Description
Creamy homemade rainbow ice cream delights dessert enthusiasts with its colorful swirls and playful charm. Smooth layers of pastel hues promise a joyful treat you’ll savor with pure culinary excitement.
Ingredients
Scale
Dairy:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
Sweeteners and Flavoring:
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Coloring:
- Food coloring (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
Instructions
- Whisk heavy cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until sugar dissolves completely, creating a smooth, creamy base for the ice cream.
- Refrigerate the mixture for 2 hours, ensuring the base is thoroughly chilled to improve churning and texture quality.
- Separate the chilled base into multiple smaller bowls, preparing for individual color treatments.
- Introduce food coloring to each bowl, stirring carefully to achieve vibrant, distinct rainbow hues. Adjust color intensity as desired.
- For ice cream maker method: Churn each colored base separately according to manufacturer’s instructions. Carefully layer colors in a freezer-safe container, creating a striking rainbow pattern. Optional: Create a marbled effect by gently swirling colors with a knife.
- For no-machine method: Pour colored bases into shallow dishes. Freeze for 45 minutes, then vigorously stir with a fork to prevent ice crystal formation. Repeat freezing and stirring every 30 minutes until creamy.
- Transfer layered ice cream to a container, ensuring colors are beautifully arranged. Freeze for 4-6 hours or overnight until firm and perfectly scoopable.
- Serve the vibrant, multi-colored ice cream in bowls or cones, presenting a delightful and eye-catching dessert that promises to bring joy and excitement to any occasion.
Notes
- Stabilize the base by using a pinch of cornstarch to prevent ice crystals and ensure a smoother texture.
- Choose gel food coloring for more vibrant colors that won’t water down the ice cream mixture.
- Experiment with natural food colorings like beet juice, matcha, or spirulina for a healthier alternative to artificial dyes.
- Create a dairy-free version by substituting coconut milk or almond milk for the cream and milk, maintaining the same creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Freezing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 110mg