With school starting in about a month, it’s important to make the most of those remaining hot summer days – and hot summer parties! Serving ice cream is one way to make sure your guests enjoy themselves in the heat, and you can add a personal touch to this popular summer treat by making it yourself. You won’t even need an ice cream maker for this easy homemade ice cream recipe! Simply combine the three ingredients (yes, only three!) and freeze overnight, then spoon your homemade vanilla ice cream into individual party cups. You can even decorate the cups with themed cupcake wrappers and personalized stickers, and set out a buffet of popular ice cream toppings so guests can personalize their own dessert! What a “cool” summer party treat!
You’ll Need:
- 8 cups of half-and-half or light cream
- Two 14-ounce cans of sweetened, condensed milk
- ¼ cup vanilla extract
- Freezer containers with tight-fitting lids
- 24 plastic party cups
- 24 Cupcake wrappers
- Personalized stickers
Directions:
- Combine all of the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Pour into ice cream freezer containers and freezer overnight.
- Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving to allow the ice cream to soften up, then spoon into individual party cups.
Serving Tip: An hour or so before the party starts, scoop individual servings into a cupcake tin lined with paper baking cups. When you’re ready to serve the ice cream, remove the cupcake tin from the freezer and drop a pre-scooped serving directly into each cup! If you’re using standard cupcake tins and wrappers, they’ll fit perfectly inside the plastic party cups.
This recipe makes enough ice cream to serve 24 guests, and results in smooth, creamy ice cream that doesn’t have the “grainy” texture of other recipes that incorporate sugar – the condensed milk is sweet enough without it. Call attention to your ice cream buffet table with a personalized banner, and display cherries, nuts and other toppings in colorful bowls that match your birthday party theme. Guests young and old will enjoy this refreshing treat, and you’ll be a Hostess Hero for thinking of it!
What did your guests think of your homemade ice cream? Share your story and party photos on BigDotofHappiness.com‘s Facebook page!