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The Easiest Ice Cream In A Bag Recipe For Kids

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This is a fun and easy recipe for making ice cream in a bag. It’s perfect for kids, since it doesn’t require any special equipment or ingredients. All you need is some sugar, half and half, rock salt, ice cubs, and a Ziploc baggies.

I’m confident my kids would add ice cream to the five basic food groups (not including the dairy category that’s already there).

Between the summer boredom which seems to settle in towards the end of June, this homemade ice cream in a bag was the best activity to come out of our kitchen this summer.

The key to making this activity work is to have fun creating your own flavors, from mint and chip, cookies and cream, or even strawberry (yum!)

The Easiest Ice Cream In A Bag Recipe For Kids

Watch this video to see how easy it is to make your own delicious ice cream with your family, no ice cream maker or special equipment needed!

This classic way is so easy that even toddlers will enjoy making their own ice cream. 

Ice Cream In A Bag Ingredients:

supplies needed for ice cream in a bag
  • 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 Cup half and half
  • 1/2 cup rock salt
  • Ice cubes or 1 large bag ice
  • 1 Quart size Ziploc Bag
  • 1 Gallon size Ziploc Bag

How To Make Ice Cream In a Bag Instructions:

pour in sugar into small bag to make ice cream.

Combine the sugar,

Pour in half and half for creamy homemade ice cream in a bag.

half and half, and flavoring of your choice in a quart-size Ziploc resealable plastic bag. Remove the air and seal tightly.

Pour ice in large bag for homemade ice cream.

Place 1/2 cup rock salt (the best ice cream salt to use) and ice cubes (enough to fill up the gallon-sized Ziploc bag half way).

Seal small bag into large bag.

Place the sealed, quart-sized bag with the ice cream ingredients inside the gallon bag and seal tightly.

Shake bag of ice and cream for delicious homemade ice cream.

Shake until ice cream hardens (about 5-10 minutes). The plastic bag will get cold, so feel free to wear a pair of gloves, so you can keep shaking your bag of ice cream.

Homemade ice cream in a bag in an orange bowl.
boy giving ice cream to camera.
Yield: 1

Ice Cream In A Bag (Perfect For Kids)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
This is a fun and easy recipe for making ice cream in a bag. It's perfect for kids, since it doesn't require any special equipment or ingredients. All you need is some sugar, half and half, rock salt, ice cubs, and a Ziploc baggies.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 Cup half and half
  • 1/2 cup rock salt
  • Ice cubes or 1 large bag ice
  • 1 Quart size Ziploc Bag
  • 1 Gallon size Ziploc Bag

Instructions

  1. Combine the sugar, half and half, and flavoring of your choice in a quart-size Ziploc resealable plastic bag. Remove the air and seal tightly.
  2. Place 1/2 cup rock salt (the best ice cream salt to use) and ice cubes (enough to fill up the gallon-sized Ziploc bag half way). Place the sealed, quart-sized bag with the ice cream ingredients inside the gallon bag and seal tightly.
  3. Shake until ice cream hardens (about 5-10 minutes). The plastic bag will get cold, so feel free to wear a pair of gloves, so you can keep shaking your bag of ice cream.

Notes

Additional Flavors For Your Ice Cream Recipe

Vanilla Flavor

2 tsp of vanilla extract

Mint and Chip Flavor

1/2 tsp mint extract AND 1 Tbsp. of chocolate chips

Cookies and Cream Flavor

2 smashed Oreo cookies

Chocolate Flavor

1 Tbsp. chocolate syrup

Strawberry Flavor

1/4 cup crushed strawberries

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150

Additional Flavors For Your Ice Cream

Vanilla Flavor

2 tsp of vanilla extract

Mint and Chip Flavor

1/2 tsp mint extract AND 1 Tbsp. of chocolate chips

Cookies and Cream Flavor

2 smashed Oreo cookies

Chocolate Flavor

1 Tbsp. chocolate syrup

Strawberry Flavor

1/4 cup crushed strawberries

Little boy eating homemade ice cream.

Can I Use Whole Milk?

Anyone who has made homemade ice cream knows that one of the keys to success is using the right type of milk. For the creamiest results, most recipes call for half and half, which is a blend of milk and cream. However, if you don’t have half and half on hand, you can use whole milk instead.

Whole milk will make your ice cream less creamy, so you may need to increase the sugar to ¼ cup. In addition, you may want to chill your milk before adding it to the ice cream mixture. By taking these steps, you can still enjoy homemade ice cream even if you don’t have half and half or heavy cream.

Can I Use Other Types Of Sugar?

When making homemade ice cream, it is important to use the right type of sugar. Granulated sugar works best because it dissolves more easily. This is important because if the sugar doesn’t dissolve completely, it will result in ice crystals forming in the ice cream.

Other types of sugar like brown sugar or honey can be used, but they may not dissolve as well and could result in a less smooth texture. So, for the best results, stick with granulated sugar when making your homemade ice cream.

Toddler eating homemade ice cream in a bag.

Can I Make Ice Cream Without Salt?

When it comes to making homemade ice cream, there are a few key ingredients that you’ll need. Salt is one of them. You might be wondering why salt is necessary, but trust us, it’s a crucial step in the ice cream-making process.

The salt helps to lower the freezing point of the ice cubes, which means that your ice cream will freeze faster. And we all know that the faster ice cream freezes, the better it tastes. So next time you’re whipping up a batch of homemade ice cream, make sure to add the proper amount of salt to your ice cubes – your taste buds will thank you.

How To Prevent Salty Ice Cream?

If you find your ice cream has a salty undertone to the flavor, you can double bag the quart-size bags for next time. By doing this you are essentially creating a double layer of protection around your ice cream using the plastic bag as a shield from the elements.

The second layer will also add an extra bit of insulation, keeping your ice cream colder for a longer period of time. The only reason I would recommend double bagging is to add a second protective layer around your cream and sugar, especially if you’re using a thinner bag (rather than a freezer bag).

What If My Ice Cream Isn’t Freezing?

Any ice cream lover knows that nothing ruins a bowl of ice cream like soupy, melted goodness. If your homemade ice cream isn’t freezing properly, there are a few things you can check. First, make sure you are following the recipe closely.

Sometimes even a small change in the ratio of ingredients can prevent the ice cream from freezing properly.

Second, add more salt or ice to the mixture. Salt helps to lower the freezing point of water, so it can be helpful to add a little extra if your mixture isn’t getting cold enough. Ice also lowers the freezing point of water, so if you add too much ice to the mixture, it will actually prevent the ice cream from freezing.

Finally, make sure the smaller bag is sealed properly. If it’s not, it will take longer to freeze, and the end result will be less creamy and smooth. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your next batch of homemade ice cream will be perfect.

Why Ice Cream In A Bag Works

If you’re looking for a fun science project for your children this ice cream recipe is perfect. The science behind this recipe is pretty simple. Ice cream is made by freezing cream and sugar. The salt lowers the freezing point of the ice, so the ice cream can freeze faster. As a result, you end up with a smooth, creamy ice cream that is perfect for a hot summer day.

Of course, you can always experiment with different flavors and ingredients to create your own unique ice cream. But the basic principles remain the same: by lowering the freezing point of the cream, you can create a delicious and refreshing treat.

Making homemade ice cream with your family is a great way to spend some cool, quality time together. And with this recipe, you can add in your favorite flavors to make this sweet treat your own.

So go ahead and enjoy a bowl (or two) of this homemade ice cream. Be sure to share this fun, family-friendly recipe with your friends. Who knows, they might just want to make their own batch of ice cream next!

Want To Make Some Other Sweet Treat? Here are some recipes you might enjoy making next:

> This red, white and blue layered jello recipe will make you the star of the dinner table. With easy to follow instructions, this is one jello recipe that can’t go wrong.

> This copycat Chick-fil-A frosted lemonade is easy to make and will be your favorite summer drink this year. Enjoy the taste of vanilla ice cream with a hint of lemon. Grab this easy recipe and start making one of the best drinks you’ll ever taste.

> I love how easy this yummy cherry cheesecake ring dessert is to make. With only a few ingredients, this crescent roll recipe is the perfect dessert for your home.

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