Description
This quick and easy homemade ice cream recipe lets you create creamy, delicious ice cream in just 5 minutes without any special equipment. Using simple ingredients and a clever bag-shaking method, you can enjoy fresh ice cream with minimal effort, perfect for a fun kitchen activity or an instant sweet treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Ice Cream Base
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Freezing Mixture
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 1/2 cup salt (or ice cream salt)
Instructions
- Combine Ice Cream Ingredients: Pour 1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup half and half, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. Seal it tightly and squish around the mixture actively until the sugar dissolves completely, ensuring a uniform sweet base.
- Prepare Freezing Bag: In a separate gallon-sized resealable plastic bag, add 2 cups of ice cubes followed by 1/2 cup of salt or ice cream salt. The salt lowers the freezing point of ice, enabling the ice cream mixture to freeze quickly.
- Seal the Ice Cream Bag Inside: Place the sealed bag containing the ice cream mixture inside the larger bag filled with ice and salt. Seal the outer bag securely to avoid any leaks.
- Shake to Freeze: Vigorously shake the combined bags for about 5 to 7 minutes. Continue shaking until the mixture inside thickens and freezes into creamy ice cream. This shaking rapidly chills the mixture using the ice and salt’s freezing effect.
Notes
- Use salt specifically for ice cream making if available, as regular table salt works but may not freeze as effectively.
- Ensure both bags are sealed tightly to prevent saltwater from leaking into the ice cream mixture.
- Wear gloves or wrap the bags with a towel while shaking to protect your hands from the cold.
- For variations, try adding mix-ins such as chocolate chips or fruit after shaking the ice cream is mostly solid.
- This method is perfect for a fun cooking activity with kids or quick dessert preparation without an ice cream maker.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: homemade ice cream, no churn ice cream, quick ice cream recipe, easy dessert, ice cream in a bag
