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Create delicious homemade ice cream in a bag. It’s a fun activity for kids on a warm summer day or any time. No ice cream maker needed!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- A fun activity for the kids. Not only does it entertain the kids but it is delicious too!
- It’s fast and easy. When you need homemade ice cream fast this recipe is perfect. It only takes 10-15 minutes to make.
- Small Batch ice cream. The recipe makes the perfect amount of ice cream for one person.
- No ice cream maker required!
Supplies Needed:
- Gallon resealable plastic bag
- Sandwich size resealable plastic bag
- Ice. About 5-6 cups
- Half and Half. (or use half whole milk and half heavy whipping cream)
- Granulated Sugar
- Vanilla Extract. Could use flavored extract if you prefer.
- Rock Salt. This is not table salt. You can find it in the baking aisle of the grocery salt near the regular salt. It may also be called ice cream salt.
How to Make Homemade Ice Cream in a Ba
- Combine the milk, sugar and vanilla in the sandwich size bag. If you want to make chocolate ice cream, pour in some chocolate syrup too. Don’t add any solid ingredients into the ice cream mixture like cookies or chocolate chips at this point. You can add those later.
- Seal the small bag and mix the ingredients by smooshing the bag around in your hands until it is combined. Smooshing is fun! But make sure the bag is securely zipped first! And make sure to get as much air out as possible.
- Fill your gallon size bag with ice until it is half way full.
- Add in the rock salt.
- Place the smaller sealed bag of ice cream ingredients into the larger bag. Remove the air from the gallon bag and zip it closed.
- For about 5-10 minutes, shake the bag!
Have fun with this part. Have a dance party, shake it around, jump up and down, or play catch. Just make sure not to drop it! You don’t want the bag to break open.
The temperature will effect how quickly your ice cream sets up. The warmer the weather, the longer it will take to set. If your hands get cold, wrap a dish towel around the plastic bag or wear gloves.
- After the ice cream has set, squeeze it out of the bag into a bowl. If the ice cream is still a little too soft, you can place the smaller bag into the freezer for a bit to help it harden. We found ours did just fine by shaking it. It will have the consistency of soft serve ice cream.
Pair This With:
- Sprinkles
- Chopped up cookies such as Oreos
- Nuts
- Marshmallows
- Fruit such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is half and half?
Half and half is a mixture of half heavy cream and half whole milk. If you can’t find half and half where you live just substitute with half whipping cream and half whole milk. You can use all whipping cream for a creamier ice cream or all whole milk but the ice cream won’t be as creamy.
Can I use a different flavor extract?
I love using vanilla extract but you could also use mint extract, almond extract or maple extract. Other flavored extracts can be stronger than vanilla so start out with using half the amount and taste to see if you want moire.
Can I use a different type of salt?
Rock salt will lower the temperature faster but if you don’t have it you could use kosher salt or table salt.
Ice Cream in a Bag is so yummy and so fun to make. You can have homemade Ice cream in about ten minutes.
For more fun ideas to do with kids check out these:
Ice Cream in a Bag
Ingredients
- 1 gallon zippered plastic bag
- 1 sandwich size zippered plastic bag
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 2 Tbsp chocolate syhrup
- 1/3 cup rock salt
- ice
Instructions
- Fill gallon bag half way with crushed ice.
- Fill sandwich bag with half & half, sugar, vanilla and chocolate syrup. Smoosh to combine ingredients.
- Zip bag closed removing as much air as possible.
- Add rock salt into large bag with ice.
- Place smaller bag with liquid inside larger bag and remove as much air as possible and zip closed.
- Shake or toss bag for 5-10 minutes until the ice cream sets up.
- Remove smaller bag from larger bag and squeeze ice cream into a bowl. Enjoy!
Tips & Notes:
- Sprinkles
- Chopped up cookies such as Oreos
- Nuts
- Marshmallows
- Fruit such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries.
Nutrition Facts:
Jenny says
can you use regular 1% milk?
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
you can but the ice cream will be more icy
Linda says
Can you use soy milk or almond milk instead of half-and-half? Or is there not enough milk fat in those?
Leigh Anne says
I have never tried it so not sure.
Sandy says
I made the bread in the bag with my grandson and it did work exactly as described. I used one of the loaves to make the ‘corners’ for the ‘Thousand Corner ShimpBalls’ recipe and must say it did the best job. I’ll be trying the ice cream recipe for my husband as it looks about the right serving size for someone who has an occasional taste for it.
Suesanne says
How would You make Van Ice Cream in a bag?
Leigh Anne says
Just don’t add the chocolate syrup.
Joanne Brandt says
I love these great idea’s for the kids to do.
Thanks so much.