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Make Ice Cream in a Bag with Your Kids in Just 15 Minutes

A Fun and Delicious STEM Activity for the Whole Family

By Tatiana Sayig, publisher of Macaroni Kid Five Towns - Valley Stream - The Rockaways, N.Y. July 5, 2026

I love when you can combine science with a delicious edible treat. So I was thrilled to discover a STEM activity that involves making ice cream in a bag. It seems like magic, but there's fascinating science happening inside the bag! The salt and ice create a solution that gets cold enough to freeze your milk, turning it into creamy ice cream.

The recipe below for ice cream in a bag makes two small servings. Need more? Simply double your ingredients. This basic recipe makes vanilla ice cream, but you can easily add powdered chocolate for a tasty chocolate variation. Feel free to experiment with other ingredients to create your favorite flavors! It's a fun and educational way to enjoy a sweet treat.


Ice Cream in a Bag

What You Need:

  • 1 cup any kind of milk or half-and-half
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 cups of ice - doesn't need to be exact
  • 1/3 cup salt
  • a sandwich-sized plastic resealable bag
  • a gallon-sized plastic resealable bag
  • Gloves

Directions:

  1. Mix milk, sugar, and vanilla in the small bag. Squeeze out the air and seal.
  2. Mix ice and salt in the large plastic bag.
  3. Place the small bag into the big bag.
  4. Shake hard for 5-7 minutes or until the milk mixture is frozen. Use gloves because the bag will get very cold!

Grab a spoon and let's eat!


Looking for more family-fun ways to enjoy ice cream?


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