The best thing for dessert in the summer is ice cream. Well, actually ice cream is good anytime, but something about summer just says, give me something cold and sweet. And to celebrate our patriotic holidays today we are making no-churn ice cream for Red, White, & Blue Ice Cream Sundaes.
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Homemade ice cream was always a treat for our 4th of July celebration. Every year we spent most of the day using the hand-crank ice cream maker, ice, and salt. Does anyone remember doing that?
We all took turns cranking until the ice cream started hardening then we wrapped it in a blanket to harden even more. It took forever! That ice cream was the best, but it took some serious planning ahead to get it done.
I do own a cute little electric ice cream maker and it does make some tasty ice cream, but sometimes I like simple. And not everyone has space for an ice cream maker that you only pull out once or twice a year (if you're like me, that is). Let's hear a heck yeah! for no-churn ice cream.
Enter no-churn ice cream and colorful chocolate candies.
Adding mix-ins to ice cream adds some extra flavors and textures to make your own signature flavor. It's now getting personal. To celebrate the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or any day, let's get all Red, White, and Blue with everyone's favorite chocolate candy, M & M's.
M&M's make a perfect candy to add to a dessert. I just chop them up and add them in layers to the ice cream. Once the candies get mixed in, they get hard and a little bit crunchy which I love. Plus you get all the colors of the candy.
🍨 Ingredients
- Whipping Cream
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Vanilla
- M&M's
- Fudge
- Maraschino Cherries
🤍 You will love this no-churn ice cream
Let me entice you
- 3 basic ingredients (whipping cream, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla)
- No cooking a custard and hoping it sets up
- No ice cream maker needed
- You can add all kinds of fun flavors and mix-ins
- It takes 10 minutes to mix up the ice cream and pour it into a freezer container - so quick
- It's simply delicious
Even if we're not churning the ice cream, it still has to freeze. Otherwise, you just have (very sweet and tasty) milk. I think letting the ice cream freeze overnight is best to develop the flavors but this no-churn ice cream can freeze for six hours and still taste yummy.
Have I convinced you yet to make some tasty ice cream? Great! Let's go.
To make the sundaes, use a good ice cream scoop to make nice round balls of ice cream and put them into your sundae cups, then add your favorite toppings.
Really, we don't have time for a complicated dessert. We have fireworks to watch.
🥄 Let's make sundaes
- Step 1. Chop the M&M's by placing them on a heavy-duty cutting board and chop with a long-bladed knife.
- Step 2. Whip heavy cream by pouring the cold cream into a bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl and use a handheld mixer. Beat the cream at medium speed until it reaches firm peaks.
Step 3. Fold the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla into the whipped cream, keep folding until completely combine, just do it slowly so you don't deflate the whipped cream.
- Step 4. Using a loaf pan or any small baking dish, layer half the whipped cream mixture and then half the chopped M&M's, repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Since this will be kept in the freezer, I suggest you use a metal loaf pan or a plastic container. Yes, I used my glass bread pan because I wanted everyone to see the pretty ice cream. My hubby yelled at me for it too!!!
- Step 5. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and set the pan in the freezer and freeze for at least 6-hours. If using a glass dish make sure it is placed where it will be safe in the freezer.
- Step 6. When you are ready to serve the ice cream, whip the additional whipped cream by pouring the cold cream into a large bowl and beating it until firm peaks form. Keep this cold until ready to use.
One thing you will notice is the colors bleed from the chocolate candies, so don't be alarmed.
- Step 7. Fill the sundae bowls with chocolate fudge, two big scoops of ice cream, then add more fudge, whipped cream, M&M's, and of course a big red cherry on top.
Variations
- If you like, add some other mix-ins to this ice cream to snazzy it up even more.
- Chopped Nuts
- Coconut
- Mini chocolate chips
- Cacao nibs
- Small pieces of fruit
- Mini marshmallows
- Of course, any color of M & M's will work for this recipe, that way you can make these sundaes for any occasion.
FAQ's
You can use any color of M & M's to make these sundaes for any occasion.
Whatever you use, make sure it is in small pieces. Try mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, cacao nibs, or toasted coconut. Try drizzling in chocolate fudge or a fruit puree.
Sometimes I just dress up the top of the ice cream pan just like it is a sundae with lots of whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate, more chopped M&M's, and lots of red cherries. Scoop the ice cream right out of the pan.
You can use store-bought ice cream and let it soften just a little, add the chopped M and M's to it and layer in the pan.
Storing leftovers
If you have leftover ice cream, cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and keep it in the freezer for a month. You can also transfer any leftover to a smaller container for easier storage.
❤️More patriotic July desserts
These Patriotic Cookies have a sweet surprise filling and are covered in colorful red, white, and blue sprinkles.
Make a batch of these classic Red, White, and Blue Thumbprint Cookies that have the prettiest patriotic sprinkles and colorful icing for your holiday celebrations.
❤️More cold and creamy desserts
Easy Fried Ice Cream Balls with Banana and Almonds and a delicious sweet honey drizzle.
This fruity Homemade Blackberry and Peach Ice Cream screams summertime dessert.
Celebrate fall with this creamy Pumpkin Latte Ice Cream that is full of warming spices.
This creamy dessert is always a favorite and this Strawberry Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse is layered with graham cracker crumbs and topped with fresh berries.
This recipe is part of 15 Favorite 4th of July Desserts. Make sure to check it out for some fabulous red, white, and blue desserts.
This recipe just couldn't be any easier and the sundaes are just the perfect treat. Go grab your American Flag and watch some colorful fireworks.
Recipe
Red, White & Blue M&M Ice Cream Sundaes
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Making the ice cream
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk cold
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream cold
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 6 ounces Red, white and blue M and Ms chopped
Ice Cream Toppings
- cup heavy whipping cream cold
- 1 cup chocolate sauce
- Red, white and blue M and Ms for garnish
- Maraschino Cherries for garnish
Instructions
Making the Ice Cream
- On a sturdy cutting board chop the M&M's into smaller pieces using a long bladed knife. It's easier to do this in small batches.
- In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the cold whipping cream and beat it on medium to medium hight speed until it forms stiff peaks.
- Fold the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla into the whipped cream to combine. It's best to use a rubber spatula and slowly rotate the bowl while folding until all the ingredients are combined.
- Pour ½ of the ice cream mixture into a loaf pans. Sprinkle with half of the chopped M&M's. Repeat again. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
Making the Red, White & Blue Ice Cream Sundaes
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl whip the cold whipping cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. You can also use your stand mixer.
- Add a small amount of fudge to the bottom of each bowl. 1 - 2 tablespoons is good.
- Scoop two large balls of ice cream and add to each bowl.
- Top the ice cream with fudge, whipped cream, M&M's and a cherry.
Notes
- Chopped Nuts
- Coconut
- Mini chocolate chips
- Cacao nibs
- Small pieces of fruit
- Mini marshmallows
Nutrition
Published: June 7, 2019. Last updated June 29, 2021
Wishing everyone a fun and happy summer filled with family, friends, good and celebrations.
About Jere’
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory recipes with all my baking friends.
Have any questions or just want to chat about the recipe? Contact me here, and I’ll be happy to help!
Blessings to all ~ Jere'
Katie Youngs
My kids loved these!
Brittany Fiero
This recipe is perfect for the holiday and is easy to make. The entire family will enjoy this treat!
Jere Cassidy
These sundaes are always a hit.
Alexa
The whole family loved this Sundae ice cream! It was easy to prepare and amazing that no ice cream machine is needed!
Oscar
Love that this is a no churn ice cream. So easy to make and it was delicious. My kids loved it.
Jeannie
I love this no churn ice cream easy to do and super enjoyable to eat.
Jeri
We loved this ice cream recipe! I made it for Canada Day here in the Great White North, and I served it with red and white candies, everyone loved it! It was so easy, and tasted delicious! So much better than store-bought ice cream. Thanks for the recipe!
Nora
Such a delicious ice cream! And I love the variations you mentioned. Especially the one with the mini marshmallows! Thanks for sharing!