Apple Crisp Ice Cream

Apple Crisp Ice Cream, the name alone sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it?

That’s before I tell you that this ice cream is made with the creamiest of homemade vanilla ice creams, then completely loaded with bits of cinnamon sweet baked apples, and crunchy streusel topping.

bowl of apple ice cream on wooden table with green apple in background

There is nothing about this ice cream that I did not love. (Except perhaps the fact that I ate way too much of it.)

The idea for this ice cream popped into my mind a few weeks ago. I tried a couple of different versions using the same ingredients, but not with a real apple crisp. They lacked the authentic apple crisp flavor I wanted.

scoop of homemade ice cream in pan with apples

Apple Crisp Ice Cream

I finally caved and decided to bake an actual apple crisp just for the ice cream. As soon as my apple crisp finished cooling last week, I was chopping it into bits and folding it into this ice cream.

I don’t know when I’ve been more excited about an ice cream recipe. (Spoiler alert – that excitement was fully justified.)

I initially thought of this recipe as “sacrificing” an apple crisp for the ice cream, but after one bite, I realized it was no sacrifice. I ate this ice cream off a spoon straight out of the freezer, and served it in ice cream cones as well.

I might have even gone a little crazy and scooped the last of this apple cinnamon ice cream over a warm brownie last week as well. (It was tasty, but way too rich and randomly flavored even for my sometimes bizarre tastes.)

Cold apple crisp ice cream served over warmed bowls of the leftover apple crisp though? THAT was an apple lover’s dream of a dessert!

Apple Ice Cream

The pieces of apple crisp don’t need to be uniform at all. Roughly chopped is perfect. However, a large piece of apple will turn icy once frozen.

Making the pieces small, nothing bigger than 1/2″ in size, will keep the texture nice, instead of creating icy chunks of apple in the otherwise creamy ice cream.

Place the ice cream on the counter to warm for 10-15 minutes prior to scooping, if it is extra firm when you are ready to serve it.

close up of apple ice cream with chunks of crisp topping

Apple Crisp Ice Cream Recipe

While an old-fashioned apple crisp served warm with melting vanilla ice cream on top is never EVER going to go out of fashion, this ice cream? It’s a whole new apple crisp ballgame, friends.

If you’re unsure of it now, set aside a portion of your next apple crisp and make a half batch. I’m willing to bet that you’ll be making a full batch after that.

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

Old Fashioned Apple Crisp baked and cooled completely
heavy cream
milk
sugar
vanilla extract
kosher salt

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

Want a few more awesome ice cream recipes to try? Peach Cobbler Ice Cream, Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream, and Strawberry Crisp Ice Cream are a few more homemade ice creams that you’re sure to love.

This Peach Ginger Ice Cream with Rum Caramel Sauce sounds pretty fantastic too.

For the chocolate lover in your life, this Dark Chocolate Orange Ice Cream just might blow their mind. (It was inspired by our trip to Montreal and as soon as we tasted it, we knew we’d be recreating it asap!)

Apple Crisp Ice Cream

Apple Crisp Ice Cream is made with the creamiest of homemade vanilla ice creams, then completely loaded with bits of cinnamon sweet baked apples and crunchy streusel topping.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings servings

Calories 458kcal

Ingredients

1 recipe for Old Fashioned Apple Crisp baked and cooled completely
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon OPTIONAL
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Whisk together the cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Pour into the ice cream machine and process according to the manufacturer's instructions.
While the ice cream is churning, place about ⅔ of the apple crisp on a large cutting board. Roughly chop into small pieces, making sure the apple pieces are no bigger than ½" in size. You should have about 2½ cups worth of chopped apple crisp.
When the ice cream has finished churning, transfer it to an airtight freezer container adding chunks of apple crisp over each scoop. Gently stir to make sure the pieces are well distributed without stirring too long and melting the ice cream.
Cover and freeze the ice cream for at least two hours before serving.

Notes

The pieces of apple crisp don’t need to be uniform at all. Roughly chopped is perfect. However, a large piece of apple will turn icy once frozen. Making the pieces small, nothing bigger than 1/2″ in size, will keep the texture nice, instead of creating icy chunks of apple in the otherwise creamy ice cream.

Place the ice cream on the counter to warm for 10-15 minutes prior to scooping, if it is extra firm when you are ready to serve it.