There’s nothing quite like a scoop of rich, creamy homemade chocolate chip ice cream on a hot summer day. With big chunks of chocolate scattered throughout, every bite is a decadent treat for your taste buds.

Making homemade ice cream may seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple. And when you see how much better it tastes than store-bought versions, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making it yourself all along.

To start, you’ll need a good quality ice cream maker. There are many different brands and models available, so do some research to find the one that’s right for you. Once you have your ice cream maker, you’ll need a few basic ingredients: heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and of course, chocolate chips.

To make the base for your ice cream, heat the cream, milk, and sugar in a saucepan until it’s just about to boil. Remove from heat, add the vanilla extract, and let it cool completely. Once cooled, pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. About five minutes before the ice cream is done, add in the chocolate chips.

After the ice cream is done churning, transfer it to a lidded container and freeze for at least 4 hours, or until it’s firm. Serve in bowls or cones, and enjoy the rich, creamy goodness of your homemade chocolate chip ice cream.

What sets homemade ice cream apart from store-bought versions is the freshness of the ingredients and the control you have over the flavors. You can customize your ice cream to your liking, adding more or less chocolate chips, or even swapping them out for nuts or fruit.

So the next time you’re craving a cold, sweet treat, skip the frozen aisle at the grocery store and make your own deliciously rich homemade chocolate chip ice cream. Once you taste the difference, you’ll never go back to store-bought again.