Making Ice Cream in a Bag

Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag is SO easy, you only need 3 ingredients and less than 20 minutes to make it! Just mix, shake and enjoy! 

Your family will love this Homemade Ice Cream Recipe in a Bag!

If you have never made Ice Cream in a Bag before, you are in for a serious treat! It is easy, fun and delicious. I have fond memories of making this as a kid, and now it is a joy to make it with my little family every summer.

Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag takes 20 minutes to make. We love to make this when we go camping, on a picnic, for kids birthday parties, and family reunions! It doesn't have to be a special occasion though, it also makes a great boredom buster any day of the week. Need more ideas? Browse all of our Kids Activities.

This recipe is for Vanilla Ice Cream, but you can easily add flavor mix-ins! Everyone can make their own, ends up with just the right serving size. Oh, and did I mention that you don't even have to do any dishes? Mom heaven! I can promise you won't regret trying Ice Cream in a Bag this summer!

If you are looking for more ice cream recipes, Vanilla ice cream, Homemade Blackberry ice cream, and Butter Pecan ice cream are also fan favorites!
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Ice Cream in a Bag ingredients

• Half & Half
• Vanilla Extract
• Sugar

What you need for Making Ice Cream in a Bag:

• Ice
• Gallon Ziploc Bags
• Sandwich or Quart Ziploc Bags
• Ice Cream Salt
• Spoons

Optional:

• Mix-Ins
• Paper Towels
• Cups or Bowls

Our Favorite Flavor Mix-Ins are: crushed Oreos, Raspberry or Strawberry Jam, Chocolate Syrup, and Caramel Sauce. 

How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag

1. Place a small ziploc bag into a cup or glass, folding the edges over so that you can easily pour into it.
2. Pour half and half, sugar and vanilla extract into the bag.
3. Add any flavor mix-ins you want. I love cookies and cream so I added crushed Oreos to mine.

4. Squeeze out extra air and seal the ziplock bag. Put that bag inside another ziplock of the same size and remove air and seal that too.

5. Add ice and ice cream salt to the large ziplock bag.

6. Place the little bags into the big bag of ice and salt and then seal it.

7. Shake for 15 minutes.

8. All finished! You can eat it straight out of the bag, or put it into bowls and add toppings!

Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag flavors

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: Fold chunks of homemade or store-bought cookie dough into the ice cream base for a delightful combination of creamy ice cream and chunks of sweet cookie dough.
• Coffee Toffee Crunch: Infuse the ice cream base with brewed coffee or espresso, then stir in crushed toffee candy or chocolate-covered espresso beans for a caffeinated twist on classic ice cream flavors.
• Salted Caramel Pretzel: Swirl homemade salted caramel sauce into the ice cream base and mix in crushed pretzels for a sweet and salty combination that's sure to satisfy.
• Peanut Butter Cup: Mix creamy peanut butter into the ice cream base and fold in chopped peanut butter cups for a rich and indulgent treat packed with peanut butter and chocolate flavors.
• Cookies and Cream: Crush chocolate sandwich cookies and fold them into the ice cream base for a classic combination of creamy vanilla ice cream and crunchy chocolate cookie pieces.
• Fruity Sorbet: Blend your favorite fruits, such as berries, mangoes, or peaches, with a little lemon juice and sugar to create a refreshing and vibrant fruit sorbet.
• Rocky Road: Mix chopped nuts, such as almonds or walnuts, and mini marshmallows into the ice cream base along with chocolate chips or chunks for a classic rocky road flavor profile.

Ice Cream in a Bag Recipe tips

• Double bag the ice cream mixture before you shake. You don't want any leaking!
• Since our kids are little we like to incorporate games into the shaking process so they don't get bored with it after about thirty seconds! Some great ones to try are hot potato, tag, or our personal favorite option... have a dance party!
•  If kids hands are too cold while shaking it, you can wrap the bag in paper towels, or you can use hot pads or winter gloves.

Ice Cream in a Bag storage

• Seal the Bag: After making the ice cream, seal the bag tightly to prevent any air from entering. Make sure the seal is secure to avoid any leaks or spills.
• Place in the Freezer: Transfer the sealed bag of ice cream to the freezer as soon as possible. Lay the bag flat to help evenly distribute the ice cream inside and prevent it from sticking to one side of the bag.
• Use within a Few Hours: Ice cream made in a bag tends to have a softer texture compared to commercially produced ice cream, so it's best to consume it within a few hours of making it for the best taste and texture. If you plan to store it for longer, consider transferring it to a freezer-safe container for better protection against freezer burn.

Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag FAQs

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