These cold, creamy, dreamy Vanilla and Chocolate Homemade Ice Cream Bars are the perfect summertime treat to beat the heat!
Summer is finally in full swing, and nothing says summer better than some ice cream on a stick! These homemade ice cream bars are super easy to make, and they’re out-of-this-world delicious. Chocolate or vanilla? Take your pick (or have one of each)!
When I was growing up, my grandpa would often stop by for a visit in the afternoon, and he would always bring a special treat for us kids. In the summer, it was usually Popsicles (save all the grape ones for me, please!) or (my favorite) Fudgsicles.
Those Fudgsicles were so chocolaty and creamy. I absolutely loved them and still do to this day. Now I just make my own homemade version (that’s even more chocolaty and creamy)!
And even though I love chocolate, I also really love vanilla, so I figured why not make straight-up vanilla ice cream bars too? You don’t really see that very often, but how could it not be good?
Oh, it is good. Very, very, very good!
Many years ago, I tried a recipe in Woman’s Day magazine for a no-churn vanilla ice cream. It was made with just heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract. It was so decadent and delicious and vanilla-y, and I thought it would be the perfect base for these ice cream bars.
To cut down on the calories just a bit, I replaced half of the heavy cream with whole milk. I also added just a bit more vanilla…because why not? And instead of whipping the mixture to form stiff peaks, I just whisk everything together until combined so I can easily pour it into the molds.
Then I split the mixture in half, keep one half vanilla, and whisk in some cocoa powder to make the chocolate ice cream bars.
It’s so quick and easy! It takes about 5 minutes to mix everything together and pour it into the molds, and then you just let your freezer do the rest of the work!
Ingredients needed:
- Heavy cream
- Whole milk
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla extract
- Cocoa powder
Equipment needed:
- Ice pop molds (this recipe will fill 10 3-ounce molds)
- Wooden ice pop sticks
Here’s how to make it:
Tips & tidbits:
- When you add the cocoa powder, at first it will seem like it’s not going to combine with the cold cream mixture. Just keep whisking, and it will get there.
- If your wooden sticks happen to sink too far down (sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t), just freeze the ice cream bars for an hour or two and then add the sticks. By that time, the mixture will have thickened up and you can insert the sticks only as far as you want them.
- To release the bars from the molds after freezing, quickly run them under warm water (not hot) for a few seconds just until they easily slide out. Be careful not to melt them too much!
- Once removed from the molds, these babies will melt more quickly than an ice pop (especially if it’s hot out), so grab a napkin and enjoy them immediately!
- If you want to make a batch that is all vanilla, just omit the cocoa.
- If you want to make a batch that is all chocolate, add 2 additional tablespoons of cocoa (4 tablespoons total).
- AND if you want to up the creaminess factor, you can use more heavy cream and less milk or just use all heavy cream!
Wouldn’t making these ice cream bars be a fun summer activity to do with the kids? They will LOVE what they made – and the grown-ups will too!
I hope you try this recipe for Vanilla and Chocolate Homemade Ice Cream Bars and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
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Vanilla and Chocolate Homemade Ice Cream Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 10 wooden ice pop sticks
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla extract until well-combined.
- Divide the mixture in half (each half will be just over 1½ cups).
- Add the cocoa powder to one half; whisk until well-combined. Note: At first, it will seem as though the cocoa powder isn't going to combine, but keep whisking and it will.
- Pour the vanilla mixture into half of the popsicle molds and pour the chocolate into the other half.
- Cover and insert the wooden ice pop sticks. Note: If your sticks happen to sink too far down (sometimes they do, sometimes they don't), just freeze the ice cream bars for an hour or two and then add the sticks. By that time, the mixture will have thickened up, and you can insert the sticks only as far as you want them.
- Freeze until firm, at least 8 hours (I usually leave them in the freezer overnight).
- Carefully remove from molds and serve immediately.
Notes
- To release the bars from the molds after freezing, quickly run them under warm water for a few seconds just until they easily slide out. Be careful not to melt them too much!
- If you want to make a batch that is all vanilla, just omit the cocoa.
- If you want to make a batch that is all chocolate, add 2 additional tablespoons of cocoa (4 tablespoons total).
- AND if you want to up the creaminess factor, you can use more heavy cream and less milk or just use all heavy cream!
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