Unicorn Ice Cream is the easiest way to make a magical frozen treat without a machine. This simple no-churn ice cream recipe can be prepared in 15 minutes using only 4 ingredients to create the creamy dessert base that you can dress up with swirls of color, unicorn sprinkles, or a dusting of sparkle.
Easy Unicorn Ice Cream: No Machine Needed
This No Churn Unicorn Ice Cream is a quick and easy way to make magic at home in the form of a frozen sweet treat. It takes mere minutes to make the soft and velvety vanilla-flavored base that you separate into bowls, color, scoop and swirl in a pan, then place it into the freezer to set until firm.
Decorate your dessert in pretty pastel shades or brightly bold neon colors, you will love every lick of this homemade ice cream, especially when loaded with rainbow sprinkles.
No need to worry about artificial flavors because this forgiving recipe lets you select your own and feel good about each scoop that you are feeding your family.
For more Unicorn themed treats, try my Unicorn Fudge, Unicorn Hot Chocolate and Unicorn Whoopie Pies
Why We Love This No Churn Unicorn Ice Cream Recipe
- Quick and easy to make–no ice cream maker needed.
- Only uses 4 base ingredients plus food coloring and sprinkles.
- Fun for kids to customize the colors and swirl the scoops.
- Light and creamy texture, loaded with sprinkles, and tastes delicious!
- Cold sweet treat on a hot summer day (but perfect for any weather).
- Perfectly pretty for a unicorn or princess party, themed birthday bash, baby shower, or any celebration.
Ingredients
- Extra creamy whipped topping: If you can find extra creamy whipped topping in a 16 ounce tub you can use just that. You can also use regular whipped topping if you prefer, though it may not set quite as firmly. Feel free to make your own whipped topping using about 2 cups of whipping cream.
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Neon or pastel food coloring in 4 colors
- Unicorn sprinkles
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW
Substitutions and Additions
- Other Extracts: I flavored my ice cream with vanilla extract, but if you want to make yours with another flavor, you can use maple, almond, lemon, bubble gum, cotton candy or any other extract that you prefer.
- Mix-Ins: Feel free to add chopped cookies, colorful candies, sprinkles, edible glitter, or even some colored frosting into one or all colors of your ice cream base. You can also add them between the scoops and then swirl them into the ice cream.
Recommended Tools
- Mixing bowls
- Mixing tools
- Measuring tools
- 9×5 inch loaf pan or 9×9 inch freezer safe pan
- Toothpick or Butter knife
- Plastic wrap
How to Make Unicorn Ice Cream
Unicorn Ice Cream is a fun way to make a frozen treat at home without an ice cream machine. Super creamy and soft with swirls of pretty color make this vanilla-flavored ice cream is perfect for scooping and serving at your next themed party.
- Make The Base: Mix together the whipped topping, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt until completely combined and smooth with no lumps.
- Color: Separate the mixture evenly into 4 bowls and add food coloring to each. Mix until you have an even color.
Pro Tip: I used pink, yellow, teal, and purple gel food coloring, but you can use other colors if you prefer. - Prepare The Pan: Scoop even spoonfuls of each color into your pan and swirl the colors with a toothpick or butter knife into a pretty pattern. Sprinkle the top evenly with unicorn sprinkles.
- Freeze: Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and freeze 4-6 hours or until firm.
- Serve: Scoop and serve cold, garnished with any additional sprinkles, optional. Enjoy!
Tips
- I prefer gel coloring for this recipe because the color is nice and vibrant without adding a ton of liquid, however if all you have is liquid coloring, it will work.
- You can use any colorful sprinkle but be sure to use a Jimmie style sprinkle and not a nonpareil or colored sugar because they will bleed onto your ice cream and ruin the effect.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Cover your ice cream with plastic wrap or a lid and store in the freezer. Although it is best when eaten within 1-2 weeks of being prepared, it can be stored for much longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
This ice cream recipe should be kept well covered in the freezer until you are ready to serve it. It is best when eaten within 1-2 weeks of being prepared but it can be stored for much longer.
The longer it is stored the more likely it will develop freezer burn or that the texture or flavor will change unpleasantly.
The soft, velvety texture of the ice cream is provided by the whipped topping. If your whipped topping is soupy (either because it was improperly thawed or because it got too hot) your ice cream will not set up.
You need a light, fluffy whipped topping or whipped cream in order for this ice cream to set correctly.
If there is too much sweetened condensed milk, this ice cream will be too soft. If there isn’t enough sweetened condensed milk, it may get hard.
The ratios in this recipe work great for a silky ice cream but if you decide to double it or halve it or modify it in other ways, be aware that you may end up with an ice cream that doesn’t have the correct texture, even after freezing completely.
Modifications can be made to this recipe, but may require some troubleshooting.
You can add chopped cookies, chopped candies, sprinkles or even some colored frosting into this ice cream for an even more exciting result.
Add-ins can be incorporated into one or all colors of ice cream base or even added on top or between the scoops of ice cream and then swirled into the ice cream. Be aware that anything added to this ice cream may change the texture.
Be especially careful with anything liquid, such as flavorings or syrups, as they may cause the ice cream not to set up fully.
Other Easy No-Churn Ice Cream Recipes
- Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream
- Kool-Aid Ice Cream
- Cookie Monster Ice Cream
- Cotton Candy Ice Cream (No Churn)
- Harry Potter Butterbeer Ice Cream
- Cherry Garcia No Churn Ice Cream
- Orange Sherbet
- Skrewball Whiskey Ice Cream
Unicorn Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 16 ounce (2 8-ounce) tubs extra creamy whipped topping
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Neon or pastel food coloring in 4 colors
- 3 Tablespoons unicorn sprinkles plus additional sprinkles as needed
Instructions
- Place the whipped topping in a large sized mixing bowl and fold in the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and salt until completely combined and smooth with no lumps.
- Separate the mixture evenly into 4 small mixing bowls.
- To each of the bowls add your desired amount of food coloring and mix until you have an even color. I used pink, yellow, teal, and purple gel food coloring.
- Scoop spoonfuls of each color into a freezer safe 9×5 inch loaf pan or 9×9 inch pan, trying to keep each scoop of a similar size.
- Gently swirl the colors with a toothpick or butter knife into your desired pattern, evening out the mixture’s height if possible.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with unicorn sprinkles.
- Cover well with plastic wrap or a lid and freeze 4-6 hours or until firm.
- Scoop and serve cold, garnished with any additional sprinkles, optional.
Jenn’s Notes
- I prefer gel coloring for this recipe because the color is nice and vibrant without adding a ton of liquid, however if all you have is liquid coloring, it will work.
- You can use any colorful sprinkle but be sure to use a Jimmie style sprinkle and not a nonpareil or colored sugar because they will bleed onto your ice cream and ruin the effect.
- The soft, velvety texture of the ice cream is provided by the whipped topping. If your whipped topping is soupy (either because it was improperly thawed or because it got too hot) your ice cream will not set up. You need a light, fluffy whipped topping or whipped cream in order for this ice cream to set correctly.
- If there is too much sweetened condensed milk, this ice cream will be too soft. If there isn’t enough sweetened condensed milk, it may get hard. The ratios in this recipe work great for a silky ice cream but if you decide to double it or halve it or modify it in other ways, be aware that you may end up with an ice cream that doesn’t have the correct texture, even after freezing completely.
- Modifications can be done but may require some troubleshooting. You can add chopped cookies, chopped candies, sprinkles or even some colored frosting into this ice cream for an even more exciting result. Add-ins can be incorporated into one or all colors of ice cream base or even added on top or between the scoops of ice cream and then swirled into the ice cream. Be aware that anything added to this ice cream may change the texture. Be especially careful with anything liquid, such as flavorings or syrups, as they may cause the ice cream not to set up fully.
Icant wait to make the unicorn icecream