Living Montessori Now

Montessori Inspiration for Parents and Teachers

Montessori-Inspired Natural Ice Cream in a Bag

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July is National Ice Cream Month, and it’s a great time for a Montessori-inspired version of ice cream in a bag! The third Sunday of July was actually National Ice Cream Day, but I think the entire month (and summer in general) is perfect for enjoying ice cream – especially when there are healthy versions you can prepare easily. Ice cream in a bag is a fun way to make a quick ice-cream snack during the school year, too.

Montessori-Inspired Natural Ice Cream in a Bag

I had an earlier post linking to ice cream in a bag from Simply Montessori: “Activity of the Week – Homemade Ice Cream Right Now! No Machine Required!” Ice cream in a bag can easily be adapted for a Montessori-inspired food-preparation activity and healthy treat. It’s great for kids, but I enjoy it as an adult treat, too.

For kids, you can easily prepare a tray with the basic materials needed. If you want to leave the tray on a shelf for your kids to make ice cream in a bag on other days, you can just leave the ingredients on the tray except for the milk and ice. I created a recipe page that can be used to make a natural version of ice cream in a bag.

Vanilla Ice Cream in a Bag Recipe Page

Vanilla Ice Cream in a Bag Recipe Page

You can use the recipe page to make either a dairy or vegan version of ice cream in a bag. I like to use soy milk or almond milk, although any type of dairy milk would work as well. (I guess this is technically ice milk in a bag!) You can adjust the amount of sweetener, too. And you may also make a game of tossing the bag back and forth rather than shaking it.

You may download and print out my recipe page to help your child prepare the activity as independently as possible. Download a PDF recipe page by clicking here. Click here for an editable Word document of the same recipe page in case you’d like to adjust the recipe or change any of the images.

I like to add some melted 100% cacao baking chocolate to my ice cream sometimes to make healthy chocolate ice cream. I just melt the chocolate in the microwave and mix it in with the other ingredients in the small bag.

Ice cream in a bag doesn’t have the same texture as regular homemade ice cream, but it still tastes good – and it’s fun to make. You can add whatever toppings you like. And you can give your child bowls of toppings to create food art if he or she likes. July is also National Blueberry Month, so I added a couple of blueberries to my simple design.

I’d love to hear if you’ve tried ice cream in a bag before. And I’d love to hear how you’re celebrating National Ice Cream Month! 🙂

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. recipes in Marathi says

    I am feeling foodie after reading your blog on ice-cream and i love it i remember last time i have made ice cream my own by reading the recipe from recipes in Marathi app and loved that ice-cream it was just perfect and today also i will make it by reading this..

  5. Cathy says

    Love this idea! W have tried this before and were amazed at how great it worked! 🙂 Saying hello from a little bird told me link party! I would lobe for you to visit me over at my blog! 🙂
    Cathy

  7. Dianna Kennedy says

    Yum! We love making homemade ice cream, and with that printable, I can turn my boys loose (sort of) so they can make it themselves!

    Thanks for sharing on The Thoughtful Spot!

  8. Snotty Noses says

    This is an awesome idea. We love making ice-cream but only have a small freezer and the quite small ice cream maker takes up a whole shelf! (I’ve even been having a go at jarring tomatoes to make some space.) Will definitely give this a go this summer! Thank you.

  12. Cara says

    Cute, I’m going to bring all of this to the park with a safe milk for a friend and let the kids have fun making ice cream.

  13. Jen Fischer says

    I can’t WAIT to try this with my Wild Thing. I’m also linking up for the first time because I think my Bee Sensory bin qualifies as Montessori-inspired. (I hope I’m right!)

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Jen! Your bee sensory bin is awesome … it definitely qualifies as Montessori inspired. Thanks for linking up! 🙂

  14. Heather says

    I did something similar when I was in Girl Scouts! We used coffee cans though, as they were able to withstand enthusiastic young girls!!
    I still love to make ice cream, but I have graduated to an ice cream machine!

    • Deb says

      Thanks for your comment, Heather! Making ice cream in a can is awesome, too. Of course, ice cream made in an ice cream machine is definitely the best. I have lots of wonderful memories of making ice cream in both winter and summer. My dad still makes ice cream when we come to visit! 🙂

  15. Jen says

    We just started ice cream activities today! We had an ice cream taste test- rasperry with chocolate chips, spumoni, and pecan turtle trail. Then we read a couple of ice cream themed books. I have this on my list to do and I love your print out! I’ve made this in a bag and a kick the can version. Fun!

    • Deb says

      Thanks for your comment, Jen! What a fun unit study … perfect for July! I love activities like that in the summer … educational and lots of fun! 🙂

  16. Montessori Motherload says

    This is great! My daughter will love it. It’s funny, I was just talking to my sister and her boyfriend about ice cream machines, ice cream balls, etc. This one seems easier and more convenient so I’ll share it with them as well! Thanks!

    • Deb says

      Thanks, Montessori Motherload! I find making ice cream in a bag incredibly easy. I hope everyone enjoys it! 🙂

    • Deb says

      Thanks for your comment, Brenna! The anniversary of the first ice cream cone patent would be another awesome day to observe … I love that we can celebrate on September 22 now, too! 🙂