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Vanilla ice cream in a metal ice cream scoop, above a double zip log bag ice cream making set up. A bowl of rainbow sprinkles is in the background.

How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag

Ice Cream From Scratch
Learn How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag! It's a fun hands-on way to make delicious ice cream using the old-fashioned salt and ice method.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Ice Cream Recipes
Cuisine Dessert
Servings 6 servings
Calories 182 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups crushed ice
  • 1/2 cup rock salt or kosher salt
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 gallon-size zip top bag
  • 1 quart-size zip top bag

Instructions
 

  • Add the ice and salt to the gallon-sized bag. Mix together.
  • Place the heavy cream, whole milk, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract into the quart-size bag.
  • Squeeze out as much air as possible and close the bag completely. Shake to combine.
  • Place the bag with the ice cream mixture into the gallon-sized ice bag, making sure that the ice is formed around the ice cream mixture bag. Close the top of the bag with the ice in it.
  • Shake the bag for 5-10 minutes, until the mixture has thickened into ice cream. 
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Rinse off the quart-sized bag before serving to remove the salt.
  • You can add mix-ins, such as sprinkles, cookies, fruit, or candy, when you're finished shaking the bag.
  • If your ice cream is not thick enough, add more salt to the ice mixture to help it get cold enough. 
  • If the bag is too cold for you to hold when you shake it, wear gloves or cover the bag with a towel. 
  • While rock salt is best, I tested this recipe with kosher salt since most people have that in their kitchen and it worked perfectly. If you use rock salt, you will shake a few minutes less. 
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