Tutti Frutti Ice Cream

Tutti Frutti ice cream may be hard to find in stores these days but this homemade version is just as nostalgic and delicious!

A simple custard base is flavored with Tutti Frutti and loaded with candied fruits and crushed pineapple for the perfect tropical treat.

This homemade ice cream is so creamy and amazing, plus it’s super fun to make.

Not only is Tutti Frutti Ice Cream fun to make, but it’s also really fun to say!

Once upon a time, Tutti Frutti was a very common flavor for ice cream, gum, and candies. The history of tutti-frutti ice cream goes back over 160 years, as it was first found on a dinner menu from England dating to 1860.

The name of this ice cream comes from the Italian, “tutti i frutti” which means “all fruits”. Tutti frutti flavor is similar to fruit punch, in that it’s definitely fruit flavored, but hard to pinpoint which actual fruit it’s flavored with!

If you’d rather make yummy ice cream with just one type of fruit, try my Blueberry Ice Cream or Raspberry Ice Cream Recipes next.

Why You’re Going to Love this Tutti Frutti Ice Cream Recipe

It’s Totally Vintage! Isn’t it so fun how everything old eventually becomes new again? Tutti Frutti ice cream is definitely a vintage ice cream flavor, and that’s part of its charm.

And Extra Fruity. This tutti frutti ice cream recipe is flavored with tutti fruity drink mix, as well as crushed pineapple. Throughout the dessert, you’ll find chewy bits of dried candied fruits too. Because of the luxuriously luscious custard ice cream base, this flavor tastes like a creamy and cool fruit salad.

Did you know that Tutti Frutti is one of the most popular ice cream flavors in India?

Once you have the hang of the method for making custard ice cream using this French method, you’ll want to try all of the flavors! Caramel Ice Cream and Rocky Road are two of my favorites.

Ingredients in Homemade Tutti Frutti Ice Cream

Egg Yolks – Egg yolks add richness and thicken the ice cream base.

Sugar – Granulated sugar sweetens the ice cream. Since we’re using a sweetened drink mix, we’re reducing the amount of sugar typically used in our ice cream recipes.

Heavy Cream and Whole Milk -Use both to make the perfect ice cream. This recipe makes a wonderfully rich ice cream that is creamy and perfectly scoopable.

Tutti Frutti Drink Mix – “Tutti Frutti” can be a difficult flavor to find. This Tutti Frutti drink mix is the most widely available flavor so that’s what we’re using in our ice cream. If you can’t find the drink mix, you could try swapping it for ¼ teaspoon of this Tutti Frutti flavor or swap it for ½ teaspoon of lemon extract, ¼ teaspoon of orange extract, and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract. 

Chopped Candied Fruit – Tutti Frutti is typically a candy made with cherries, watermelon, raisins, and pineapple. You can either buy pre-made tutti frutti candied fruit bits or use any dried/candied fruits that you have on hand! I’m using a combination of dried cherries, candied pineapple, and regular and golden raisins. 

Crushed Pineapple – Crushed pineapple adds delicious sweetness and a little more tropical flavor to the ice cream.

How to Make Tutti Frutti Ice Cream from Scratch

Start the day before by making sure that the bowl for your ice cream maker has at least 24 hours to freeze solid.

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and granulated sugar until the mixture has lighted in color and is smooth. Set aside.
2. Heat a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the milk and heavy cream. Cook just until the milk is steaming and there are bubbles around the edges, then remove it from the heat. Slowly and carefully whisk the hot milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly so that you don’t scramble the eggs.
3. Now, return the egg and milk mixture to the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3-5 minutes, or until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
4. Strain the custard ice cream base into a heatproof bowl through a fine mesh sieve to remove any bits of egg that might have cooked. Then whisk in the tutti frutti drink mix. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, making sure that the plastic is touching the surface of the ice cream. Refrigerate until it is very cold, or for at least 3 hours.
5. Churn the cold ice cream base in your ice cream maker, according to your manufacturer’s instructions, until it is thick and the consistency of soft-serve.
6. Add the candied fruit and crushed pineapple, and churn for 1-2 minutes to combine.
7. Transfer the ice cream to a loaf pan and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Freeze until set– at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. 
8. Serve, scooped onto ice cream cones or in a bowl. Add a cherry on top for fun.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.

How to Store Tutti Frutti Ice Cream

Store this homemade Tutti Frutti Ice Cream in the freezer in an airtight container with a piece of parchment paper or wax paper pressed on top for up to one month.

The paper covering will prevent your homemade ice cream from freezer burn.

Tips for Making This Tutti Frutti Ice Cream Recipe

Use quality ingredients – When making homemade ice cream, you’ll want to make sure you are using high-quality ingredients for the best outcome. Fresh milk and cream make the best ice cream.

Find the specialty ingredients – I suggest using Amazon to pick up the tutti frutti drink mix and candied fruit. You’ll be sure to find exactly what you need to make this recipe perfect.

Chill out – It’s very important that you chill the ice cream base before adding it to your ice cream maker. If the base is not cold enough, the ice cream won’t set properly.

Don’t skimp on the fat – High-fat milk and cream are essential when making homemade ice cream. Opting for a low-fat option often leads to icy ice creams and inconsistency in the texture.

Don’t go crazy with the add-ins – If you’re adding in additional ingredients, pick one or two and make sure they are chopped into pieces no larger than a blueberry or pea.

Don’t skimp on the sugar – Sugar not only adds sweetness to homemade ice creams, it also helps with the texture. Sugar is essential for the creamy texture of ice cream.

No Churn Tutti Frutti Ice Cream Directions

To make no-churn tutti frutti ice cream, start by chilling a shallow container or a loaf pan in the freezer while you mix the ice cream ingredients.

Pour the ice cream base into the prepared pan and freeze for 3-4 hours. Stir the ice cream every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours to help add air. This will help create a creamy, smooth texture.

Stir the crushed pineapple and candied fruit into the ice cream after the first hour or so. This will keep the mix-ins from falling to the bottom of the container.

Tutti Frutti Ice Cream Add-Ins

There are very few rules when it comes to the types of fruit that you can add to Tutti Frutti ice cream! Different countries or regions have their own common fruits that they add to this all-fruit mixture, so you can also make up your own combination.

In addition to candied fruit like raisins, cranberries, and cherries, try pieces of fresh or frozen fruit, such as peaches, bananas, strawberries, or sweet cherries.

Shredded coconut, chopped walnuts, or pecans would also be delicious in this recipe!

More Fruity Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

• Watermelon Ice Cream
• Pineapple Ice Cream
• Mango Ice Cream
• Strawberry Ice Cream
• Orange Sherbet
• Lemon Custard Ice Cream

Our Favorite Ice Cream Making Tools:

• Cuisinart 2QT Ice Cream Maker – Works with ice cream, sorbets, and frozen yogurt.
• Loaf Pan – You can use any 9 x 13 loaf pan or a shallow pan, but we like this one.
• Ice Cream Scoop – Make sure you have a good ice cream scoop. This is one of our favorites.
• Ice Cream Containers – We love keeping a couple of ice cream containers on hand for when we make homemade ice cream.

Note: Each of these links will take you to the exact product on Amazon. As an Amazon associate, I earn a little from each qualifying purchase.

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