I have always wondered why the ice cream from Dairy Queen is so silky smooth and stays firm when other ice creams have long since started to drip down the cone and run all over my hand. Never in a million years would I have guessed it is because there is gelatin added to the rich ice cream base. I was a little skeptical when I found this recipe and even more so when I saw how the mixture had set up after I chilled it, (the thought of jello-like blobs in the ice cream wasn’t appealing), but I love Dairy Queen soft serve vanilla and that was enough to keep me going. The Dairy Queen that still seems to be a part of small town life everywhere is just a few blocks from my house so I can treat myself any time, but it’s so much more fun to make this at home. My grandkids instantly recognized the taste and thought I was a very smart grandma for knowing how to make one of their favorites at home. Now if I could just figure out how to make one of their swirl cones. The only change I made to the Copycat recipe was to add the pulp from one half a vanilla bean to the mixture before it went into the ice cream freezer. I love this ice cream with a bowl of fresh sliced strawberries. As it melts it becomes the most delicious sauce and absorbs along with the berry juices into the cake or biscuits I use in my shortcake.
Just like Dairy Queen
- 2 envelopes Knox gelatin
- ½ cup cold water
- 4 cups whole milk
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used ½ vanilla bean and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups whipping cream
- Soak gelatin in cold water
- Heat milk, but do not boil.
- Remove from heat and add gelatin, sugar, vanilla and salt.
- Cool and add cream.
- Chill 5 to 8 hours.
- Pour into a 4 to 6 quart ice cream freezer can.
- Process according to manufacturer's directions.
- Scoop into a container, cover well, and freeze several hours or overnight. Like most ice creams the flavor improves with aging.
Dairy Queen has been a part of my life since my earliest memories. My mother used to often herd her 3 little girls to the nearest ice cream shop for one of our favorite treats way back in the late 40’s when she could put my two younger sisters in a stroller. And it was a favorite after school spot for my friends and me in high school even though there wasn’t any place to be seated inside. The few picnic tables in the parking lot were a more than adequate place to hang out and enjoy our after school snacks.
If you are “of a certain age”. lived in Portland in the 1950’s and ’60’s and wanted a place more upscale and action packed you would have moved on up the street to what has become one of Portland’s most famous landmarks – Yaw’s Top Notch Drive In in the Hollywood District. My high school was 3 blocks away and Yaw’s was where we could find many of our friends after school and on the weekends. Yaw’s was the classic Happy Days era eatery and if you wanted to eat in your car the food was delivered by young women wearing roller skates.
Yaw’s Top Notch in the 1950’s
Yaw’s Top Notch Menu – 1950
My mouth waters when I read this old menu that we used to agonize over every time we went to Yaw’s. I never had much money so my usual selections were a toasted hamburger bun (.10) with honey (NC) and a cherry coke (.15). That set me back a quarter which, in those days, could actually buy something that was significant. A hamburger (one of the best in town) was .50, give or take a few cents, and if you were really hungry you would splurge on a complete ham dinner for .65. A slice of the best pie you will ever eat – .15! Take notice that you won’t get any service if you order something less than a dime! Hahahaaa…there is something to be said for the old days.
My 2 Favorite Summer Appliances
Back to the ice cream… If you enjoy DQ vanilla as much as I do I hope you will try this recipe. Next time I will try to cut back on the calories a little bit and either substitute half-and-half for the cream or just use whole milk for all the liquid. The gelatin should maintain the creamy consistency. I thawed and refroze the ice cream several times while writing this post and no crystals formed at it refroze. Fresh strawberries would be wonderful added to the freezer for the last several minutes of churning. I’m thinking a filling for a chocolate roll or ice cream sandwiches here too. My Waring Mixer and my ice cream freezer are now sitting on my kitchen counter and I feel that summer is officially here. I bought my mixer about 30 years ago in a local restaurant supply house and its been making thick, creamy shakes ever since. My only problem with this recipe is that I can’t leave the ice cream alone.
Cathy, this will definitely be tried in the future when we are back in Florida this fall. I grew up in a much smaller town and we would have had to drive at least 30 minutes to find a DQ. Therefore it was a very infrequent treat. Even through the years, though I could eat this ice cream every day if I did not have a conscience, I could probably count how many times I have had a DQ cone. That being said, I do remember very well how it tastes. Thanks for this recipe. Susan
Susan recently posted..It’s a Good Day
Oh the memories Cathy, that go along with your ice cream. First, I can’t wait to try this yummy looking ice cream as we’ve always loved DQ’s. I wouldn’t have guessed that it contained gelatin!
I remember going to the DQ when I was in high school in the late 60’s and early 70’s, as it was one of our local teenage hangouts. Sadly, it closed a few years back and is now a BBQ joint.
Lynda recently posted..Simply Sinful Cinnamon Muffins (Or, Heavenly Cinnamon Muffins, I Say)
Now that says summer for sure with an ice cream maker and waring mixer. The ice cream must be a real treat for your family. I loved the old menu. I don’t think I would have wanted to eat spaghetti in the car…it could get a little messy.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..At Last It Is Finally Summer
i made this once and it was delicious. I got a new Cuisinart like yours for Mother’s Day and I’m going to try this recipe again using stevia. You’re right Cathy, it’s hard to leave it alone!
renee recently posted..Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
I luv DQ ice cream. I miss old places we use to go to.
Cathy — this looks WONDERFUL!! HUGE DQ fans here. #1 Daughter worked there as her first job. I’m saving this to make over the 4th — I think I can low-carb it by using Almond milk and splenda 🙂
Blessings!
Gail
Gail @ Faithfulness Farm recently posted..Low-Carb Living ~ Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers
Hi Gail – I would love to know your your low carb version turns out. Using almond milk sounds like a great idea.
Cathy recently posted..Vanilla Ice Cream Just Like Dairy Queen
Yaw’s is coming back to Portland . They have been working on the new space near 113th and NE Halsey. I am sure the prices will be a bit higher though. Lol
Wow, great news, Gina. I’ll watch for a notice of their opening. It would be worth a trip out there to get one of those fantastic burgers and a piece of pie. Thanks for your comment.
Cathy recently posted..Vanilla Ice Cream Just Like Dairy Queen
Looks so good. I’d love a cone, it’s so hot here. I need to get my ice cream machine out and in use again!
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook recently posted..Mini Chicken Pot Pies
I just copied this recipe to my file that I’m taking to CA – recipes to make with my granddaughters. I love DQ and occasionally stop in for a swirl cone… love it!
Karen recently posted..General Tso’s Chicken
My grandson was looking over my shoulder as your post popped up and said, “Wow..I want that alot!” How can a grandma ignore that? I even have some gelatin in my cupboard- I’d have never guessed that ingredient! I dusted off my ice cream machine the other day and my canister is frozen and ready. I love the old menu too! 🙂
Betty @ scrambled henfruit recently posted..Honey Apricot Bran Muffins
Cathy, what a fun post and even more fun recipe! My sister used to work at our local DQ and would accidentally on purpose make “mistakes” so she could bring treats home to us! We loved her “mistakes” – wish I had one now or even better, one of your cones!
The Café Sucré Farine recently posted..Biscoff Shortbread Cookies
What a wonderful post! I love Dairy Queen, we used to buy our dogs their own cones on hot summer nights! I love the menu, and your 2 favorite summer kitchen toys, too. I will try this recipe for sure, I would never have guessed abut the gelatin, but it makes sense!
Sue/the view from great island recently posted..The Art of the Summer Salad: Tomato and Beets
Great fun! I love the menu you shared…I would really like to have the ice cream cone!
Kate recently posted..Linguine with Clam Sauce
The nearest Dairy Queen to us closed a couple of years ago. As a kid the favorite drive-in restaurant, especially for the teens who could drive, was just a couple of blocks from where I lived in the early 60’s and it was a very busy place on Fr. & Sat nights. It’s amazing how much prices have gone up since 1950 and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to find a menu offering “Ice Cold Buttermilk.”
Larry recently posted..Saturday Humor – The Cowboy
I’m going to really date myself, Larry, and say that it was a different world back then. Diet sodas didn’t exist, portion sizes were reasonable, and kids played outside all the time. Did you notice the glass of 1/2 and 1/2? What would it be now – soy milk?
Cathy recently posted..Vanilla Ice Cream Just Like Dairy Queen
Who would have thought it had gelatin in it?! But it looks wonderful. Dairy Queen is delicious!
Erin @ Making Memories recently posted..Summer Movie Express at Regal Cinemas
Vanilla ice is my all time favourite! I like your mixer.
Saving this to make soon.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Creamy Onion Tartlets
How many grams of each pack of Knox gelatin? Are they powder or leaf?
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Creamy Onion Tartlets
I love Dairy Queen, and ours looked the same as this walk up photo you’ve featured. Our local hang out was Sandy’s. Drive up, park and order at speakers, much like the Sonics today … but “cool”. 🙂 The burgers would come out wrapped in wax paper and nice a steamy. I will try this recipe. And if you would have asked me to guess the ingredient, not in a million years would I have guessed gelatin.
Lea Ann recently posted..Carne Asada, and Ruby
I will def try this, it looks wonderful!
dQ was not big here. We had Carvel.
Those prices are hysterical! I do remember as a kid .25 cent burgers at McD’s!
Kathleen recently posted..Set Another Place at The Table! Baby Arrived!
Oh yum that sounds so good.
OK, now you have me. I must have Dairy Queen ice cream. I do remember Yaw’s too. It was there when we moved to Portland and we were so sad to see them tear it down. My ice cream maker is the same as yours, I must get it out and go to the store for cream.
Marilyn recently posted..Shall we Chat?
I have always loved DQ ice cream, Cathy! I am totally going to be trying this out. I have a Donvier ice cream maker and my gkids love it when I make homemade ice cream. Thanks for sharing.
Kitty recently posted..4th of July Fruit Pizza
I love vanilla ice cream – it’s my favorite. I’ll have to try this recipe soon.
You are making me want to get a milk shake machine… my kids would be thrilled!
Pam recently posted..Garlicky Roasted Potatoes with Herbs
Oh my, thanks so much for sharing this recipe. It sounds incredible. Never thought of using gelatine in making ice cream.
Kristy
kristy recently posted..Hwajeon ~ Korean Sweet Flower Pancake
Cathy, while Craig and I were in Bozeman, Montana we stopped at the local Dairy Queen and I tried their Huckleberry Ice cream. Yummy! We no longer have a Dairy Queen where we live, but I sure enjoyed the nostalgia behind it. I’d love to try this– and maybe make my own olallieberry ice cream version!
Foodiewife recently posted..Cheese Burger Buns
In the recipe where you say to use cream. Is that heavy cream?
Bill recently posted..Vietnamese Sticky Chicken with Daikon and Carrot Slaw ~ A Guest Post for The Cafe Sucre Farine
Hi Bill –
Yes, I did mean whipping cream. Thanks for pointing that out.
Cathy recently posted..Vietnamese Sticky Chicken with Daikon and Carrot Slaw ~ A Guest Post for The Cafe Sucre Farine
We used to hang out at the Dairy Queen when we were in our teens. It was “the” place to go. How cool that you’ve duplicated their ice cream.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Tomatoes and Peaches – a taste of summer
I just saw your post and I was wondering if you have ever tried to make chocolate. I LOVE Dairy Queens chocolate ice cream.
I love DQ! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I can’t wait to try it.
Hello Cathy,and Thank You.
I made this Ice cream twice,the first time using Lite cream and 2 percent milk.It was good however I made it the second time with whole milk and heavy cream,what a difference,creamier with that same Dairy Queen taste.I did not use an ice cream machine just the freezer.I had one years ago that would never get to that soft serve stage most likely due to my freezer not being as cold as it could be.Was an older ref ridge.Anyway I may purchase an ice cream machine and use your recipe.
Thank You,
Ralph
Hi there!
I came across your post while searching for a copycat DQ soft serve recipe. I will definitely try your recipe, as the gelatin is a good substitute to emulate the original soft serve. I worked for DQ for several years in the mid to late 90s. There’s nothing quite like DQ soft serve! The product used by DQ for the soft serve is premixed (liquid) in large bags. They have a connector port built into the bags that the hose from the soft serve machine hooks to. The wall behind the machines has a walk in refrigerator room where the machine hose (runs through the wall) feeds through to hook up to the bagged liquid. The machines have a tumbler inside (much like a clothes dryer) that pulls the liquid soft serve into the machine and it simultaneously cools and aerates the liquid to form the lightweight soft serve that can make the trademark DQ cone “stacks” and the curly top. When machines begin to fail, they can’t keep the mix cold enough and will leak and sputter due to there being more air than product when the handle is turned to get the soft serve to come out. There was also a problem with the chocolate soft serve (back then) – it’s ingredients were slightly different than the vanilla and it would not set up properly – stayed liquid-y (what a mess!).
The main ingredients in the DQ soft serve liquid base that help it to set up properly are carrageenan and guar gum. Home cooks can buy these as well, but I don’t know many who use these products at home, to be honest. I do see them utilized on the Food Network shows sometimes though! The use of gelatin in your recipe makes the most sense…and is easiest. Unlike DQ’s soft serve, the milk and cream in your recipe bring a richness that is more like true ice cream. DQ’s soft serve used to be known as “iced milk,” because it contains only 5% milk fat and didn’t meet the FDA standards to qualify as an actual ice cream product. A while ago, the rules changed, and the soft serve is now considered “reduced-fat” ice cream (their milkshake mix is now called “low fat” ice cream (that is a change from my time at DQ – we used the same soft serve for shakes as for everything else in the store. We also had the yogurt mix that was phased out some time ago). DQ’s base mix recipe is still the same from my understanding, it’s just the FDA’s definitions that have (and I’m sure will continue to) changed.
Sorry for such a long comment, just wanted to share some info with you and look forward to trying your “Better Than DQ Soft Serve Copycat” recipe! Thanks! 🙂
I made this and then compared it side by side with actual dairy queen and found this recipe too sweet, so I made this recipe again, cutting the sugar by half and found it was a lot closer to the taste of dairy queen’s.