Get ready to indulge in a whimsical treat with every scoop of this Cotton Candy Ice Cream! This frozen delight captures the essence of childhood nostalgia, taking you back to those warm summer nights at the carnival! This easy no churn homemade ice cream recipe is creamy, velvety, and calls for only a few simple ingredients. With only 15 minutes of prep time, you'll be enjoying the ice cream version of your favorite fluffy carnival treat without ever leaving your home!
For more no churn recipes, try my oreo ice cream, cookie monster ice cream and mango ice cream!
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Are you ready for the perfect summer treat? This homemade cotton candy ice cream recipe is just that! The delicate notes of spun sugar and vanilla intertwine flawlessly. The combinations of cotton candy flavors reminds me of my childhood memories and carefree moments of riding roller coasters and eating my heart's fill of ice cream at the amusement parks.
It's surprisingly easy to make and you don't need an ice cream maker or any fancy equipment! All you have to do is add everything to a bowl and freeze!
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Easy to make! This no churn recipe comes together in minutes and only requires 5 simple ingredients - heavy cream, canned sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and cotton candy extract, and real cotton candy.
- It has real cotton candy mixed into the ice cream, giving it that true cotton candy flavor that you get at summer carnivals.
- Perfect treat for a birthday party, baby shower, gender reveal,
- No ice cream machine needed! All you need are a few mixing bowls and a electric hand mixer or stand mixer!
What flavor is cotton candy ice cream?
Cotton candy ice cream is a combination of creamy, fruity, and sweet flavors, akin to a more subtle bubblegum flavor. It has a smooth yet sweet taste that can be difficult to describe, but it's one of my favorite flavors.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Heavy whipping cream - this is the key ingredient. Make sure that the cream is COLD so that you get nice fluffy ice cream!
Sweetened condensed milk - this ingredient does all of the heavy lifting. It provides sweetness and flavor while also adding a creamy and smooth texture ot the ice cream.
Cotton Candy Extract - this is the star of the show! It's a mix of strawberry, ethyl maltol, and vanilla flavorings. Cotton candy flavoring can be found at some grocery stores in the baking section, but I ordered mine from Amazon (cotton candy flavoring). This ingredient is a must for the sweet festive flavor.
Vanilla Extract - to smooth out all of the decadent flavors for the perfect ice cream.
Blue and Pink Food Coloring (optional) - you don't have to use any food coloring or you can use any coloring you'd like!
Real Cotton Candy (optional) - now this ingredient is optional but it adds that true cotton candy flavoring in very bite! This is an optional extra step but SO worth it! It's still delicious without it!
Substitutions
- No sweetened condensed milk? You can make your own homemade version which is a combo of whole milk and sugar! Here's an article on how to make sweetened condensed milk at home.
- No heavy cream? This ingredient is key and you'll need it for this recipe! You may be able to use coconut cream (the canned kind, not the milk) but I haven't tried this so if you do, let me know!
- If you don't have any cotton candy, you can simple omit it.
Pro Tips
Here are some tips to help you make the perfect batch of no-churn ice cream:
- Use full-fat ingredients: Opt for full-fat heavy cream or whipping cream, as it will provide a rich and creamy texture to your ice cream. Avoid using low-fat or light alternatives, as they may result in a less creamy consistency.
- Chill your equipment: Before whipping the cream, make sure to chill your loaf pan, mixing bowl, and beaters in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes. This helps keep the cream cold and aids in achieving maximum volume when whipping.
- Whip the cream to stiff peaks: This is an important step! Whip the chilled heavy cream until it reaches stiff peaks. This means that when you lift the beaters, the cream should hold its shape and form a peak that doesn't collapse. Be careful not to over-whip, as it can lead to a grainy texture.
- Use gel food coloring for the best results!
- Freeze and cover well: Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan or a freezer-safe container. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or a lid to prevent ice crystals from forming. Place it in the freezer for at least 4-6 hours, or until it reaches a firm and scoopable consistency.
- This ice cream melts quickly! Because of its smooth and velvety texture, this cotton candy ice cream melts really quickly. Be sure not to leave at room temperature for too long.
No-churn ice cream is a versatile and fun way to create your favorite frozen treats at home. Experiment with different flavors, mix-ins, and toppings to customize your creations. Enjoy the process and savor the deliciousness of your homemade ice cream!
How to make Cotton Candy Ice Cream
- Freeze a loaf pan, mixing bowl, and beaters for 30 minutes prior to making.
- Make the whipped cream. Add cold heavy cream to a large bowl and whip using a hand mixer until stiff peaks. Then fold in the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and cotton candy extract.
- Divide the cream equally between two separate bowls. Add pink food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to the other bowl. Then add the cotton candy to each bowl and mix together until the cotton candy is fully dissolved.
- Spoon the pink and blue cream into a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap or cover with a lid and freeze for 6-8 hours.
- Serve in a waffle cone (my fave) or bowl. (optional: add cotton candy to the top of the ice cream)
- Warning - this will become your new favorite ice cream recipe! Enjoy!
How to Serve and Variations
After freezing, serve in a waffle cone or sugar cone or a bowl! Add a little whipped cream on top for added decadence!
- Add sprinkles! Choose your favorite sprinkles to add to this festive treat!
- Add mix-ins: If you want to include mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, cookie crumbs, or fruit pieces, fold them into the ice cream mixture after adding the flavors. This adds texture and extra bursts of flavor throughout the ice cream.
- Get creative with colors and add different types of food coloring.
How to Store Homemade Ice Cream
Store ice cream in the freezer in an airtight container, preferably an ice cream storage container (although not mandatory). If storing in a loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap to prevent the ice cream from forming crystals. In an airtight container, the ice cream will last about 2 months.
Recipe FAQs
Ice cream stored. inan airtight container in the frezer is good for up to 2 months.
Short answer, no. You can make a substitute for sweetened condensed milk by combining 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan and warm until the sugar dissolves.
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Cotton Candy Ice Cream
Equipment
- Hand Mixer of Stand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
- 9x5 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 14 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 tsp Cotton Candy Extract
- ½ tsp Pink Gel Food Coloring (optional)
- ½ tsp Blue Gel Food Coloring (optional)
- 1 cup Pink Cotton Candy
- 1 cup Blue Cotton Candy
Directions
- Freeze a loaf pan for 30 minutes prior to making. Make the whipped cream. Add cold heavy cream to a large bowl and whip using a hand mixer until stiff peaks. Then fold in the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and cotton candy extract.
- Divide the cream equally between two separate bowls. Add pink food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to the other bowl. Then add the cotton candy to each bowl and mix together until the cotton candy is fully dissolved.
- Spoon the pink and blue cream into a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap or cover with a lid and freeze for 6-8 hours.Â
- Let it soften a bit before serving to making scooping a bit easier. Serve in a waffle cone (my fave) or bowl. (optional: add cotton candy to the top of the ice cream) Warning - this will become your new favorite ice cream recipe! Enjoy!
Notes
- No sweetened condensed milk? You can make your own homemade version which is a combo of whole milk and sugar! Here's an article on how to make sweetened condensed milk at home.
- No heavy cream? This ingredient is key and you'll need it for this recipe! You may be able to use coconut cream (the canned kind, not the milk) but I haven't tried this so if you do, let me know!
- If you don't have any cotton candy, you can simple omit it.
- Use full-fat ingredients:Â Opt for full-fat heavy cream or whipping cream, as it will provide a rich and creamy texture to your ice cream. Avoid using low-fat or light alternatives, as they may result in a less creamy consistency.
- Chill your equipment:Â Before whipping the cream, make sure to chill your loaf pan, mixing bowl, and beaters in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes. This helps keep the cream cold and aids in achieving maximum volume when whipping.
- Whip the cream to stiff peaks: This is an important step! Whip the chilled heavy cream until it reaches stiff peaks. This means that when you lift the beaters, the cream should hold its shape and form a peak that doesn't collapse. Be careful not to over-whip, as it can lead to a grainy texture.
- Use gel food coloring for the best results!Â
- Freeze and cover well:Â Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan or a freezer-safe container. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or a lid to prevent ice crystals from forming. Place it in the freezer for at least 4-6 hours, or until it reaches a firm and scoopable consistency.
- This ice cream melts quickly! Because of its smooth and velvety texture, this cotton candy ice cream melts really quickly. Be sure not to leave at room temperature for too long.
- Add sprinkles! Choose your favorite sprinkles to add to this festive treat!Â
- Add mix-ins:Â If you want to include mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, cookie crumbs, or fruit pieces, fold them into the ice cream mixture after adding the flavors. This adds texture and extra bursts of flavor throughout the ice cream.
- Get creative with colors and add different types of food coloring.
This tasted just like my favorite cotton candy ice cream growing up! Thanks for such an easy recipe.
I made this for my niece's 11th birthday party and it was a HUGE hit with both the kids and the adults. I should have tripled the recipe because it was gone. She's already requested that I bring it again to a family bbq next weekend.
This recipe took me back to my childhood! Cotton candy and ice cream were my favorites. Thanks so much for the easy and tasty recipe.
Not only was this recipe delicious, it brought back so much nostalgia because it is made with real cotton candy! This was the perfect dessert to soothe my sweet tooth.
Thank you so much!
I made this cotton candy ice cream for my niece last weekend. She really enjoyed it and asked me to make it every time she comes over!
Hey Britney! Your Cotton Candy Ice Cream recipe was a hit with my nieces! It was so easy to whip up, and it really brought back some nostalgic fair vibes. The sweetness was spot on, and the texture was dreamy. xx
I didn't even know they made cotton candy extract and now I can't stop thinking about it! This ice cream was not only delicious, but so much fun to make.