A Summer Sweet: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream & Waffle Cones (No Processed Sugar!)

As an early birthday gift, my mother-in-law surprised me with a Cuisinart ice cream machine and a waffle cone maker—two things I didn’t know I needed until they showed up on my doorstep. I was so excited, I tried them out that very day. And let me tell you… this combo might just be the start of a new summer tradition in our house.

My husband and I both love ice cream—it’s hands down our favorite dessert. But because I don’t eat processed sugar and only do dairy if it’s raw milk, it’s almost impossible to find a store-bought version that fits. Most of the time, we just go without—or end up settling for something that doesn’t taste all that great.

So making my own from-scratch vanilla ice cream, naturally sweetened and full of real ingredients, was a dream come true. And the homemade waffle cones? Crispy, just sweet enough, and made with freshly milled flour. This was such a win for us.

Scroll down for the full recipe—plus my little trick for sealing the bottom of your cones so the ice cream doesn’t drip out! 🍦

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🍦 Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (No Processed Sugar)

Ingredients:

    •    3 ½ cups raw milk

    •    1 cup coconut cream milk

    •    1 ½ tablespoons vanilla extract

    •    4 tablespoons maple sugar

    •    ⅔ cup maple syrup

Instructions:

    1.    In a large bowl or blender, mix together all ingredients until smooth and fully combined.

    2.    Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker (I use the Cuisinart 2-quart machine) and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

    3.    Once it’s finished, either serve immediately for a soft-serve texture or transfer to a container and freeze for a few hours until firm.

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🧇 Homemade Waffle Cones (Made with Fresh Milled Flour)

Ingredients:

    •    ¼ cup egg whites (about 2 large eggs)

    •    7 tablespoons coconut sugar

    •    ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    •    ⅛ teaspoon salt

    •    ⅔ cup freshly milled hard red wheat flour

    •    2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted and cooled

Instructions:

    1.    In a bowl, whisk together egg whites, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.

    2.    Add the freshly milled flour and melted coconut oil, mixing until the batter is smooth.

    3.    Preheat your waffle cone maker and lightly grease it if needed.

    4.    Pour a small amount of batter into the center and cook for about 1 minute and 30 seconds, or until golden and set (your timing might vary slightly depending on your machine).

    5.    Immediately shape the hot waffle into a cone while it’s still pliable.

    6.    Optional tip: Drop a few chocolate chips into the bottom of the cone while it’s still warm. As it cools, the chocolate will harden and create a little seal—no more ice cream leaks!

Let cones cool completely before filling with ice cream.

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A Treat We’ll Be Making All Summer

This recipe felt like such a sweet little win—delicious, simple, and made with ingredients I feel good about. Whether you’re looking for a fun weekend treat or just craving something homemade and cozy, I hope you’ll give it a try.

I’m already dreaming up new flavors to experiment with next. So stay tuned, because there’s more summer sweetness to come. 💛

Buon appetito!