Homemade Ice Cream Recipe Kids Love To Make and Eat!

I always strive to find fun new things to do with my kids. From science experiments to cooking to outdoor adventures, we're always looking for new ways to have a blast.

One of those things I recently came across online and knew I had to give a try, because I figured they'd get a kick out of it. And boy, did they!

Even better, the final product far, far and away was more impressive and tasty than I thought it was going to be. I'm talking about making homemade ice cream.

I remember as a kid my neighbor's parents making us homemade ice cream and there was a giant ice cream machine involved, salt, ice, all kinds of crazy steps and complicated stuff. I'm certain what I'm about to tell you existed back then... so why was this not a thing?

It's literally this simple:

Mix 16 oz. heavy whipping cream with 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk. Use either a Kitchenaid-style or wand mixer to mix it/whip it like crazy, until you get some stiff-ish peaks. This is where it gets fun.

You can add vanilla extract or a vanilla bean for some of the best vanilla ice cream you've ever had. Or, you can get crazy and add some mint extract and chocolate chips for mint chocolate chip. How about some crushed Oreos for cookies and cream? Or simple cocoa powder for chocolate. The world is your oyster!

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Put it all into a container with a lid and toss it in a freezer for about 6 hours, and let me tell you what - it's going to be among the best ice cream you ever had. And fun to make with the kids. Not the healthiest, for the record, but delicious nonetheless.

Mine had a ton of fun, and were super proud of our homemade batch over the weekend (and it didn't cost me $25 for a few cones at the ice cream shop, either!).