Homemade ice cream is incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients you likely already have on hand. This vanilla ice cream recipe will quickly become a go-to in your summer dessert repertoire. Vanilla Ice Cream Ingredients These are the four ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade vanilla ice cream recipe: Milk: This homemade vanilla ice cream starts with 2 ¼ cups of milk. Heavy cream: A cup of heavy cream comes next. Sugar: White sugar sweetens things up.