Beat the heat this summer with this easy, cool Circus Animal Cookies Ice Cream. It’s a no-churn ice cream recipe that takes your favorite childhood cookies and transforms them into a fun, colorful frozen treat. It's the perfect no-fuss summer dessert the whole family will love!
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Easy no churn ice cream recipe
Summer means easy treats that will cool you off even on the hottest days. And nothing beats simple no-churn ice cream recipes that can be whipped up in minutes, without the need of an ice cream maker, and where the wait for it to freeze is the hardest part.
There are endless combinations, all of them mouth-wateringly delicious, just by adding your favorite fruits, chocolate chips, nuts, or cookie crumbles into the ice cream base. My favorite go-to no-churn ice cream flavors have got to be Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream, Peach Ice Cream, and White Chocolate Ice Cream.
Why you'll love this circus animal cookie ice cream recipe
Get ready to fall in love with the most fun, delicious, and easy ice cream recipe ever! This Circus Animal Ice Cream is a no-churn wonder that combines everyone's favorite childhood cookie, frosted animal cookies, with the cool, creamy goodness of homemade ice cream. Here’s why this recipe will become your new favorite frozen treat:
Easy Recipe: No ice cream maker needed! With just a few simple steps and a handful of simple ingredients, you can whip up this delicious ice cream in no time.
Minimal Ingredients: You don’t need a long list of ingredients to make this fun treat. Just a few pantry staples and ya bag of circus animal cookies are all it takes.
Fun & Colorful: The frosted animal cookies make this homemade ice cream a treat fun and festive. It's perfect for birthday parties, celebrations, or just a creamy treat to brighten up any day.
Great for Kids of All Ages: Whether you’re making this for a kids’ party or the whole family, this ice cream is sure to satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.
Creamy and Delicious: Despite being so easy to make, this no-churn ice cream is both creamy and rich, with the perfect balance of sweetness and crunch from the cookies.
Customizable: So easy to get creative! Mix in different types of cookies, add white chocolate chips, or swirl in a bit of chocolate or caramel sauce for an extra special touch.
Ingredients
Gather your ingredients for this tasty Circus Animal Cookie Ice Cream. The exact measurements can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Frosted Animal Cookies: The star of the show! These iconic cookies add flavor, texture, and crunch throughout the ice cream.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: This is the base of our creamy ice cream that helps create a rich and smooth texture.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This ingredient sweetens the ice cream and helps keep it soft and scoopable straight from the freezer.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a vanilla flavor to help create the perfect homemade vanilla ice cream. Its mild flavor complements the sweetness of the cookies and sprinkles.
- Pink Food Coloring: A few drops of this will give your ice cream that fun, colorful swirl reminiscent of circus animal cookies.
- Rainbow Sprinkles: These add a festive touch and a bit of crunch, making the ice cream even more fun and delicious.
How to make animal cookie ice cream
Ready to create this fun and festive ice cream? Follow these simple steps to make your own no-churn Circus Animal Cookie Ice Cream.
- Place the heavy cream and vanilla extract in a large bowl and whip with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. It usually takes about 2 minutes.
- Fold in the sweetened condensed milk.
- Remove 1 cup of ice cream base to a medium bowl and add red/pink food coloring. Mix well.
- Add the chopped circus animal pieces and sprinkles to the undyed ice cream.
- Mix well.
- Pour the ice cream with the cookie pieces into a metal loaf pan and smooth the top. Add dollops of the pink-tinted ice cream on top.
- Swirl the colors together with a knife.
- Add additional circus animal cookies to the top of the swirled ice cream, if desired. Place the ice cream in the freezer for 4 hours or overnight.
Once chilled, scoop this creamy ice cream into a waffle cone, a bowl, or over your favorite pie or cake. It's the perfect cool dessert for hot summer days and one that will surely bring a smile to everyone's face.
How to store and how long it will last
To keep your homemade ice cream fresh and delicious, wrap the loaf pan with a layer of plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the ice cream. This helps prevent freezer burn and crystallization. Then, add a layer of aluminum foil over the top for extra protection.
When stored properly, your homemade ice cream will last up to 1 month in the freezer. Enjoy it at its best within this time frame for the ultimate creamy and flavorful treat.
Frequently asked questions
No, you need the full fat content of heavy whipping cream to achieve the rich and creamy texture of this ice cream. Half and half won't provide the same results.
Yes, you can use cream of coconut instead of sweetened condensed milk. However, keep in mind that it will add a coconut flavor to your ice cream.
Yes, you can skip the food coloring if you prefer. The ice cream will still be delicious and have the warm flavor from the vanilla and cookies.
No worries! You can use any freezer-safe container. Just ensure it's covered well to prevent ice crystals from forming on the ice cream.
You'll need to freeze the ice cream for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best to ensure it sets properly and achieves the perfect scoopable texture.
More frozen treat recipes
- Air Fryer Fried Ice Cream
- Cake Batter Popsicles
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Chocolate Covered Ice Cream Bites
- Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet
Find lots of delicious and easy recipes for desserts right here on 2CM!
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Circus Animal Cookie Ice Cream (No Churn)
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk 1 can
- red/pink food coloring
- ¼ cup rainbow sprinkles plus extra for topping
- 1 cup chopped animal cookies plus extra whole cookies for topping
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl of an electric mixer, combine the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
- Gently fold in the sweetened condensed milk.
- In a separate bowl, take out 1 cup of the whipped ice cream, add a few drops of the red or pink food coloring, and mix until fully incorporated. Set aside.
- To the undyed ice cream, add the sprinkles and cookie pieces, and mix well.
- Pour the ice cream with sprinkles into an 8x4-inch metal loaf pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.
- Using a spoon, drop large dollops of the pink ice cream on top of the sprinkled ice cream, and swirl the colors together with a knife.
- Freeze overnight, or for at least 4 hours.
- Scoop into a bowl or cone and add any additional toppings along with extra cookies for garnish. Serve immediately.
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