Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream (No Machine)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details.

Hi Bold Bakers!

WHAT YOU GET: Creamy and smooth soft-serve ice cream that’s perfect for a hot summer’s day or whenever you’re craving a cold dessert. My Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream recipe is not only a delicious treat but also an intriguing science experiment. Made in just 30 minutes using a secret ingredient, you’re in for some fun with this recipe!

My Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream recipe is a brand new, fun, and crazy way to make ice cream that pairs beautifully with my Homemade Ice Cream Cones. There’s no need to drive to your local ice cream shop anymore when you can get the same creamy, swirly deliciousness at home with this recipe.

Best of all, you don’t need a machine, and there’s a secret ingredient. Can you guess? It’s dry ice! This is not like any other ice cream recipe you’ve encountered before, and I’m excited to share with you Bold Bakers just how bold it can get around here.

Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream Inspiration

I found this fun recipe on Chefsteps.com. This is a website I often frequent because they get into the details of the how and why, which I love. Plus, they aren’t afraid to play around with bold ingredients, just like making ice cream with dry ice. I recommend browsing the site if you’re looking for great cooking and kitchen essentials that can help you round out your skills!

Have Questions About Dry Ice? We’ve Got You Covered:

1. What is dry ice?

Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2). It’s colorless with a neutral odor, non-flammable, and slightly acidic.

Dry ice is primarily used as a cooling agent. It holds a lower temperature than that of regular ice, so it will stay frozen for a lot longer. It’s frequently used to package items that must remain cold or frozen, such as ice cream or biological samples. It’s also used to carbonate fizzy drinks.

2. How does dry ice work?

As the liquid in the dry ice evaporates, it gets cold. It takes energy to turn a liquid into a gas, and that energy comes from heat drawn out from the liquid. This chemical reaction freezes the soft-serve ice cream instantaneously, which is why it’s such a useful ingredient for cold desserts.

3. Is dry ice safe to use?

The dry ice I used in this recipe is food-grade, which means it’s specifically designed for food use and consumption. This ingredient is used extensively in the catering trade and restaurant kitchens, evaporating as it chills the food. 

In small quantities, it’s safe to eat, but it needs to be handled carefully. That being said, please make sure that if you’re a minor, you have adult supervision or an adult’s help because it can cause burns if not handled properly. Wear gloves or use a towel.

3. Where can I buy dry ice?

In the US, you can find dry ice in large supermarkets like Smart & Final, Costco, Safeway, and Walmart. However, every location and state is different, so call ahead before you go looking to see if they’re in stock. 

Thanks to the internet, you can also buy it online in the US. Outside of the US, I suggest doing a quick Google search to see what is available to you.

4. Can I use regular ice rather than dry ice for this recipe?

Unfortunately, no. This soft-serve recipe is specifically designed for really fast freezing, so this can only be achieved with dry ice. Regular ice is not cold enough.

I know that food-grade dry ice may not be available everywhere. This may seem like a bummer, but don’t worry! I have plenty of amazing no-machine ice cream recipes like ‘Homemade Ice Cream Recipe With Only 2 Ingredients’ that are just as delicious!

Tools You Need To Make Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream (No Machine):

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Large bowl
• Hand blender
• Tea towel or apron
• Gloves
• Cast iron pan or hammer (alternatively, heavy object to crush)
• Plastic bowl or Tupperware container
• Stand mixer with paddle attachment
• Spoon
• Optional: Piping bag; large, round piping nozzle

What Kind Of Cream Should I Use?

There’s a variety of creams you can use, such as heavy, whipping, or all-purpose cream. While any of these creams work, I recommend using heavy cream because it deepens and enriches the vanilla flavor.

You can also go the extra mile and make your own Homemade Whipped Cream to go in your Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream! Check out my other Homemade Cream recipes to expand your baking repertoire.

What Other Flavors Can I Add To My Soft Serve Ice Cream?

When you have a vanilla base for your ice cream, the world is your playground. You can add different flavorings like cocoa powder or matcha powder to mix things up. However, you’ll have to adjust the measurements as you go.

You can also add toppings to your Homemade Soft Serve Ice Cream like fruits, chocolate, and nuts. Make sure to fold these into the ice cream base so that you can see all the lovely chunks in your mixture. Check this article out for topping and flavor inspiration!

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making The Best No-Machine Soft Serve Ice Cream:

• A really good way to keep your Soft Serve Ice Cream nice and cold through the process is by freezing your bowl. Pop your bowl in the freezer for an hour before you make your ice cream. 
• Wear protective, insulated latex, nitrile, or leather gloves when handling dry ice.
• Don’t add the dry ice too quickly to your ice cream base. Otherwise, it will lead to a big pile of bubbling ice cream all over your work surface. Go slowly.
• This recipe does well in the fridge, so feel free to make your ice cream base up to 3 days in advance.
• To preserve the texture of your Soft Serve Ice Cream, pop your ice cream in the freezer for up to 1 ½ hours if you’re not going to eat it immediately. Don’t leave it in for too long or else it can freeze rock solid and lose its soft texture.

Want More Ice Cream? Try These!

• Creamy Vanilla Pudding Ice Cream
• How To Make Japanese Mochi Ice Cream
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Fudge Ice Cream Pie
• Cornstarch Ice Cream (Sicilian Eggless Gelato)
• 3 Ingredient Ube Ice Cream (No Machine, No Churn)
• How to Make Homemade Ice Cream in a Jar
• Homemade Outrageous Ice Cream Sundaes

Want To Go Deeper?

Level up your baking skills even further and subscribe to the Bold Baking Academy today! You’ll get access to all the in-depth baking courses both past and present, access to the Bold Baking Academy Community, and the one-of-a-kind Baking Concierge — which is a fast & direct connection to Gemma & her team of culinary experts to answer any baking question you might have.

That’s right, inside or out of the Academy! So subscribe now!

Try These Recipes!

Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream For Breakfast

Creamy & Classic Chocolate Malt

12 Best Ice Cream Recipes (No-Churn, No-Machine)

Strawberry Soda Ice Cream Float