How to Make Candy Ice Cream At Home

May 30, 2023

Different flavor ice cream in bowl on white rustic wooden background.

It’s getting hotter and hotter outside, and as conventional wisdom says, there’s no better sweet treat to indulge in on a hot day than ice cream. Conventional wisdom also says that if you want something done right, you must do it yourself—and that there’s no better taste than the fruits of your own labor.

Put the three together, and what does that spell out? I scream, you scream, we all scream for homemade ice cream! Let’s look at how to combine your favorite candy and ice cream in three different ways—with an ice cream maker, with an easy no-churn ice cream recipe, and with a fun one-bag recipe.

Why should you make your own ice cream?

Making your own ice cream can be labor-intensive and, depending on your method, might require specialized tools like an ice cream maker—but believe us, it’s worth it.

Food just tastes better when you make it yourself—and we’re professional candy makers, so we know what we’re talking about. The sense of satisfaction and pride you’ll get from your homemade ice cream makes it taste all the richer.

On top of that, making homemade ice cream gives you complete control over the ingredients—you can choose the freshest ingredients you want, experiment with flavors and toppings you just can’t find at the store, and even explore alternative sweeteners, healthier dairy options, or dairy substitutes. Whatever you think the best ice cream combos are, you can make it.

In the three recipes below, we’ll each include one Sconza chocolate that will make for a delightful candy and ice cream mixture, and at the bottom of this article, you’ll find ideas for more candies you can use to find the best ice cream combinations.

Making Homemade Ice Cream with an Ice Cream Maker

Making homemade ice cream with an ice cream maker may require a large upfront investment in a special tool, but that tool makes for a less labor-intensive ice cream experience, with smoother, creamier, and more consistent results than you would get by hand-churning.

You will need:

2 1/4 cups milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup white sugar
Pinch of salt
2 tsp vanilla extract/other flavoring (you may have to adjust the amount to dial in the right taste)
Your mix-ins of choice (we recommend Milk Chocolate Vanilla Sea Salt Caramels or any of the products below), chopped

To make your ice cream, follow these simple steps:

Stir milk, cream, and sugar in a saucepan on low heat until the sugar dissolves. Heat until you see a small ring of foam around the edge. Do not boil.
Transfer the cream to a bowl or large measuring cup and stir in vanilla extract. Chill thoroughly, at least 2 hours but as long as overnight.
Pour the cold mix into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s directions. Once the mixture reaches a soft serve consistency, add in your chopped topping and continue churning until evenly distributed.
Transfer your ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze until firm, at least 2-3 hours.

Making Homemade No-Churn Mint Cookie Bite Ice Cream

If you don’t have an ice cream maker and you don’t want to go through the effort of churning your own ice cream (which you might not find very fun), you can use a no-churn recipe. No-churn ice cream doesn’t require specialized tools like an ice cream maker and still comes out smooth and creamy without much effort.

You will need:

One can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 cups cold heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla extract/other flavoring
A pinch of fine salt
Your mix-ins of choice (we recommend Sconza Chocolate Mint Cookie Bites or any of the products below), chopped
A chilled 9-by-5 inch metal loaf pan

There are only a few steps to making this simple no-churn ice cream recipe:

Whisk together the condensed milk, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
In a separate bowl, whip the cream with a mixer on medium-high until you get stiff peaks.
Fold one cup of the whipped cream into your condensed milk mixture until combined.
Fold the condensed milk mixture into the rest of the whipped cream until well blended.
Mix in your toppings, roughly chopped, until evenly distributed.
Pour the mixture into your loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 5-6 hours.

You can also pour and freeze the mixture for 2 hours, mix in your toppings, and then freeze for about 3-4 more hours.

Making One-Bag Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream

If you don’t want to deal with extensive cleanup and don’t mind shaking things up, the one-bag ice cream-making method is a fun and interactive way to make homemade ice cream. And to boot, it freezes faster than other methods, so you can enjoy it sooner.

For a small batch of ice cream, you will need:

1 cup half-and-half
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract/other flavoring
3 cups ice
1/3 cup kosher or rock salt
Two freezer-safe, sealable plastic bags, one large, one smaller
Your mix-ins of choice (we recommend Milk Chocolate Cherries or any of the products below), chopped

The steps are simple, and while it does require some vigorous shaking, it all comes together—ready to eat!—in about 10-15 minutes.

Combine half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla into the small bag and seal it tight. Double-bag if you’re worried about leaks.
Combine ice and salt into the large bag.
Shake the large bag vigorously for 7-10 minutes or until the ice cream has hardened.
Add your toppings into the small bag and squeeze/knead it for another minute or two until thoroughly incorporated.
Scoop the ice cream into a bowl or eat it straight out of the bag!

One-bag ice cream is great for kids due to how hands-on it is. The texture and consistency are usually on par with soft serve, though you probably won’t get the same creamy texture you do from other methods.

You can also use this sort-of soft-serve ice cream recipe to give your kids a lesson in thermodynamics, making this a fun educational experience for the whole family.

What candy goes best in ice cream?

The best ice cream combinations depend on what flavors you enjoy. You have your old standbys, your classic combinations—chocolate and vanilla swirl, mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream—your more regional duos or trios, like Superman ice cream (cherry, vanilla, and a sweet Midwest delight called Blue Moon)—or more unique and daring combos you won’t find in a store.

When you make your own ice cream, the sky’s the limit—be as unique and daring as you like! Of course, we’d be remiss not to recommend Sconza chocolates and candies to liven up your delightful dairy treat. Our high-quality ingredients and creative combinations will surely add a rich, decadent element to your ice cream.

What can you combine with vanilla ice cream?

Vanilla makes a great base flavor for homemade ice cream recipes because vanilla extract is such a staple of the average pantry (though that doesn’t mean you can’t try other extracts, too, if you like experimenting). It’s also a real team player that goes well with just about everything.

Here are some of the best ice cream combinations you can make using Sconza chocolates:

From caramel to mint to peanut butter and fruit, you’ll find all sorts of delightful and decadent flavor combinations to add a touch of class to your homemade and no-churn ice cream recipes.

Caramel

Sconza caramels are buttery and rich, surrounded by a shell of smooth chocolate to “wow” your taste buds. These caramels freeze well without being too sticky or chewy, making them perfect for your no-churn ice cream recipes. Turn to the dark side with our decadent Dark Chocolate Caramels, or explore subtler and more interesting twists with vanilla-infused Sea Salt Caramels or Toasted Coconut Caramels.

Mint

The bracing, refreshing flavor of mint is even stronger when paired with chocolate. Sconza Chocolate Mint Cookie Bites take the crispy texture of dark chocolate mint cookies and coat them in dark and white chocolate for a flavor combination that can’t be beaten.

Cherries

Tart dried cherries go great with classic vanilla ice cream, especially when you mix in smooth, rich milk and white chocolate. These complementary flavors provide a rich and slightly tangy flavor to your soft-serve or no-churn ice cream recipe.

Peanut Butter

We all know that peanut butter and chocolate are two great tastes that taste great together. Throw in some caramel and you get Sconza Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramels—and you can forget about certain other chocolate peanut butter candies. Rich, smooth milk chocolate, delicious caramel, and creamy peanut butter all go great with chocolate or vanilla ice cream.

DIY Candy Ice Cream for the Win!

However you choose to craft your ice cream, with Sconza, the sky’s the limit when it comes to making your very own one-of-a-kind treat. Sconza chocolates offer a range of delectable options – from buttery, rich caramels, to the delightful contrast of peanut butter, dried cherries, and white chocolate – enjoy the process, experiment with flavors, and indulge in the fruits of your labor—it’s time to scream for homemade ice cream!