Ice Cream in a Bag Sensory Shake
Mix cream and sugar in a small bag, nestle it in ice and salt in a big bag, then shake hard — a cold, physical sensory experience that ends in ice cream.
What You'll Need
- 1Heavy cream (1 cup)
- 2Sugar (2 tablespoons)
- 3Vanilla extract
- 4Small zip bag
- 5Gallon zip bag
- 6Ice cubes
- 7Rock salt (1/2 cup)
- 8Towel
What You'll Need
Heavy cream (1 cup)
Sugar (2 tablespoons)
Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon)
A small zip bag and a gallon zip bag
Ice cubes
Rock salt (1/2 cup)
A towel
How to Play
Pour cream, sugar, and vanilla into a small zip bag. Seal it tight — double-seal if possible.
Fill a gallon bag halfway with ice and add rock salt.
Place the small bag inside the large bag, surrounded by ice. Seal.
Wrap in a towel (the salt makes the ice extremely cold) and start shaking.
Shake hard for 10-15 minutes. Take turns if arms get tired.
Check progress — the cream gradually thickens. When it's the consistency of soft-serve, it's done.
Open carefully (no salt water in the cream!), scoop into a bowl, and eat your creation.
Tips
The science: salt lowers the freezing point of ice, making the ice bath colder than regular freezing temperature. That extreme cold freezes the cream.
This is an intense full-body sensory experience: cold temperature, vigorous shaking, the smell of vanilla, and the taste reward at the end.
Wrap the bag well — the salt-ice mixture can cause ice burns on bare hands.
Add crushed Oreos or sprinkles to the cream before sealing for a custom flavor.
If the cream isn't thickening after 15 minutes, add more salt to the ice. The colder, the faster.
Age Adaptation Tips
School-age kids can take more ownership. Let them lead the activity, experiment with variations, and explain what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 20 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: heavy cream (1 cup), sugar (2 tablespoons), vanilla extract, small zip bag, gallon zip bag, and 3 more items.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 5-8 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors or outdoors?
This activity works great both indoors and outdoors, giving you flexibility based on the weather or your space.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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