Apple Cider Ice Cream

This 5 ingredient apple cider ice cream is creamy, sweet, and spiced with cinnamon. Perfect for enjoying over warm apple pie, scooped into milkshakes, or by the spoonful with caramel drizzle!

Why this recipe works

Apple cider ice cream is cool and creamy with sweet-tart apple flavor mixed with warm cinnamon. A heavenly combination if you ask me. Top with a generous amount of caramel drizzle for an even better experience!

There used to be an apple orchard about a mile from my house that makes their apple cider right there while you watch. They sell homemade cider doughnuts, fresh cider, tons of cheese and sausages, and offer samples of apple cider milkshakes. So recently, while loving those apple cider milkshakes, I was inspired to use their cider and make this amazing ice cream.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CIDER – You can certainly use store-bought, but if you have a local apple farm nearby I highly encourage grabbing some fresh to use in this recipe! This recipe calls for apple cider, not apple juice – be sure you grab the correct kind. You’ll want to first boil the cider in a saucepan. By reducing the cider you are boiling out excess water giving the cider a stronger flavor and reducing the possibility of ice crystals that water will cause in your ice cream.

SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK – Do NOT use evaporated milk, it is not the same thing.

HEAVY CREAM – You have a little wiggle room here. Heavy cream does have a higher fat content than half-and-half or milk. You can cut the fat down by using half and half in equal parts. Ice cream gets its creamy texture from its fat content. Therefore, if you substitute milk for the heavy cream, the texture of the finished ice cream will be less smooth and rich.

How to Make Apple Cider Ice Cream

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Place apple cider in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Continue boiling until reduced to 3 ounces. Pour reduced cider onto a plate to cool.
   
   TIP – All measuring cups have a mark for ounces, so simply pour the hot cider in and see how much you have. If still too much, put it back in the saucepan to boil some more.
   
   
   
   TIP – By using a plate, you are spreading out the area that needs to cool and it will cool much faster than if it were in a measuring cup or bowl. Below is the full and printable recipe.
   
   
2. In a large bowl, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, cream, milk and cinnamon. Add cooled cider to the milk mixture and whisk until combined well.
3. Add cooled cider to the milk mixture and whisk until combined well.
4. Add mixture to your ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s directions. Pour into a freezer container and freeze until solid.
5. Serve drizzled with caramel.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Store the apple cider ice cream in an air-tight container kept in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Homemade ice cream does not keep as long because it does not contain preservatives.

Ice cream gets its creamy texture from its fat content. Therefore, if you substitute milk for the heavy cream, the texture of the finished ice cream will be less smooth and rich. With that being said, you can substitute with 2% milk or half-and-half but expect the texture to not be as creamy.

Serving Suggestions

Serve apple cider ice cream with warm apple pie or apple crumble. Pop a scoop or two of ice cream into a glass of chilled apple cider to make a creamy float. Otherwise, eat it the old-fashioned way scooped into a bowl or cone topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream.

More Apple Cider Recipes

• Hot Apple Cider
• Apple Cider Sangria
• Apple Cider Milkshake
• Apple Cider Doughnuts
• Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider

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