Craving the smooth, creamy delight of soft serve ice cream but don’t want to head to the store? You’re in luck! Making soft serve ice cream at home is surprisingly simple and incredibly fast. This easy recipe, sometimes known as “ice cream in a bag,” requires no special equipment and delivers a delicious vanilla soft serve in just about 5 minutes. While the exact origins of this method are a bit of a sweet mystery, it’s believed to have popped up in the US in the early 1900s, with a mention in Popular Mechanics magazine as far back as 1907.
This recipe is not only quick and easy but also a fantastic activity to get kids involved in the kitchen! And if you’re looking for more no-fuss frozen treats, be sure to check out other no-churn ice cream recipes for even more inspiration.
Metal Bowl with Scoops of Soft Serve Ice Cream in It with Sprinkles and a Spoon on a White Counter.
Ingredients for Your Homemade Soft Serve
Let’s gather what you need to whip up this frozen treat. Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients and some helpful substitutions:
- Heavy Cream: The star of the show for creamy ice cream! Heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream, is essential because of its high-fat content. This fat is what gives soft serve that rich, smooth, and luxurious texture we all love. For a lighter version, you can substitute with half and half or whole milk. Keep in mind, though, that this will change the final consistency, making it less thick and creamy.
- Whole Milk: Following the theme of richness, whole milk is the preferred choice for the creamiest possible soft serve. Just like with heavy cream, using lower-fat milk will result in a less dense ice cream.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetness is key, and granulated sugar delivers just that. It also dissolves easily, ensuring it’s evenly distributed throughout the mixture for consistent sweetness in every bite.
- Vanilla Extract: For that classic vanilla flavor! A teaspoon of vanilla extract adds warmth and depth to the ice cream. Feel free to experiment with other extracts like almond or peppermint for different flavor profiles.
- Salt: Don’t skip the salt! Salt plays a crucial role in lowering the freezing point of ice, which is necessary to freeze the ice cream mixture properly. Rock salt, often called ice cream salt, is traditionally used, but kosher salt is a readily available and effective substitute. You can also use Himalayan pink salt or Maldon sea salt. If using rock salt or Himalayan pink salt, double the amount specified for kosher salt. If using Maldon sea salt, use the same amount as kosher salt.
Close up of Soft Serve Ice Cream in a Plastic Bag After Shaking it in a Salt and Ice Bag.
Mix-Ins and Flavor Variations
Want to jazz up your vanilla soft serve? Absolutely! One of the best things about homemade ice cream is the ability to customize it. Get creative and add your favorite mix-ins to personalize your treat.
Consider these delicious additions:
- Chocolate Chips: Mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate shavings, or even chunks of your favorite chocolate bar.
- Crushed Cookies: Oreo cookies, chocolate chip cookies, or graham crackers for a delightful crunch and flavor.
- Fruit Pieces: Fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, or even diced peaches or bananas.
- Nuts: Chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, or peanuts add a nutty flavor and satisfying texture.
For mix-ins, you have two options:
- Blend them in: Add your chosen mix-ins to the cream mixture before you start shaking the bag. This will evenly distribute the flavors throughout the soft serve.
- Top it off: Keep it classic vanilla and simply top your soft serve with your favorite sauces and toppings after it’s made. Think chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, sprinkles, fresh fruit, or whipped cream!
Can You Double This Soft Serve Recipe?
While it might be tempting to make a larger batch, the answer is generally no, doubling this recipe in a single bag is not recommended. When attempting to double the recipe using the ice-in-a-bag method, it often takes significantly longer to freeze, and the ice cream may not reach the desired solid consistency.
However, don’t let that stop you from making more! The beauty of this recipe is its speed and simplicity. You can easily make multiple individual batches, one right after the other. The good news is that you can reuse the ice and salt mixture for subsequent batches, making the process even quicker for round two (or three!).
Spoon Taking a Bite out of a Metal Dish with Soft Serve Ice Cream.
How to Store Homemade Soft Serve (If You Must!)
This recipe is perfectly portioned for a single serving (about a cup), designed to be enjoyed immediately at its softest and creamiest best. Soft serve is truly best enjoyed fresh!
However, if you do have leftovers or want to make it ahead of time (though freshness is key for soft serve!), you can store it in the freezer. Be aware that freezing will change the texture. It will become much harder and less like traditional soft serve. When you’re ready to enjoy it later, you’ll need to let it thaw for a bit to soften, but it won’t quite regain that perfect soft serve consistency.
Scoop of Soft Serve Ice Cream in a Metal Bowl on a White Counter with Spoon Nearby.
Quick and Easy Soft Serve Ice Cream Recipe
This recipe is all about speed and ease. Get ready for homemade soft serve in minutes!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yields: Approximately 1 cup
Ingredients
- ½ cup (119 g) heavy cream
- ½ cup (122.5 g) whole milk
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups ice
- ⅓ cup (96 g) kosher salt (or ½ cup rock salt/Himalayan pink salt, or ⅓ cup Maldon sea salt)
Instructions
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Combine Cream, Milk, and Vanilla: In a sealable plastic bag (quart-size or similar), pour in the heavy cream, whole milk, and vanilla extract.
Adding Milk and Heavy Cream to a Plastic Bag to Make Soft Serve Ice Cream. -
Add Sugar and Dissolve: Add the granulated sugar to the bag. Seal the bag tightly, making sure it’s completely closed to prevent leaks. Shake the bag gently for a minute or two until the sugar is fully dissolved into the liquid mixture.
Adding Sugar to a Bag Filled with Heavy Cream to Make Soft Serve Ice Cream. -
Remove Excess Air: Open the bag briefly, squeeze out as much excess air as possible, and reseal it tightly. This helps with the freezing process.
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Prepare Ice and Salt Bag: In a separate, larger resealable plastic bag (gallon-size or larger), pour in the ice and salt.
Ice and Salt in a Bag before Adding the Cream Mixture Bag to Make Soft Serve Ice Cream. -
Combine Bags and Shake: Place the smaller bag containing the cream mixture inside the larger bag of ice and salt. Ensure both bags are securely sealed.
Cream Mixture in a Bag Inside a Bag of Ice and Salt to Make Soft Serve Ice Cream. -
Shake Vigorously: Now for the fun part (and a mini arm workout!). Shake the bag vigorously for about 5 minutes. It’s best to do this over a sink or outside as the outer bag can get condensation. You might want to wear gloves or wrap the bag in a towel to protect your hands from the cold. The salt will lower the temperature of the ice, causing the cream mixture to freeze and transform into soft serve ice cream.
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Check Consistency: After about 5 minutes, carefully remove the ice cream bag from the ice bag. Check the consistency of the soft serve. If it has reached your desired thickness, it’s ready to serve! If you prefer a slightly firmer ice cream, shake for another minute or two.
Close up of Soft Serve Ice Cream in a Plastic Bag After Shaking it in a Salt and Ice Bag. -
Serve Immediately: Scoop or pipe the soft serve into bowls or cones. Enjoy your homemade soft serve ice cream right away!
Notes
- Doubling the Recipe: As mentioned earlier, doubling this recipe in one go is not recommended. Make multiple single batches for best results.
- Reusing Ice and Salt: You can reuse the ice and salt mixture for making additional batches of soft serve.
Enjoy the delightful simplicity of making your own soft serve ice cream at home! It’s a perfect treat for a hot day, a fun family activity, or whenever you crave a quick and delicious dessert.
