Homemade Cherry Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cherries, pitted and halved
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for added brightness)
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (optional, for a richer, creamier texture)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the cherries:
   • Wash the cherries, remove the pits, and cut them in half. Place them in a medium-sized bowl and add 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir to coat the cherries and let them sit for about 10-15 minutes to release their juices.
2. Make cherry puree:
   • After the cherries have released their juice, use a blender or food processor to puree the cherries until smooth. If you like chunks in your ice cream, you can leave some of the cherries in small pieces.
3. Prepare the cream mixture:
   • In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, and sweetened condensed milk (if using). Add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
4. Combine the cherry puree with the cream mixture:
   • Add the cherry puree to the cream mixture and stir until well combined. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more sugar, depending on your taste preference.
5. Churn in the ice cream maker:
   • Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to churn the ice cream. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes to reach a soft-serve consistency. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze. Every 30 minutes, stir the mixture with a spoon to prevent it from freezing into a solid block.
6. Freeze to firm up:
   • Once the ice cream reaches a soft-serve consistency, transfer it to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours, or until the ice cream is firm.
7. Serve and enjoy:
   • When the ice cream is ready, scoop it into bowls or cones. You can garnish with fresh cherries on top for extra flavor and a decorative touch.

Enjoy your homemade cherry ice cream! You can adjust the sweetness and texture by tweaking the ingredients as you like.