How to Make Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

This homemade ice cream in a bag has only 3 ingredients to mix together, and within about 10 minutes it’s ready to eat. It’s a fun summer activity with the kids to make a cool, sweet treat when it’s hot outside.

If you have ever wondered how to make homemade ice cream in a bag, I’m here to share with you how easy it is to make. The recipe is just three ingredients! And it only takes 5-10 minutes to make, then it’s ready to eat.

Years ago, my sister-in-law introduced me to this homemade ice cream in a bag. My kids had so much fun making it that it’s something we do together every summer.

This is a fun summer activity and treat to do with the kids when it’s hot outside. Kids have fun shaking the bag, and they love that they get to eat ice cream within minutes.

You can watch the YouTube video above, or you can read below how to make ice cream at home with step by step instructions.

Here are some questions people have asked before making the ice cream in a bag for kids:

How Does Ice Cream in a Bag Work?

The key to making the bag of ice cream freeze is by adding salt to the ice cubes. The salt lowers the melting point of the ice.

When you use ice to cool the ingredients for ice cream, the heat is transferred from the environment, which includes your ice cream mixture and your hands that are holding the bag of ice, to the ice making the ice cream mixture colder.

When you add salt, it lowers the freezing point of the ice, so even more energy has to be absorbed from the environment for the ice to melt. This makes the ice colder than it was before, which is how your ice cream freezes.

How Do You Make Ice Cream From Scratch in a Bag?

Here is how to make homemade ice cream in a bag:

1. In a bowl, mix the half and half, sugar and vanilla extract. (See the recipe below.)

2. Place the cream mixture in a pint-size re-sealable bag, and make sure it’s sealed tight. Set aside.

3. In a large gallon re-sealable bag, fill half way full of ice cubes. Add 1/2 cup rock salt on top of the ice cubes.

4. Place the pint-size cream mixture bag inside the gallon bag. Add a few more ice cubes on top of the small bag. Seal the gallon bag.

5. Shake for about 5-10 minutes until the ice cream thickens.

6. Take the pint-size bag out and quickly run it under cold water to rinse off the salt.

7. Stick a spoon in the bag and enjoy!

Do You Have to Use Rock Salt to Make Ice Cream?

You don’t have to use rock salt to make ice cream. You can use table salt instead. However, rock salt works better than table salt.

Rock salt isn’t processed as much as table salt, and is much chunkier. It also contains a lot of impurities, which is why it isn’t used for eating.

When making ice cream, you can control how fast the ice cream forms by modifying the amount of salt you use. Rock salt has larger crystals that takes longer to dissolve and may result in a smoother ice cream.

The ingredients needed to make ice cream in a bag for kids are half & half, vanilla extract and sugar. The other items you’ll need are rock salt, ice cubes and re-sealable bags.

1. To make the easy ice cream in a bag, mix the half and half, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl.

2. Place the cream mixture in a pint-size re-sealable bag, and make sure it’s sealed tight. Set aside.

3. In a large gallon re-sealable bag, fill half way full of ice cubes.

4. Add 1/2 cup rock salt on top of the ice cubes.

5. Place the pint-size cream mixture bag inside the gallon bag. Add a few more ice cubes on top of the small bag. Seal the gallon bag.

6. Shake the bag for about 5-10 minutes until the ice cream thickens.

7. Take the pint-size bag out and quickly run it under cold water to rinse off the salt. Stick a spoon in the bag and enjoy!

And here is the printable version of how to make homemade ice cream in a bag:

Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

Prep time: 10 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Serves: 1

Ingredients

1 cup half & half
2 Tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup rock salt or table salt
Ice cubes
Gallon-sized re-sealable bag
Pint-sized re-sealable bag

Instructions

In a medium bowl, mix the half and half, sugar and vanilla extract.
Place the cream mixture in a pint-size re-sealable bag, and make sure it's sealed tight. Set aside.
In a large gallon re-sealable bag, fill half way full of ice cubes. Add ½ cup rock salt on top of the ice cubes.
Place the pint-size cream mixture bag inside the gallon bag. Add a few more ice cubes on top of the small bag. Seal the gallon bag.
Shake for about 5-10 minutes until the ice cream thickens.
Take the pint-size bag out and quickly run it under cold water to rinse off the salt.
Stick a spoon in the bag and enjoy!