
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details.
Hi Bold Bakers!
When it comes to making ice cream, I showed you a few years ago that you don’t need an ice cream machine to make it — but you could achieve amazing ice cream made by an electric mixer. It doesn’t get much easier than that, right? WRONG! Brace yourselves for How to Make Homemade Ice Cream In a Jar!!!!
What is Homemade Ice Cream In A Jar?
You start out with 3 things: heavy whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, and a jar! Get your work out on and shake them up really well until the mixture thickens. The shaking incorporates air into the mix which thickens the cream. Within minutes, hey presto you have Homemade Ice Cream in a Jar. It is literally that easy.
[ Don’t forget I have over 100+ ice cream flavors and frozen desserts in my Freezer Section! ]
What You Need To Make Ice Cream In A Jar
Get a pen and write this down:
- A Glass Jar & Lid
- Heavy Whipping Cream (minimum 36% fat content)
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Freezer-Ready Ice Cream Container
Is that really all you need?? Yes, and it makes fantastic ice cream.
How to Make Homemade Ice Cream In A Jar
Here’s how simple it is (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, down below):
-
Place into the fridge a 12 oz glass jar with a tight, sealable lid for 30 minutes. (I don’t recommend a plastic container as it will be very difficult and messy to work with).
-
Into the jar add the heavy whipping cream and condensed milk. Stir really well until combined.
-
Seal the jar tightly and shake really well until you can feel the mix has thickened. This can take anywhere from 6-10 minutes. This timing all depends on how hard you are shaking so it might take more or less time. When the mix doesn’t sound as loose that means it is whipped and thick.
-
Now, you have a thick and creamy ice cream base to turn into any flavor of ice cream you want. Check out the recipe below on how to make Vanilla, Strawberry, and Chocolate Ice Cream.
Gemma’s Pro Tips For Making Ice Cream In A Jar
- Substitute for cream? Unfortunately, there is not! It has to be cream, not milk. And it has to have a minimum of 36% fat content.
- Make your own condensed milk! It’s just sugar and milk. Find the recipe here for my Condensed Milk.
- Listen to your ice cream: Once the mix sounds less and less liquid you can tell it is ticketing. That is when it’s ready.
- Can you over-shake it? Yes, and it can split, so take a peek to make sure you haven’t shaken it too much.
- Don’t put the glass jar into a freeze! I use these disposable Ice-Cream Containers or you can use plastic Tupperware.
- Want to make more flavors? Follow the same guidelines for my No Machine Ice-Cream and see you can make any flavor you like.
How do I store ice cream? How long does it last?
In an ice-cream container, disposable Ice-Cream Containers, or a freezable container, freeze your ice-cream for a minimum of 6 hours before enjoying. Store in the freezer for up to 8 weeks.
Make More Homemade Ice Cream!
And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking cookbook!
Want even more ice cream? Get 100+ ice cream flavors and frozen desserts in my frozen section!
Full (and printable) recipe below!
Watch The Recipe Video!
How to Make Homemade Ice Cream In A Jar


Ingredients
2 Ingredient Ice cream Base
- 1 cup (8 fl oz/240 ml) heavy whipping cream , cold
- 4 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk , cold
Vanilla Ice-Cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla bean paste , optional
Strawberry Ice-Cream
- ½ cup (2 ½ oz/71 g) strawberries
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Chocolate Ice-Cream
- ⅓ cup (2 oz/57 g) bittersweet chocolate , melted and cooled
Instructions
To Make the 2 Ingredient Ice cream Base
- Place a 12 oz glass jar with a tight, sealable lid in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes (I don't recommend a plastic container as it will be much harder to whip).
- Into the cold jar pour in the cold heavy whipping cream and cold condensed milk and stir with a spoon.
- Seal the jar tightly and shake really well until you can feel the mix thicken and it doesn't sound as liquid, roughly 6-8 minutes (depending on how hard you are shaking).
- Now, you have a thick and creamy blank canvas to turn into any flavor of ice cream you want. Below are just some of the most popular flavors.
To Make Vanilla Ice Cream
- Into your ice cream base stir in the vanilla extract and vanilla paste if using. Store in the freeze in the jar or transfer to a container that is freezable.
To Make Strawberry Ice Cream
- Blend the strawberries and sugar in a blender or food processor until pureed. Pass the puree through a sieve to remove the seeds.
- Stir the puree mix Into your ice cream base. Transfer to a freezable container or leave in the jar if desired.
To Make Chocolate Ice Cream
- Into your ice cream base swiftly stir in the cooled, melted chocolate. Do this step quickly as the chocolate will start to set on the ice-cream base. Place in the freeze in the jar or transfer to a freezable container if desired.
To Freeze and Store your Ice Cream
- Freeze your ice cream in the jar or transfer to a disposable ice cream container. Freeze for a minimum of 6 hours before enjoying. Store in the freezer for up to 8 weeks.
Hey, Jemma! This looks so delicious and I would definitely want to try it, but unfortunately on the market in my country there is only whipping cream with 35,1% fat, not the recommenden 36%. Can I use it?
I will never be able to shake it that long due ti wrist surgery. Can I use either a hand-help mixer or a stand mixer? Thank you.
Could this be made with an electric ice cream machine?
I am not clear about what kind of chocolate to use. Can it be cocoa powder or what kind and how much chocolate do I melt and add?
It turned out as I expected, better than other ice cream recipes I have read, even better than the professional ice cream recipe book that I bought .. thank you
It turned out as I expected, better than other ice cream recipes I have read, even better than the professional ice cream recipe book that I bought . thank you
If I wanted to make the ice cream peanut butter or Oreo, how would I do that? (Sorry I’m not even out of middle school and want to make this for my mom)
Yummy
This recipe looks great
????
Is it possible to use double cream instead of heavy whipping cream?
I make this, but with my electric hand mixer. Much easier for me with the same delicious results.