DIY-Soft Serve Ice Cream

You may have heard that last Sunday was dubbed National Ice Cream Day, in celebration of that favorite dessert of all ages.  If you ask us, your Two Chums, we would tell you that everyday could be considered “Ice Cream Day”!  We recently came across a method for making soft serve ice cream.  This short video from Chef Steps will show you just how simple this can be to make at home:

We tried it ourselves.  It is truly not only simple, it is quite delicious!

Here is the recipe we used:

4 cups whole milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1 tablespoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 +lbs. dry ice

Mix the whole milk, sugar, cream and dry milk powder and stir until completely mixed.  Heat just until the mixture is scalding.  Set aside to cool then add vanilla and salt and chill completely.  Keep chilled until ready to freeze.

Crush the dry ice in a towel until it is a fine powder that resembles sand.  Place the ice cream mixture in a kitchen aide or stand mixer and add the dry ice 1-2 tablespoons at a time mixing well in between additions.  Be careful not to add the dry ice too quickly or add too much at any one time as it will cause the whole thing to “boil” over.  Just keep adding the dry ice slowly and mix well in between additions.  It will take about 8-10 minutes for the mixture to thicken.  When it has thickened, continue mixing for a couple of minutes to make sure all the dry ice has been incorporated and the mixture is very creamy.  Scoop the ice cream into a piping bag and fill your favorite cones or ice cream cups with some of the best soft serve ice cream you’ll ever eat.

Make this delightful soft serve up and we guarantee any day you do will feel like “National Ice Cream Day” 🙂

BTW – You could try any recipe you might like but it would be important to add milk powder and scald the mixture, then chill it before making the ice cream.

If you prefer chocolate ice cream, it is easy to make as well.  To the recipe above, add an extra  3/4 cups sugar and 1/2 cup cocoa powder to the basic mixture before you scald it.  When it is cooled add an extra teaspoon of vanilla before chilling the ice cream.