which can affect freezing.

Choose shallow, flat containers: Shallow containers help keep the ice cream at an even consistency and make scooping easier. A standard 9x5-inch loaf pan or a 9-inch pie pan can hold up to four pints and two pints of ice cream, respectively.

Cover the ice cream: Press a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper firmly against the entire surface of the ice cream before sealing the container. This helps prevent ice crystals from forming and protects against freezer burn.

Store ice cream at the back of the freezer: The back of the freezer is the coldest and most consistent in temperature. Avoid storing ice cream in the freezer door, as this area is subject to temperature fluctuations.

Consume within a few weeks: Homemade ice cream won't last as long as store-bought ice cream. For the best taste, try to consume it within a few weeks.

Frequently asked questions