How to Make Ice Cream in A Bag (With Printable Recipe for Kids!)

Have you ever made ice cream in a bag? It’s one of our favorite summer activities— it’s so simple, fun, and educational!

Every year, making ice cream in a Ziploc bag is one of the first things my kids add to our summer bucket list. They love it because it’s delicious. I love it because it doubles as a hands-on summer science activity!

Why Make Ice Cream in a Bag?

Making ice cream in a bag is:

• Fun and easy for kids.
• A great way to cool off in the summer.
• An educational activity that teaches real science concepts like states of matter and heat transfer.
• Easy to do with kids of all ages.

And the best part? You don’t need an ice cream maker—just a few simple ingredients and some shaking power!

Ingredients for Ice Cream in a Bag

We like to keep the ice cream recipe simple and then have fun adding different toppings each time we make it.

You only need a few basic ingredients to make ice cream in a bag:

• 1 cup milk, half and half, or heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Ice
• 1/3 cup rock salt (or table salt)
• 1 sandwich or quart size zip-top bag
• 1 gallon size zip-top bag

Tip: Milk will make a lighter ice cream, while half and half or heavy cream makes it richer. We’ve tried all three and enjoy switching it up—kids can even do a taste test to compare them!

How to Make Ice Cream in A Bag

In the smaller bag (sandwich or quart size), mix together your milk (or cream), sugar, and vanilla. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag.

Fill a gallon-size bag with about 4 cups of ice and 1/3 cup of salt. (Or you can put 2-4 bags of ice cream mix in a big bowl that seals tightly and fill it with ice and salt)

Place the smaller bag with the ice cream mix inside the larger bag with ice. Seal the large bag tightly.

You may want to wrap the bag in a towel (or wear gloves) so your hands don’t freeze while you shake it for 10–15 minutes.

We like to get creative with our shaking. The kids favorite is bouncing the bags on the trampoline, tossing it between family members is also a fun idea!

Once the ice cream has firmed up, remove the smaller bag. Wipe it off with a towel to remove any salt water.

Scoop the ice cream into a bowl or eat it right from the bag!

Add your favorite toppings: crushed Oreos, mini M&Ms, sprinkles, or chocolate sauce are some of our favorites.

Ice Cream in a Bag Science for Kids

This activity isn’t just fun—it’s a great opportunity to sneak in some STEM learning! Here’s what your kids are learning:

• States of Matter -milk (a liquid) transforms into ice cream (a solid)—a perfect example of changing states of matter.
• Freezing Point Depression – salt lowers the freezing point of ice, which allows the ice to get colder and freeze the cream.
• Heat Transfer – heat moves from the warmer cream to the colder ice, freezing the cream and melting the ice.
• Physical Changes – the transformation is physical, not chemical. No new substance is formed—just milk turning into a frozen treat!

Want to experiment? Try making batches using:

• Whole milk
• Half and half
• Heavy whipping cream

Then have a family taste test to see which one your kids like best! Don’t forget to have the kids create a hypothesis about which one will taste the best.

I hope you have fun making this ice cream in a bag this summer. Don’t forget the printable recipe below.

Ice Cream In a Bag Kids Recipe Printable

I’ve created a simple, kid-friendly printable recipe with pictures to help your child follow the steps. It’s perfect for home, classrooms, or summer camps.

Please keep this printable for personal and class use only.

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