Red, White, and Blue Ice Cream

What is America’s favorite summer dessert if not rich, creamy, homemade ice cream? Historians trace the origin of ice cream (in one form or another) back to the second century B.C. Then, pioneers brought this refreshing treat from Europe to North America at the foundation of our country. There were certainly familiar flavors we know today in the time of our founding fathers, but some surprising ice cream flavors they also enjoyed include tomato, parmesan, and even oyster!

Making ice cream by hand brings to mind the hard work it once took settlers, like Almanzo Wilder and his siblings in Farmer Boy, to create this special dessert. First they would have to cut and haul sawdust-covered ice from the ice house and break it up until it could fit into their tub, packing it with salt. Then fresh milk from their cows, thick with cream, would be added, along with eggs and precious white sugar, into a pail before covering it all with a blanket. Then, the afternoon of churning would begin by taking turns stirring the pail every few minutes until the ice cream froze. After all of that hard work, everyone would enjoy a small glass dish of cool, sweet ice cream on a hot summer day before going back to the farm and house chores. Wow, what a process!    

Ice cream is old-fashioned, yet always in fashion. Instead of running to the nearest gas station for an expensive pint of artificially flavored “frozen dairy dessert,” it can be so pleasant to slow down and appreciate what it is to make good, old-fashioned ice cream on your own.

Spend an afternoon this summer or Fourth of July getting a 40-minute workout with a vintage hand-crank ice cream maker, taking turns cranking with family members (and most likely singing songs in rounds to pass the time). Nothing beats relaxing on the front porch after an afternoon of hard work, sharing that one-of-a-kind, authentic ice cream taste with those around you. Or, to enjoy that hand-churned taste without all the manual labor, use an efficient ice cream machine to do the churning for you.

This simple recipe is super creamy, and packed with bursts of flavor from peak-season cherries and blueberries. This recipe uses the Hungarian semi-sweet Jubileum cherries we grow here at Weaver’s, along with our Duke variety of blueberries that boast a classic sweet flavor with a hint of tang. Check our PYO schedule here for current availability! This red, white, and blue ice cream is the perfect dessert for your Independence Day celebrations this year. Happy Fourth of July!

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