Vegan Ice Cream in a Bag

For all the things I swore I would do with the kids this summer, the ONE THING we could not miss was the activity of making ice cream in a bag. Sure enough, it’s the last week before school starts and I haven’t followed through. But today, I redeem myself with not only a fun activity and treat but a new spin on a classic by making ice cream in a bag… the Vegan version!

We Can All Scream for Ice Cream

Creating treats for kids with special diets and food allergies has honestly started to become a huge passion of mine. Last week many of you went gah gah over my Vegan Vanilla Buttercream recipe and thanked me for sharing it. Food has come such a long way in a short amount of time which means lots of changes for avid mommy snack “prepare-ers” such as myself… I couldn’t resist but to jump at the chance to bring another yummy Vegan recipe that doubles not only as a yummy treat, but a super fun kid’s activity too!

Buckle Up

What I love about this Vegan ice cream recipe is that it requires no fancy ingredients or special equipment… Just helpful hands and curious minds + tummies. Another BIG plus is that the flavor combos are totally endless! If you have never made ice cream in a bag with your family before, buckle up because this post will cover all your bases and more. Included are easy substitutions for those with nut allergies or following a paleo diet (like me!). I truly believe treats should be flexible enough in their ingredient list and preparation to be enjoyed by ALL. That’s why I’ve put so much effort into this fun Vegan Ice cream in a Bag Recipe. Let’s get started..!

You Will Need

.9 Liter tupperware container* (see notes)

2 1/2 cups ice + 1/2 cup ice for replacing

1 sandwich baggie with zip to secure

3/4 cups Almond Milk (I use unsweetened)

1/4 cup Califia Farms Half Almond Half Coconut Creamer Unsweetened

2 tablespoons sugar (or stevia for paleo version)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup mixins such as fresh diced fruit (optional)

3 tbsp ice cream salt

*Notes: I’ve made ice cream in a bag using a large freezer bag in place of tupperware but I find the tupperware to be much easier on the hands since it gets so cold! Be prepared for a little water to leak out a little while shaking… it’s all part of the fun ice cream process.

How to Make

Step 1. Pour Almond milk, creamer, sugar, and vanilla (+ mix ins if using) in bag and seal until no air pockets remain.

Step 2. Fill tupperware with ice and ice cream salt.

Step 3. Place sandwich bag inside of ice filled tupperware and seal with lid.

Step 4. Shake the tupperware for a total of 5 to 8 minutes until desired ice cream consistency. About halfway through drain out the water from melted ice and replace with reserved ice.

That’s it! Ice cream in a bag can be enjoyed right out of the bag with some sprinkles if you wish or it can be scooped out into a cone. For ice cream solid enough for a cone, the bag may or may not need to be placed in the freezer to set up a bit more (this depends on how much shaking it got!).

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Nut Allergy Substitutions

For friends with nut allergies try this substitution in place of the almond milk and creamer:

3/4 cup coconut or oat milk

1/4 coconut cream

Gluten Free Options

For gluten intolerance friends, ice cream in a bag is perfect when enjoyed right our of the bag! This makes this treat and activity perfect for play dates and birthday parties (just double check to see if anyone has a nut allergy, then follow the substitutions above. If you do want to enjoy a gluten free cone, I found this brand called Joy and you can find info about their gluten free cones here. We picked ours up at Safeway and they were just as yummy as the non gluten-free version!

Ice Cream Flavors

Try out these flavors the next time you make ice cream in a bag:

Cherry Almond: 1/4 tsp almond extract + 1/4 chopped fresh cherries

Mint Chip: 1/4 tsp peppermint extract + 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Mocha Almond: 1 tsp instant espresso, 3 tbsp mini chocolate chips + 1 tbsp sliced or chopped almonds

Chocolate: 3 tbsp cocoa powder

Fresh Fruit: 1/4 cup fresh or thawed frozen and diced fruit (we love making this recipe with strawberries! Thinking of all of the yummy fruit combos has me drooling.)

Here is the Neapolitan version we made for my recent Instagram post.

The moral of the story is, the flavor combinations are endless! I think next time I’ll try fresh peaches and try some type of peach pie flavor… EXCITED!

I hope you guys give this one a try with your kiddos! There truly is no easier or healthier way to enjoy some yummy ice cream at home with little helpers by your side. Turn any afternoon into a fun activity and treat with this recipe all year long. And school may me back in session but our fun activities are here to stay and I think it’s pretty sweet.

For more activities and yumminess check out my recipes tab here for all the goods. Be sure to subscribe to the blog to help support all of the fun and stay connected… I appreciate it!

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Have an amazing rest of your week friends and be sure to tag me when you give this one a try. Until next week..!

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