How To Perfect The Ratio Of Your Ice Cream Mix-Ins For Equally Loaded Bites

If you're craving some completely personalized ice cream, you may want to consider churning up your own. There are a few ways you can make the best homemade ice cream, and mixing in some extra ingredients is just one way to amp up the flavor. Chopped nuts, pieces of candy bars, or crushed-up cookies can make for a little extra crunch in every bite. Swirls of jam or pieces of frozen fruit may make the dessert taste a little fresher.

If you do decide to add some extra ingredients to your ice cream, you'll want to make sure the ratio is just right. Too many ingredients may take away from the flavor of the ice cream itself or give the dessert an unpleasant, super-lumpy texture. Too few may mean you wind up taking several smooth ice cream-only bites before coming across any added ingredients.

Fortunately, there is a measurement to ensure just the right amount of texture. The sweet spot to get the perfect blend is around 3 ounces, or ¾ cup, of added ingredients for every quart of ice cream.

The 3-ounce addition rule is ideal for solid mix-ins like nuts and chocolate chips. Or, if you want to make your own cookies and cream ice cream, crushed-up Oreos. This amount will ensure that the quart has a good ratio of ice cream to mix-ins. However, if you do want to alter the amount to fit your personal preference, there is some room for adjustment.

Cutting the amount down to only ½ cup, or around 2 ounces, will allow the taste of the ice cream to shine. The added ingredients will still be noticeable, but they won't be the star of the show. That way, you can eat your delicious, homemade ice cream and enjoy a surprising crunch every so often.

On the other hand, if you find that the flavor of your ice cream is just okay, some added ingredients may be just what the quart needs to taste a little better. Adding in an extra ounce or upping the amount to 1 cup of mix-ins may bulk up the dessert without being overwhelming.  

When you decide to mix in sauces or jams, however, the ration of mix-ins required does change. If you think your homemade vanilla ice cream could do with an added flavor element of salted caramel sauce, strawberry jam, or thick, chocolatey fudge sauce, you may want to add in a little more. If you only want a light flavor burst in the ice cream, keeping with the ¾ cup rule is fine. But if you want a more even ratio, you may want to up it to 1 cup per quart.

The easiest way to add liquid ingredients to your ice cream is to alternate layers. Once your ice cream base is ready, spread a layer into the container you plan to freeze it in. Then, add in your desired sweet sauce. Add more ice cream base on top, and continue alternating until you've filled the container. Then, stick a skewer down to the bottom and drag it through the ice cream to ensure it's evenly distributed before freezing.