Mason Jar Ice Cream

We scream, you scream, we ALL scream for ice cream. What we’re not so into: some of the hoops you have jump through to make it at home. Luckily, we’ve lots of magic shortcuts for you, from no-churn options like strawberry shortcake or cookie lovers, to ice cream made in a bag, and now this recipe, ice cream in a mason jar.

It really is as easy as it sounds: simply put heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt into a jar, then shake it! You do have to shake it for a full 5 minutes, so this is a great recipe to do with kids—we’re big fans of swapping the jar back and forth so no one gets tired. Once the cream has thickened, become opaque, and can coat the back of a spoon (think closer to sour cream consistency), it’s ready. Pop your jar in the freezer for a few hours, and presto: homemade ice cream.

The best part about these is that they’re individual-sized—no more buying multiple pints, or having to share the last bite of your favorite flavor with your family or friends. Instead let everyone make their own jar, and then they can top with whatever they like (need inspiration? check out our favorite ice cream toppings for ideas). You could even try adding ingredients into your jar before you shake it, but don’t go overboard—you’ll want to leave room for the cream to nearly double in the jar once it’s been shaken.

Made this? Let us know how it went (and what toppings you like best!) in the comments below.

Editor's Note: This recipe was updated on June 2, 2022.