homemade ice cream - in a bag

Love ice cream on a warm summer day? Kick up some cool family fun by making homemade ice cream in a bag! Add in just a few ingredients, then let the kids shake the bags until the liquid changes into ice cream. It’s a great hands-on, edible science project that the kids will love making – and eating!

Servings: 1

1 sandwich size zippered plastic bag
1 gallon zippered plastic bag
1⁄2 cup half-and-half
1 Tbs sugar
1⁄4 tsp vanilla extract (or other flavorings)
2 or 3 cups crushed ice
1/2 cup coarse salt (Kosher or rock salt works best, but table salt is fine)
Optional: Ice cream toppings (such as chocolate chips, sprinkles, fruit, marshmallows, etc.)

Fill the smaller zippered plastic bag with the first 3 ingredients. Zip it closed. Fill the larger bag with the rock salt and fill with ice cubes about ¾ full. Place the sealed smaller bag in the ice and rock salt. Zip up the gallon bag. Squeeze or shake the bag until ice cream is thickened, about 10-15 minutes. (Tip: To keep hands from freezing, wear mittens or wrap the bag in a dish towel.) Take the smaller bag out of the larger one, add toppings, and eat the ice cream right out of the bag with a spoon.