Have you ever made hand-tossed ice cream? This interactive summer activity ends in a sweet treat that kids can’t resist! A few simple ingredients go into a bag, which goes into another bag filled with ice and salt. Then comes the fun: these bags get tossed and shaken until the contents freeze into delicious ice cream. (Don’t worry, they get taped up well!)
Ingredient and Equipment Notes
- Simple Ingredients – The ice cream itself requires 2% milk, cream (regular whipping cream or heavy cream will work), sugar, and vanilla. Feel free to grab your favorite toppings and mix ins, such as strawberries, blueberries, and crushed or chopped Butterfingers, Twix, peanut butter cups, or Skor bars.
- Ziploc Freezer Bags – Remember that these bags are going to be abused quite a bit! I would stick with name brand bags for this recipe. You’ll need quart sized freezer bags for the ice cream and gallon sized freezer bags for the ice.
- Ice – This recipe calls for 10 lbs of ice, which is one bag if buying from the store. You’ll need to be able to fill two gallon sized freezer bags initially, then possibly some more for refills as the ice melts during tossing. If using your own ice at home, fill several gallon bags ahead of time from your ice maker.
- Ice Cream Salt – You can find ice cream salt in the baking aisle next to the other salts. Rock salt works just as well.
- Waterproof Tape – Duct tape works well. This is to seal the bags so your ice cream and salty ice don’t leak and mix.
- Gloves – Optional, but helpful to keep little fingers from getting too cold.
How To Make Hand Tossed Ice Cream
- In a large bowl, you’ll combine some sugar, milk, whipping cream, and vanilla. You’ll then divide this mixture between a couple of quart-sized freezer bags, squeeze out all of the air, seal, and tape shut.Â
Then you’ll place one filled bag inside one gallon-sized bag and sprinkle 1 cup of ice cream salt around the smaller bag. Add as much ice as you can comfortably fit into the gallon-sized bag, squeeze to remove excess air, and zip shut. Maneuver the ice around to make sure there’s ice on all sides of the smaller bag inside. Place in freezer while you repeat the process with the second bag.Â
When the second bag has been prepared, head outside. Be sure to bring the leftover ice and rock salt because you’re probably going to need to drain some of the salty water and replenish the ice supply while you’re tossing the ice cream. Let each kid take a turn (or a couple) tossing the bags of ice cream into the air or to each other. It gets C-O-L-D, so a pair of gloves won’t hurt anybody!
- After about 10-15 minutes, remove the quart-sized bag and rinse off the saltwater. Cut a hole in one corner of the bag and squeeze the ice cream into individual dishes. Let everyone add their desired toppings and have at it! It might be a little melty, but I promise, not a single person will complain!Â
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ice cream freeze well if we have leftovers? This is a recipe that’s best enjoyed right after tossing. Because the ice cream is freezing, but not getting any air mixed into it like traditional ice cream, it’s more of a melty soft serve dessert.
How do I plan ahead/ plan this for a larger group of kids? Prep your ice cream mixture and complete the steps through taping the quart-sized bags closed. Store these in the fridge for up to a couple of days. When ready to use, help the kids add the smaller bags, ice, and salt to the larger bags and get shaking!
Serving Suggestions & Related Recipes
Air Fryer Crumble Topping or Homemade Magic Shell Topping would be fun additions here. Hot Fudge Sauce or Buttermilk Caramel Syrup would also be delicious!
Looking for more fun ideas to do with the kids? Check out these other Our Best Bites favorites:
Oven-Dried Apple Chips {Two Ways!}
Homemade Hot Pockets
Frozen Pudding Pops
Edible Playdough and Finger Paint
Did You Make This?
I’d love to hear from you! Snap a picture and tag me on Instagram, then come back and give this recipe a rating!
Kids Week: Hand-Tossed Ice Cream
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Description
This interactive summer activity ends in a sweet treat that kids can’t resist!
Ingredients
ICE CREAM
2 cups 2% milk
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
Desired ice cream toppings and mix-ins (we used sugared strawberries, blueberries, and crushed or chopped Butterfingers, Twix Bars, York Peppermint Patties, Reese’s PB Cups, and Skor Bars)
SUPPLIES
2 1-quart Ziploc freezer bags (I used Walmart brand and wished I’d sprung for the big guns)
2 1-gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bags (ditto on the name brand)
10 pounds ice (one bag)
2 cups ice cream salt
waterproof tape (like duct tape)
gloves (optional, but keeps little fingers from freezing)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine sugar, milk, whipping cream, and vanilla. Have one of your larger little helpers hold open one quart-sized bag and pour half of the mixture into the bag and zip shut, squeezing out all the air. Use duct tape to tape the opening shut (we actually, in a pinch, used electrical tape and it was fine!). Repeat with second bag.
2. Place one filled bag inside one gallon-sized bag and sprinkle 1 cup of ice cream salt around the smaller bag. Add as much ice as you can comfortably fit into the gallon-sized bag, squeeze to remove excess air, and zip shut. Maneuver the ice around to make sure there’s ice on all sides of the smaller bag inside. Place in freezer while you repeat the process with the second bag.
3. When the second bag has been prepared, head outside. Be sure to bring the leftover ice and rock salt because you’re probably going to need to drain some of the salty water and replenish the ice supply while you’re tossing the ice cream. Let each kid take a turn (or a couple) tossing the bags of ice cream into the air or to each other. It gets C-O-L-D, so a pair of gloves won’t hurt anybody!
4. After about 10-15 minutes, remove the quart-sized bag and rinse off the saltwater. Cut a hole in one corner of the bag and squeeze the ice cream into individual dishes. Let everyone add their desired toppings and have at it! It might be a little melty, but I promise, not a single person will complain!
My parents used to do this with us when my brother and I were little. It's so much fun!
I made ice cream in a bag for the 1st time last year, and it was pretty good. Thanks for the recipe and idea!
Yummy! What a fun family activity.
Awesome idea!
My three boys would LOVE this…fun, fun, and yum, yum!!
Can't wait until my son is a little older to try this! Maybe my husband and I will have some fun with it! A great date night activity! 🙂
yum, i've done this before too, but i forgot all about it!
Made the chocolate mint pudding pops last night, can't wait to eat them tonight. Think we'll try the ice cream with our 9-year old and one of his friends later this week.
Seriously, why have I never thought of this?!? I know what we're having for dessert next Monday night for FHE.
Jenny–I would say it probably safely serves 8, give or take a little depending on how big appetites are! 🙂
Ah-ha! The easy-peasy and inexpensive version of the ice cream ball thing! I love it. Not sure my 2-year-old would grasp what we were doing, but definitely a fun activity to keep in mind!
– Jennifer
I remember doing this as a kid in science class, so yummy!
Hey Kate and Sara!
Just wanted to say thanks for the pie pointers last week. I totally won first place (for best flavor) in the pie contest! Your banana cream pie is so awesome!
Thanks again!
julie!
How many people does this serve?
good idea and great fun!!!!!
This is a family tradition in my husbands family. The duct tape is such a good idea; we'll have to try it next time. Salty ice cream is not good!
I remember doing this as a kid 🙂 Just the astonishment of "Wow.. that really worked!" was fun enough for us!
i think i am going to do this for scouts tonight. sounds fun! thank you so much!
What a fun & cute idea! It looks really yummy too!
What a fun & cute idea! It looks really yummy too!
I am lovin' kids week. These look so fun and should entertain the kids for a while. Thanks!
This is a fun way to involve kids in fixing their food! Thanks.
We've got a family reunion this weekend, this will definitely be a hit!
This one my boy will love, specifically since he can toss it around! Thanks again for a great recipe!
Sounds like a delicious lesson in patience!
Yum! I'm going to try this with my daughter this weekend!!
Did you say this was for kids? 'Cuz I think that my hubby and I might just try this tonight. Sans kiddos.
What a fun idea!
LOL awesome! And totally keeps the kids busy great idea!
That looks like so much fun!!! My 7 year old would love to do that with his cousins! 🙂