What could go better on a beach vacation than ice cream? At Anchors a Wave, we have provided a Cuisinart ice cream maker in the condo, and in this article, we have given you our favorite ice cream maker recipes that we always make when we are visiting Panama City Beach. Nothing is better than spending the day at the beach, eating some really great food on the balcony in the evening, and then having homemade ice cream for dessert.

For our ice cream concoctions, we use start with a sweet cream base and then add things like fruit, chopped-up candy, or vanilla/chocolate to liven up the ice cream.

Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker Instructions

These instructions are also located in the top pantry door.

Take the freezer bowl out of the machine and rinse and dry
Then put the freezer bowl in the freezer for about 6 hours (this is best to be done in the morning or the night before so it has time to get really cold)
If you are using frozen fruit, put the bag of fruit in the refrigerator in the morning to thaw out
Take the freezer bowl out of the freezer and put the bowl in the center of the machine base
Put the mixing arm in the freezer bowl (it just rests in the center of the bowl, with the circle side facing up)
Place the lid on the machine
Add the Ice Cream Maker Base ingredients and mix-ins to the freezer bowl through the ingredient spout
Lift the toggle switch to the ON position. The freezer bowl will begin to turn
In about 20-30 minutes, the ice cream will be done

NOTE: Do not store frozen desserts or drinks in the freezer bowl. Desserts and drinks will stick to the side of the freezer bowl and may damage the bowl. Store only in a plastic airtight container.

Ice Cream Maker Base

There are many ice cream maker recipes out there, but we found this recipe for a base is a perfect start (one that we have made many times in this same ice cream maker), uses simple ingredients, and then flavorings and mix-ins can be added.

1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar (a lot of recipes call for a lot more sugar – up to double, but we found using between 1/2 and 3/4 cup of sugar still tastes great)
2 cups Heavy Cream
3/4 cup Whole Milk

Whisk together in a bowl until the sugar is dissolved; add the mix-ins, and follow the above instructions.

Ice Cream Maker Mix-in Ideas

Here are some ideas for mix-ins/flavorings for your ice cream. Please chop up the mix-in ingredients to the size of a chocolate chip.

Fruit (fresh or thawed frozen fruit) Hard fruits such as apples should be cooked first. Maraschino cherries is a great one as well
Chocolate chips or small chocolate pieces
Sprinkles
Small bits of brownie or cake
Cookies (such as Oreos and chocolate chip)
Edible cookie dough
Graham crackers, chocolate pieces, and marshmallow fluff (for s’mores)
Chocolate syrup or Fudge
Vanilla bean or vanilla extract
Caramel or Strawberry sauce
Peanut Butter or peanut butter chips
Chopped-up candy bars
Trail mix
Cereals (such as fruit loops or cookie crisps)
Flavored sugars (such as used on creme brulee)
Cream cheese (for a cheesecake flavor)
Pie pieces (such as apple or cherry)
Spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg

Ice cream base with fruit for the ice cream maker recipes

These mix-ins could also be added to the top of the ice cream to create an ice cream bar party with lots of choices, or you can put your ice cream on a piece of pie or a brownie (or make an ice cream sandwich).