Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with Variations

This recipe is from Chris's aunt Mindy. The recipe is to make Caramel Crunch ice cream, but I thought I'd post it as vanilla ice cream since we use the vanilla ice cream base to make all sorts of variations, like caramel crunch, cookies n cream, etc. I think we've also made peanut butter cup with it before too! Oh and I just have to mention that even though it might sound kinda funny mixed berry oreo is SO good.

The difference in this recipe versus the recipe for the berry ice cream is this recipe uses eggs and so Chris says it's more of a custard base... whatever it is it's smooth and creamy and absolutely DELICIOUS!!!

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
5 cups whole milk
3 cups whipping cream
2 1/2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Beat eggs until light. Add sugar and continue to beat until thick. Add the milk, whipping cream, vanilla and salt and mix well. Pour into a 4 quart freezer and place in ice cream maker, surround with ice and rock salt and allow to mix. Check periodically and add more ice as necessary.

*Note: If you only have a 5 or 6 quart machine, then use 6 cups whole milk and 4 cups whipping cream.

**Note: If you are concerned about Salmonella you have 2 options. You can substitute the eggs with an egg substitute such as Egg Beaters (follow instructions on carton). You can also heat the egg/milk mixture to 160 degrees F slowly then cool it quickly in the fridge or freezer.

Mindy's Carmel Crunch
1 jar Mrs. Richardsons Caramel Topping
1bag crushed Skor chips

Follow instructions above, however add 1/2 jar of caramel topping before you turn the ice cream maker on. When freezer slows, add the crushed Skor chips and the rest of the caramel.

*Note: You might not want to use the entire jar or the entire package of the chips if you're using a 4 quart machine.

Mixed Berry
2 cups mixed berries, thawed and mashed

Follow instructions above, adding the mixed berries to the ice cream maker before you turn it on.

Cookies-N-Cream
1/2 - 3/4 bag Oreos, crushed in a ziploc bag (if you buy the monster box from Costco Chris suggests using 2 1/2 sleeves)

Follow instructions above. Once the ice cream maker has stopped turning add the crushed Oreos.

Berry Cookies-N-Cream
1/2 - 3/4 bag Oreos, crushed in a ziploc bag (if you buy the monster box from Costco Chris suggests using 2 1/2 sleeves)
2 cups mixed berries, thawed and mashed

Follow instructions above, adding the mixed berries before you turn the ice maker on. Once the ice cream has stopped add the crushed Oreo's.

*Note: as mentioned above, you can use the basic vanilla recipe and mix in anything you'd like!

Enjoy!