Make Ice Cream by Playing Catch With This Softshell Ball

This ice cream ball recipe turns cream, sugar, ice, and salt into a frozen treat in about 20 to 30 minutes of shaking and rolling. Here’s how to make it.

How Does the Ice Cream Ball Turn Cream Into Dessert?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

This ice cream ball recipe is dessert and activity rolled into one. You load cream and sugar into the middle, pack ice and rock salt around the outside, then shake, roll, and toss it for about 20 to 30 minutes until the inside turns into ice cream. The kids do the work, and everyone gets a treat at the end.

Here’s how it works, a basic recipe, and what to know before summer. The ball has two chambers. The inner chamber holds your ice cream mix, and the outer chamber holds ice plus rock salt. The salt drops the ice well below freezing, and as you shake and roll the ball, the cold pulls heat out of the mix on the other side of the wall. After about 20 to 30 minutes of motion, the inside firms up into soft ice cream. The softshell version has a padded, flexible outside, so it’s easy for little hands to grip and toss without anyone getting hurt.

What It Is (And Why You Need It)

This is a no-machine ice cream maker shaped like a ball. There’s nothing to plug in and no bowl to pre-freeze, so you can make a treat anywhere you can bring ice. The hidden win is movement. The CDC recommends that kids ages 6 to 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, and rolling this ball around the yard for half an hour sneaks a good chunk of that in without anyone calling it exercise. For more ways to keep them busy and fed, see our Smart Amazon Kitchen Must Haves.

Why We Love it

• It turns dessert into active play, so the kids burn energy while they make it.
• There’s no machine and no canister to freeze, so it goes anywhere.
• It’s a built-in activity for parties, camping, and long summer afternoons.
• Everyone can take turns, so it keeps a group busy.
• You control the ingredients, so it’s easy to adjust for taste.
• The soft shell is gentle on hands and floors if it gets dropped.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Makes dessert and keeps kids moving at the same time.
• No electricity, no pre-frozen canister.
• Great for backyards, parties, and camping.
• Soft, grippable shell that’s easy for kids to handle.
• You choose the ingredients and mix-ins.

Cons:

• It takes real effort, so younger kids may need help keeping it moving the whole time.
• You need plenty of ice and rock salt on hand for each batch.
• It makes a smaller amount, so a big group means more than one round.
• Cleanup means rinsing and drying both chambers well so they’re ready for next time.

Bonus Tips… What you didn’t see in the reel 👀

View this reel on Instagram

1. Chill your cream mix in the fridge first, since a cold start sets up faster.
2. Use rock salt rather than fine table salt, because the bigger crystals make the ice colder.
3. Keep the ball moving the whole time and have kids trade off so no one’s arms give out.
4. Top off the ice and salt partway through if it’s a hot day and the ice melts fast.
5. Rinse and fully dry both chambers after, so it’s ready for the next backyard session.

Where To Get it

You can get the softshell ice cream ball on Amazon, where it usually ships with Prime and comes in a few colors. Check the current price on Amazon before summer hits.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want a summer activity that ends in ice cream and tires the kids out a little, this ball is a fun, no-machine win. Pin this review so the recipe is ready for your next backyard afternoon.

Want to save this to remember later? Make sure to pin the image below!