DIY Project

Kitchen

Ice cream in a bag

Homemade vanilla ice cream shaken up in zip-top bags with ice and salt, a summer science lesson you get to eat.

Ice cream in a bag
LevelBeginner
AgesWith grandkids ages 4 and up
Time20 minutes
Cost$4 to $8

What you'll need

Materials

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Tools

How to make it

Safety

Salted ice gets cold enough to hurt skin, so always hold the bag in a towel or mitts.

  1. Step 1: Mix the cream
    1

    Mix the cream

    Pour the half-and-half, sugar and vanilla into a small bag. Push out the air and seal it tight.

  2. Step 2: Fill the big bag
    2

    Fill the big bag

    Put the ice and salt in the gallon bag.

  3. Step 3: Nest the bags
    3

    Nest the bags

    Put the small bag inside the big one. Seal the big bag.

  4. Step 4: Shake it
    4

    Shake it

    Wrap the bag in a towel and shake for 5 to 8 minutes. Take turns. Hands get cold.

  5. Step 5: Check it
    5

    Check it

    Squeeze the small bag. It's ready when it feels like soft-serve.

  6. Step 6: Eat it
    6

    Eat it

    Wipe off the salty water, open the small bag and eat it with a spoon.

Edie's tip

Rolling the bag back and forth across a table works as well as shaking it, and it's much gentler on shoulders and wrists.

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