Summer is in full swing and what better way to beat the heat and sneak in some learning with a fun tasty recipe? Today I am sharing our favorite homemade ice cream recipe the whole family can join in on the fun! The best part? You can totally kill several school subjects in one go!
Beyond the Bowl; Benefits of Kids in the Kitchen
Turn your kitchen into a learning lab! There are so many hidden learning gems in the kitchen. Cooking and baking with kids in the kitchen goes beyond just a good time spent! It is a fantastic opportunity to blend family bonding, life skills, and connect to school subjects (without them noticing):
Math: Measuring ingredients is a practical application of fractions, ratios, and volume. They will learn about teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, and pints in a real-life context. Giving them something tangible, beyond worksheets. Now consider doubling or halving the recipe!
Science: Understanding the transformation of liquids to solids through freezing is a basic science concept. How does salt play a roll in this? (lowers the freezing point of liquids )
Reading: Following a recipe requires reading and sequence skills. They will need to understand the instructions to complete each step.
Language arts: Discussing textures, flavors, ingredients, steps will expand their vocabulary. Take it up a notch and write their own recipes!
So ditch those screens and / or textbooks and head into the kitchen to cool off with this homemade ice cream recipe! If you’re on instagram be sure to check out the video of us making this recipe here
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15-20 minutes
makes
1 cup of ice cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup half & half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 Cup course salt
- Lots of Ice
- Quart size zip loc bag
- 1 gallon zip loc bag
- toppings; berries, sprinkles, syrups, chocolate
Steps
1
In a quart sized ziploc pour half and half, add vanilla and sugar
2
Zip the bag up getting as much air out as possible and place into gallon sized bag.
3
Into gallon bag put lots of ice and 1/4 cup salt. Close the gallon sized bag.
4
Shake for about 10-15 minutes until reached ice cream consistency.
*If it is not reaching the desired consistency place in the freezer for half an hour.
5
Scoop out the ice cream amd add your desired toppings!
Tips For Tast-Safe Play-Doh
- Immediate Enjoyment is Best: Ziploc bag ice cream is designed for instant gratification! While delicious, it doesn’t have the stabilizers of commercially produced ice cream, so it’s best enjoyed right after it’s made. If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the freezer, but the texture might change slightly.
- Storage: Store right away, do not let it melt. Store in the freezer in an air-tight bag.
- Use the right salt : Rock Salt is KEY! Don’t skip it or substitute for table salt.
- Wear Gloves (or Use a Towel): The ice and salt mixture will get very cold! Protect your hands with gloves or wrap the bag in a kitchen towel while you’re shaking to avoid discomfort..
- Add Flavors: Add flavors with all the liguids in step 1. You can do syrups, food grade essential oils, and flavor drops.
- Get Creative with Toppings: Once your ice cream is ready, the fun doesn’t have to stop! Set up a topping bar with sprinkles, chocolate syrup, fresh fruit, crushed cookies, or anything else.
- Don’t Overfill: Leave some space in your ice cream mixture bag (about one-third empty) to allow for expansion as it freezes and to give the ingredients room to mix properly.
And there you have it – a remarkably simple yet incredibly satisfying and full of learning; simple homemade ice cream recipe with just a few basic tools! This Ziploc bag method makes individual ice cream portions which is perfect for a classroom, birthday, camp, or family activity! So gather your ingredients, enlist some eager helpers, and get ready to shake up some sweet memories! Enjoy every lick!
*I may earn a small commission from purchases made through my links at no cost to you
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Taste-safe play-doh Recipe for babies and toddlers
Play-Doh Ideas (coming soon)