Easy Cantaloupe Ice Cream Recipe-No Ice Cream Maker Needed
This Easy Cantaloupe Ice Cream Recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to cool off on a hot day without spending a ton of money or pulling out any fancy equipment…because NO Ice Cream Maker Needed on this one!
There’s nothing better than the sweet freshness of summer melons! I don’t know about you, but when cantaloupes are on sale (and in abundance), I grab as many as I can and create yummy recipes like this Homemade Cantaloupe Quick Bread Recipe!!
Seriously… if you’ve never tried melon ice cream, you are in for a creamy, refreshing treat the whole family will love—even the picky ones!
Quick Answer: How Do You Make Cantaloupe Ice Cream Without an Ice Cream Maker?
Puree ripe cantaloupe until smooth, then combine it with egg yolks, milk, sugar, lemon juice, and heavy whipping cream. Freeze the mixture until partially firm, blend it again to create a creamier texture, and return it to the freezer for at least 8 hours or overnight.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
If you love fruity frozen treats, be sure to try my No Churn Banana Ice Cream—another budget-friendly family favorite. It’s smooth, sweet, and a great way to use up bananas!
Ingredients:
Cantaloupe Ice Cream uses very simple ingredients! Nothing fancy or complicated.
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 cup of milk
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large cantaloupe, ripe, peeled and pureed. (I pureed this in my Ninja)
- 1/4 lemon juice
- 3 1/2 cups Whipping Cream…not the kind already whipped but the kind you get to make homemade Whipping Cream in the milk section.
Egg safety note: This recipe contains uncooked egg yolks. If you have concerns about consuming raw eggs, use pasteurized shell eggs or pasteurized egg yolks.
How to Make No Churn Cantaloupe Ice Cream:
Puree the cantaloupe
Peel and seed your ripe cantaloupes, then cut them into chunks. Add them to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. You should end up with about 4 cups of cantaloupe puree. (I use my Ninja blender—works like a charm!)
Use a Whisk or Mixer to blend the base ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks, milk, and sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Add the fruit & cream
Stir in your cantaloupe puree, lemon juice, and heavy whipping cream. Mix well for another 2–3 minutes until everything is combined and creamy.
Freeze it in batches
Pour the mixture into a large freezer-safe container (this recipe makes about ½ gallon). Cover and freeze for about 2–3 hours.
Blend & refreeze
After 2 hours, check the consistency. It should be semi-frozen but not totally solid. Cut it into chunks, blend again until smooth and creamy, then pour back into the container.
Freeze until firm
Cover and freeze until fully solid—usually overnight. Or minimum of 8 hours.
How to Pick the Perfect Cantaloupe
Here’s how to get the most flavor for your money when cantaloupes go on sale:
- Color check: Look for yellowish-beige skin between the netting. Avoid green.
- Smell test: A ripe cantaloupe smells sweet. If there’s no smell, it’s likely not ripe yet.
- Firm but not hard: Press gently at the ends—it should have a little give. If it’s mushy or smells off, skip it.
- Ground spot: Look for a slightly flattened area where it rested on the ground—that’s a good sign!
Can you Freeze Cantaloupe?
Absolutely! Even if you’re not making ice cream right away, you can still freeze cantaloupe for smoothies, sauces, or this recipe later on.
Here’s how:
- Cut off the rind and dice into chunks.
- Flash freeze: Spread pieces on a baking sheet and freeze for 30–60 minutes.
- Transfer to freezer bags. This helps prevent a giant melon ice block!
Storage Tips: How to Store Homemade Cantaloupe Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream doesn’t have all those preservatives, so here’s how to keep it creamy and delicious:
- Store in an airtight, freezer-safe container
- Press a layer of plastic wrap or parchment directly on top of the ice cream before sealing the lid – this helps prevent freezer burn
- Best enjoyed within 2–3 weeks for best flavor and texture, YUM!
Pro Mom Tip:
This is a great recipe to make with the kids or grandkids—let them help puree the fruit or stir the mix. It’s a sweet way to make summer memories and dessert at the same time.
Whether you’re trying to beat the heat, use up ripe cantaloupes, or just want a fun treat for the family without breaking the bank, this No Churn Cantaloupe Ice Cream is a must-try. Let me know if you make it—I’d love to hear how your crew liked it!
Make up a huge batch because everyone will be begging for more Cantaloupe Ice Cream!
4 cups is the perfect amount. I used 2 large Cantaloupes.
Yes! This recipe uses a blender instead of an ice cream maker. After partially freezing the mixture, blend it once more to break up the ice crystals and create a smoother, creamier texture.
Cantaloupe Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 large cantaloupe ripe, peeled and pureed. (I pureed this in my Ninja)
- 3 1/2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream Not the kind already whipped but the kind you get to make homemade Whipping Cream in the milk section.
- 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Peel and seed your ripe cantaloupes, then cut them into chunks. Add them to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. You should end up with about 4 cups of cantaloupe puree.
- Combine the egg yolks, milk and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until sugar is dissolved..
- Then add the Whipping Cream, Lemon Juice and Cantaloupe and mix for another 3 mins
- Pour into a large freezer proof container…this makes about 1 1/2 Gallons so it needs to be quite large.
- Cover and place the container in the freezer for about 2-3 hours..check after 2 hours..make sure it’s not totally solid..cut up, blend again…and pour back into container…cover and freeze until solid. About 8 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
You may also like these Easy Chocolate Covered Almond Coconut Ice Cream Bars
I bet this tastes exactly how it looks. Yummy! I hope that I’m able to prepare it perfectly with these tips. Thank you for sharing.
This looks amazing and perfect for summer parties. I do have a couple of cantaloupe in the fridge right now and will try your recipe soon.
Awesome! Enjoy Molly!
Cantaloupe, I’m a fan.
Ice-cream, I am a fan.
Your recipe is great, Shari! I can’t wait to try it…I let you know, but I’m already sure it will be a success!
I would LOVE to hear how your Cantaloupe Ice Cream turns out! Thanks for stopping by!
So fresh and perfect for hot summer nights! It’s a keeper for sure!
Thank you Christina!
Homemade ice cream is the best. Especially on a hot summer day.
Especially if you don’t have to use an ice cream maker…YAY!
I bet the sweet taste of cantaloupe is amazing in a creamy ice cream!
It is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!
You don’t cook the eggs? This recipe sounds delicious and I can’t wait to try.
Hi Breanne! Nope you don’t have to cook the eggs and it is soooo deelish! It seems odd but ooooh how everyone LOVES it!! Blessings to you!
What a unique combination! It sounds so great too..will be pinning this to make soon. thanks so much for sharing!
This is just WoW!! I shared this post on my FB wall 🙂
Who would have thought you could make ice cream out of cantaloupe? Great job!
Could something this delicious really be this easy? Can’t wait to try it!
Yes it can Jay! and it’s oooh so deelish! Give it a try! 😀
This sounds like a perfect ice cream! Cantaloupe is one of my all time favorite fruits/melons!
It looks super delish Shari!
Can the egg be left out?
Hi Tess,
Yes I think you can, although I’ve not made it that way.
Eggs are used to make a custard base, which when frozen has a rich flavor and creamy texture. Egg yolks also contain a lot of lecithin, a natural emulsifier which keeps fat and water from separating. That in turn helps to keep the ice cream smooth, perhaps by helping to keep the ice crystals that form during freezing small.
BUT
With all that said yes I think you still follow the recipe as is and leave the eggs out. I’d try it, because this ice cream is deelish! 😀
Thank you for stopping by!
Blessings!
I’ve only had cantaloupe water ice. I have to try this! It sounds fantastic, Shari!!
Cantaloupe is not much loved in this home but a few of us would enjoy it. My son ordered it from a Mexican ice cream store once and loved it.
I do really like cantaloupe. I have never had it as an ice cream.
This looks absolutely delicious! What a wonderful dessert!
Sounds like the perfect recipe! Just got several from my FIL’s garden, and I’m tired of eating it by itself.
Pinning this!
So happy you saw this OneMommy! How are you? I miss the BF days..not sure where everyone is hanging out? 🙂 Take Care!
Thank you for this recipe! Made some and it is just now put in freezer. Cant wait till it freezes and we can enjoy!!!
Hi Crystal! You are so welcome! I hope it turned out deeelish for you..I’d love to know!
Blessings!
Hi Shari,
Yes it came out awesome! It was creamy and delish! I even shared some with my mom an brother and they loved it too! The only thing I now notice is that it gets really hard in the freezer and you have to let it thaw out before scooping! But great non the less!
Yay Crystal! I am so excited to hear that. Who knew that Cantaloupe Ice Cream would be sooo deelish…my family loved it too! 🙂 Yes it does need to sit out AND I found that it really needs to be eaten within about a week to week and half for full freshness 🙂 That was no problem at my house LOL Thanks so much for letting me know how it turned out..I know other readers will appreciate the feedback too!
Blessings!
This looks good. I’m sugar free but that’s an easy fix. Yum!
Hi Eva! So happy you hopped on over! Yes my hubs is sugar free too and it is a totally easy fix…as a matter of fact…because the Cantaloupe is sooo sweet you could almost eliminate sugar and not even have a substitute! Have a great weekend!!
Blessings!
Thanks so much for sharing your delicious cantaloupe ice cream!
Hi Bonnie! What an honor!! Thank you so much! I will hop over later today and grab my button and wear it proudly!! Have a great weekend and blessings to you!
o my! We just bought two cantaloupes on the road side for a dollar yesterday! And I have been wanting to make homemade ice cream but I too have no ice cream maker. WOW LOVE IT girl thank you for showing me yet another awesome thing to do.
I love this recipe! What a cool and refreshing treat!
Ok, this sounds sooo good! I might have to give it a try!
Hi Deanna! You’ll love it and it’s soooo easy too! Blessings!
Sounds wonderful! I’m a new follower by way of The Pink Junkie. Have a great weekend!
Hi Melanie! Awesome! I’ll follow back 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by and you have a great weekend too! Blessings!
This is delicious! And most of all I do not need an ice cream maker!!
I know right!! I’ve never owned an ice cream maker so I thought I could never make ice cream..but I started experimenting a while back and have turned out some pretty good stuff…this is the first for the Cantaloupe and it is deeelish! Thanks for stopping by! Blessings!
Oh my goodness that looks sooooo good! I pinned this! Thanks for the recipe!
Awesome, Thanks so much! It’s so easy too! T
This sounds delicious! I love fruit filled ice cream.
Me too! I think I love ANY ice cream! LOL Thanks for stopping by!!
I have never heard of cantaloupe ice cream, but I love cantaloupe so I bet I’d love this! Definitely going to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!
You would love this Alaina!! It’s deelish and it tastes just like Cantaloupe! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!
Oh my, that looks absolutely amazing!!!! I never thought about making some cateloupe ice cream before. It looks super refreshing too!
It’s deeelish Amber and really easy to make! Thanks so much for stopping by!
OMGoodness, I am so going to try this the weekend. What a cool treat this will be for the kids and I. Thanks for sharing this, I only hope mine come out right…lol
Hi Lisa! It’s really easy and almost fool proof…Even if the texture isn’t “perfect” it’s still VERY deeelish! You can do it!! 🙂 Enjoy
YUMMY!!! Very delicious! Pinning!
Hi Kristin! Thanks so much…it is deeeelish! 🙂 Blessings!
This looks so good. I don’t have any cantaloup. I am unsure why I had a hundred blooms but none formed. I do however, have a ton of watermelons, so I am thinking a slight variation. So good looking!
Hi Allyson! I think watermelon would work wonderfully..definitely try it! The only thing you may have to adjust is the whipping cream because Watermelon is so watery 🙂 But it should still turn out great… Can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Blessings!
I have to try this…. cannot wait to get to the grocery store for some cantaloupe now!! Thank you for sharing!!
You are welcome Chanda! You will love it! Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
I will be trying this one! It looks and sounds sooo yummy!!
Awesome Andrea! And sooo easy too! Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
This looks really refreshing. I pinned it! Have a great week Shari.