4.80 from 10 votes
Jump to Recipe
Posted: 06/18/20Updated: 10/13/23
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Bright, fun Rainbow Ice Cream is a No Churn Ice Cream recipe that the kids are going to flip over! No special equipment is needed. It’s a no churn vanilla ice cream that is colored with food coloring and frozen for a fun summer dessert.
Bright, colorful Rainbow Ice Cream for the summer win! This is a homemade ice cream that you can make without a machine. Yep! I love no-churn ice cream recipes because they’re so easy and taste just as good as the kind made in a machine.
This is so fun to make and it’s not hard, I promise! The actual flavor is a simple vanilla, but it’s served in a kaleidoscope of rainbow colors. You only need THREE ingredients to make it plus food coloring to create the colors.
For us, summer is not summer without all the frozen desserts. I make cake batter ice cream and cookie dough ice cream on repeat, too, but this rainbow version is always a favorite. I mean, who doesn’t love rainbows? My kids LOVE it but adults do, too! It brings out the kid in all of us.
It’s impossible not to be happy when you make rainbow ice cream – you have to try it!
Contents show
Make the Base
It might look complicated, but it’s really easy to make! It starts with the base which is just three simple ingredients:
- Cold heavy whipping cream
- Cold sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla
Before you make it, chill a loaf pan or other container along with the whisk and bowl you plan to mix the ingredients in. Keeping everything really cold, including the cream and condensed milk, will make things easier!
Once everything is chilled, start by whipping the heavy cream in a large bowl until stiff peaks form.
In a seperate bowl, stir the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla together until combined.
Gently fold the whipped cream into the milk mixture. Do this carefully so you don’t deflate the air. You want all of the air in the ice cream so it has a really nice creamy and soft texture after it’s been frozen.
Divide the base into six different bowls. You should have about 1 cup per bowl. Now it’s time to make all the colors!
How to Make it Rainbow!
You will need six different colors and you can choose your favorites. Add a few drops of one color in each bowl.
Gently fold in the food coloring. Again, you want to keep as much air as possible, so avoid stirring. Instead, use a spatula and pull and turn the mixture over itself to incorporate the color.
Remove the container from the freezer and drop each color by the spoonful into the container, alternating colors as you go. There aren’t any rules for this except to keep the colors separate as you drop them.
Cover the container and freeze it overnight before serving. Be sure to store it in the coldest part of the freezer!
Recipe Tips and Tricks!
- It’s very important to whip the cream until stiff peaks form. If you want to learn more be sure to check out my post all about how to whip cream!
- You don’t need any special containers to store it – a standard loaf pan or a square baking dish works great! Just make sure they are freezer-friendly.
- To prevent exposure to air, I like to lay a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper on the surface of the ice cream. Then you can wrap it or secure a lid to store it.
- It will keep well for a few weeks in the freezer as long as it’s stored properly. Store it in the coldest part of the fridge and away from the door. If it’s exposed to warm air it will melt and refreeze – that will create ice crystals and will make the texture grainy!
Everyone will love it when you serve up scoops of this rainbow ice cream! How can you not smile when you see this colorful treat? I promise, if you make this fun dessert, it will be the hit of the summer. I hope you love it as much as my family does!
More Fun Desserts!
- Rainbow Cloud Cake is a fun cake that starts with a cake mix and ends up colorful with fluffy whipped cream clouds!
- One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to host a Sundae Bar for all the kiddos! I show you how to do it and share all my best tips!
- No Bake S’mores Trifles are a fun twist on the classic summer dessert! You will love how easy they are to make!
- Learn how to make the Best Homemade Milkshakes in three different flavors!
- So many delicious St. Patrick’s Day Dessert recipes! Get ready for all things green and rainbows. We’ve put together tons of inspiration for fun treats like ice cream, floats, donuts, rainbows, and leprechauns!
Try it and love it? Rate it, please!!!? Seriously though a five-star rating below will make my day! If you snap a photo of you making homemade cake batter ice cream, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreatsor #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Rainbow Ice Cream
No churn vanilla ice cream combined with food coloring to make a fun dessert kids love!
Prep:15 minutes mins
Freeze Time:8 hours hrs
Total:8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Print RecipeRate Recipe
Save Recipe
6
Ingredients
- 2 c. very cold heavy whipping cream
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Food coloring – 6 colors
Instructions
Prep
Place loaf pan or container in freezer at least 30 minutes
Place bowl and whisk in freezer at least 30 minutes
Ice Cream
Be sure whipping cream and condensed milk are really cold
In a large bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form
In a medium bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla until smooth
Gradually add milk mixture to whipping cream by GENTLY folding into whipped cream
Divide mixture into 6 separate bowls (it will be about 1 cup each)
Color each bowl with a different color by GENTLY folding the coloring into the mixture
Remove container from freezer and drop ice cream mixture by spoonfuls into the container
Freeze overnight
Tips
- It’s very important to whip the cream until stiff peaks form. If you want to learn more be sure to check out my post all abouthow to whip cream!
- You don’t need any special containers to store it – a standard loaf pan or a square baking dish works great! Just make sure they are freezer-friendly.
- To prevent exposure to air, I like to lay a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper on the surface of the ice cream. Then you can wrap it or secure a lid to store it.
- It will keep well for a few weeks in the freezer as long as it’s stored properly. Store it in the coldest part of the fridge and away from the door. If it’s exposed to warm air it will melt and refreeze – that will create ice crystals and will make the texture grainy!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 488kcal (24%), Carbohydrates: 38g (13%), Protein: 7g (14%), Fat: 35g (54%), Saturated Fat: 22g (138%), Cholesterol: 131mg (44%), Sodium: 114mg (5%), Potassium: 305mg (9%), Sugar: 36g (40%), Vitamin A: 1336IU (27%), Vitamin C: 2mg (2%), Calcium: 239mg (24%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
© Julie's Eats & Treats ®
We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.
Meet Julie Evink
I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!
FREE DUMP & GO CROCK POT RECIPES!
Reader Interactions
Leave a Comment
Dr Michael Camarata says
Why not add some real-fruit that would color the Icecream .? Or, explain what you are doing to ensure the coloring is human-friendly, which many are not so much!Reply
Courtney says
Whatever products that you feel safe using is what you should use to achieve the colors.
Reply
Andrea says
Can you make this recipe in an ice cream machine?
Reply
Julie Evink says
You’d have to make the base, add the food coloring and then drop it into a container to freeze. I’m not sure how easy it would be to mix the food coloring in after the ice cream was made.
Reply
Jessica says
The kids loved making it just as much as they loved eating it! I loved that it was no churn, LOL.Reply
Julie says
Yes! Such a fun recipe for the whole family, glad you all enjoyed it!
Reply
Jen says
This ice cream was fun and delicious!Reply
Julie says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Reply
I'm an enthusiast with a passion for culinary arts, particularly in the realm of homemade desserts. My experience extends to various ice cream recipes, and I'm well-versed in the intricacies of creating delightful frozen treats. Now, let's delve into the details of the Rainbow Ice Cream recipe you provided.
The Rainbow Ice Cream recipe you've shared is a delightful, no-churn vanilla ice cream that captures the essence of summer with its vibrant and playful colors. The key components and steps involved in making this treat are as follows:
-
Base Ingredients:
- Cold heavy whipping cream
- Cold sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla extract
The base serves as the foundation for the ice cream and consists of these three simple ingredients.
-
Making the Base:
- Whip the cold heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
- In a separate bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and vanilla.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the milk mixture to maintain a light and creamy texture.
-
Coloring the Ice Cream:
- Divide the base into six bowls, each containing approximately 1 cup.
- Add food coloring to each bowl, creating six different colors.
- Gently fold the coloring into the mixture to preserve air and texture.
-
Assembling the Rainbow:
- Drop spoonfuls of each colored mixture into a container, alternating colors.
- Cover the container and freeze the ice cream overnight.
-
Recipe Tips and Tricks:
- Whip the cream until stiff peaks form for a creamy texture.
- Store the ice cream in a standard loaf pan or freezer-friendly container.
- To prevent exposure to air, use plastic wrap or parchment paper on the surface before wrapping or securing with a lid.
- Proper storage in the coldest part of the freezer ensures the ice cream's longevity and prevents texture issues.
Now, regarding Dr. Michael Camarata's suggestion about adding real fruit for coloring, it's a creative idea that could add both natural color and flavor. However, the recipe, as is, relies on food coloring, and if someone has concerns about the safety of food coloring, they may choose alternative natural coloring methods or skip it altogether.
I hope this breakdown of the Rainbow Ice Cream recipe proves helpful. If you have any further questions or if there's another aspect you'd like to explore, feel free to ask!
