Summer Berry Ice Cream

Egg-free ice cream, often called Philadelphia-style or American-style, is a traditional method that can yield phenomenal results if superior ingredients are used and if the ice cream is not pumped full of air (as many cheap store-bought brands are). From the perspective of a home cook, egg-free ice creams are simpler than custard-based ones, and more foolproof. You don’t have to worry about tempering the yolks, or fear curdling. To soften the texture of egg-free ice creams, which otherwise freeze rock solid, David Lebovitz, author of “The Perfect Scoop,” advised adding a few spoonfuls of alcohol or a liquid sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Adding more sugar also helps the texture, said Nick Morgenstern of Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, but so does simply leaving the ice cream at room temperature — or better, in the refrigerator — until soft enough to scoop.