How to Make Ice Cream in a Mason Jar
Nothing goes with summer better than ice cream…especially homemade ice cream! If you’ve never had homemade ice cream, it is quite a treat. Rich and creamy, sweet and thick. You won’t even be remember the name of it’s store-bought friend while eating this decadent treat.
I am always looking for ways to get my kids involved in the kitchen – from playing with the alphabet on the fridge to “helping” with dishes, they love being close to me while I work and I love that they get to develop skills with hands on, practical play.
This particular recipe is perfect because my preschooler can make the whole thing (almost) by herself. She loves measuring out the cream and carefully pouring the ingredients into the mason jar. We usually make the ice cream before nap time so that it’s ready after dinner. She gets so excited to tell her daddy that she made dessert, which allows her to take pride in her accomplishments and receive a very tangible reward for her efforts.
How to Make Ice Cream in a Mason Jar
You will need:
- 1 Mason Jar
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream (you can substitute up to half a cup for milk)
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
First, pour the heavy whipping cream into the mason jar.
Then add the vanilla, sugar, and pinch of salt.
Screw the lid on tightly and shake the mason jar for 5 minutes.
When you’re finished shaking the mason jar, you’ll notice the cream has gotten a lot thicker. It should coat the sides of the jar and the bottom of the lid.
Put a wet paper towel under the lid and screw it on tightly. Then put it in your freezer for at least 3 hours.
Scoop out the ice cream and enjoy! Of course, you can add any topping you’d like – my preschooler’s wouldn’t be complete without sprinkles.
Here’s a handy printable recipe:
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream (you can substitute up to half a cup for milk)
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Pour all ingredients into a mason jar.
- Shake vigorously for 5 minutes until a thick cream forms (it should coat the back of the lid).
- Cover with a wet paper towel.
- Freeze for 3 hours.
- Enjoy!
Have you ever made homemade ice cream? There are lots of recipes, but I love this one for a quick activity to do with kiddos. Share your favorites in the comments below!
Yummy!
What size jar did you use?
Hi Jean! We used pint sized or 19oz mason jars. Let me know igvyku have any other questions!
How much should the measurements of the ingredients be if I decide to use a 500 gm jar?
I think it should be about the same measurement being that 16 oz is about 453gms.
I made one with my 3 years old boy and we loved it. I used a 16oz jar at it was perfect. I put dark chocolate chips.