Mason Jar Ice Cream

This easy Mason Jar Ice Cream is a quick way to enjoy a sweet and creamy frozen treat on a hot day. It has a subtle vanilla flavor making it the perfect base to get creative.

Easy Ice Cream in a Jar

Ice cream is a tasty summer treat that is a fantastic way to keep cool. I was so used to buying ice cream from the grocery store that I didn’t know how easy it was to make at home. This recipe is so simple and it requires minimal effort to result in a delicious dessert. I love that it’s a vanilla-based recipe. It’s so easy to customize the flavors and make it your own. My kids love it, too. I hardly ever have the store-bought stuff in our freezer anymore!

Why You’ll Love This Mason Jar Ice Cream

• Only 4 ingredients: Just 4 simple ingredients are all it takes to make creamy homemade ice cream in a mason jar.
• 5-minute prep time: It only takes 5 minutes to prepare the ice cream before you freeze it.
• Easy to increase the recipe: This recipe makes 2 servings but you can always make more and store it in a larger, freezer-safe container to enjoy anytime.

What You’ll Need

Here is everything you need to make homemade vanilla ice cream in a mason jar. These ingredients are affordable and easy to find at any grocery store.

• Wide-mouth mason jar: A wide-mouth jar will make adding ingredients easier as well as using a beater if you choose to use that mixing method.
• Cold cream: Any kind of heavy cream or heavy whipping cream will work perfectly in this recipe.
• Sugar: I use white granulated sugar for sweetness, but can use your favorite sugar substitute if you prefer.
• Vanilla: This is a basic vanilla ice cream, so feel free to change the flavor to your liking.
• Salt: Adding a little bit of salt will balance the flavors of the other ingredients.

How to Make Mason Jar Ice Cream

Making this ice cream in a jar is incredibly easy and fun, too! Let your kiddos help make it. Just add ingredients, shake, and freeze. 

• Add the ingredients to the mason jar. Combine the cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt into the jar.

• Screw on the lid and shake. Be sure to screw the lid on nice and tight. Then, shake the ice cream mixture for about 5 minutes. Once it thickens and coats the back of a spoon, you have the right consistency.

• Freeze. Place the jar in the freezer for 2-3 hours or overnight.
• Serve. Give it a couple of minutes to soften if needed, and enjoy with your favorite toppings!

Serving Ideas

Here are some ideas on how to serve this mason jar ice cream recipe.

• Toppings: Homemade Caramel Sauce, Hot Fudge Sauce, Candied Nuts, strawberry sauce
• Mix-Ins: nuts, sprinkles, fresh fruit, crushed cookies

Flavor Variations

• Coconut: Add coconut extract instead of vanilla. Once partially frozen, stir in coconut flakes.
• Lemon: Add lemon zest and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice with the other ingredients. 
• Mint chocolate chip: Use mint extract for a mint flavor and green food coloring (optional). When the ice cream is partially set, stir in chocolate chips.
• Chocolate strawberry: Fold in fresh strawberry chunks and chocolate chips/chunks after the ice cream is partially set.
• Brownie: Use cocoa powder and brownie pieces to achieve this flavor.

Proper Storage

Store the ice cream in the freezer until it is soft set, which should take a minimum of 3 hours but can be frozen overnight. I recommend that you enjoy the ice cream within 3-5 days for the best flavor and texture. However, since it is safe to freeze mason jars, leftovers can be kept for up to 1 month in the freezer.

More Ice Cream Recipes to Try

• No Churn Cherry Ice Cream
• Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
• Rocky Road Ice Cream
• Cookie Monster Ice Cream
• Moose Tracks Ice Cream