Make the most of summer with this easy no-churn ice cream sundae recipe! With just a few simple ingredients and no ice cream maker needed, you can make a creamy vanilla ice cream packed with chopped M&M’s for a fun and festive treat. Use red, white, and blue candies for patriotic holidays—or swap in other colors to match any celebration.
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It’s a tradition at our house to make a red, white and blue dessert for the 4th of July. And one of my favorites is M&M ice cream because, face it, homemade ice cream was always a treat. This recipe is part of 15 Favorite 4th of July Desserts. Make sure to check it out for some more fabulous patriotic desserts.
I own a cute little electric ice cream maker, which makes some tasty homemade 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). Enter the easiest ice cream that’s made the no-churn way.
M&M’s make a perfect candy to add to a dessert. I chop them up and add them to the ice cream in layers. Once the candies get mixed in, they get hard and a bit crunchy, which I love. Plus, you get all the colors of the candy.
Swap out the M&M colors to match any holiday—red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or school colors for graduation parties!
- Type of recipe: Dessert
- Cooking method: No-cooking, using the no-churn ice cream method
- Skill level: Easy to medium
- Flavors & textures: Sweet and creamy with crunchy bits of candies
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- No Ice Cream Maker Needed: Perfect for those without an ice cream maker.
- Quick Preparation: Only 10 minutes to mix.
- Customizable: Easily adapt with different mix-ins or M&M colors for various occasions.
- Kid-Friendly: A fun and colorful dessert that children will love.
Ice Cream Ingredients
- Whipping Cream
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Vanilla Extract – Use a good vanilla, or make homemade vanilla extract (it’s super easy.)
- Red, White and Blue M&M’s – Look for a shareable size bag, or you can purchase this large size of M&M’s.
- Chocolate Sauce – Use your favorite, my favorite is this Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce.
- Maraschino Cherries
We don’t have time for a complicated dessert. We have fireworks to watch.
How To Make M&M Ice Cream
Have I convinced you yet to make some tasty ice cream? Great! Let’s go.
Step 1. Chop M&M’s: Place the M&M’s on a sturdy cutting board and coarsely chop.
Step 2. Whip Cream: In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
Step 3. Combine Ingredients: Gently fold in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract until well combined.
Step 4. Layer Mixture: In a loaf pan, layer half of the ice cream mixture, sprinkle half of the chopped M&M’s, then repeat with the remaining mixture and M&M’s.
Suggestions for the ice cream pan. Since this will be stored in the freezer, I suggest using 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. Freeze: Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 6 hours or until firm.
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 serve.
You will notice that the colors from the chocolate candies bleed, so don’t be alarmed.
Step 7. Serve: Scoop into bowls or sundae glasses, top with chocolate fudge, whipped cream, additional M&M’s, and a maraschino cherry. An alternative to dessert cups is filling mason jars with ice cream.
Equipment
To make the sundaes, use a good ice cream scoop to form nice round balls of ice cream and put them into your ice cream sundae glasses. Then add your favorite toppings.
More Ice Cream Toppings
This list can be endless.
- If you like, add other mix-ins to this ice cream to make it even more snazzy.
- Chopped Nuts
- Coconut
- Mini chocolate chips
- Cacao nibs
- Small pieces of fruit
- Mini marshmallows
FAQ’s
Absolutely! Customize the M&M colors to match any celebration—red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or school colors for graduation parties.
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 dress up the top of the ice cream pan just like 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&M’s to it and layer in the pan.
Storing Leftover Ice Cream
- Freezing: Keep the ice cream covered in the freezer for up to one month.
- Prevent Ice Crystals: Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface before sealing to minimize ice formation.
More Red, White And Blue Desserts
- These Patriotic Cookies have a sweet surprise filling and are covered in colorful red, white, and blue sprinkles. Or these Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars with colorful sprinkles on top.
- Create a batch of these classic Red, White, and Blue Thumbprint Cookies, featuring the prettiest patriotic sprinkles and vibrant icing, for your holiday celebrations.
- Red, White and Blue Jello Cups are kid-friendly and easy to make.
More Cold And Creamy Desserts
- Easy Fried Ice Cream Balls with a delicious sweet honey drizzle.
- This fruity Homemade Blackberry and Peach Ice Cream screams summertime dessert.
- This creamy dessert is always a favorite, and this Strawberry Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse is layered with graham cracker crumbs and topped with fresh berries.
- Chocolate-Covered Oreo Ice Cream Bites are perfect for everyday snacking, or make a batch for your next party.
This recipe couldn’t be any easier, and the sundaes are just the perfect treat. Grab your American Flag and watch some colorful fireworks.
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Recipe
Red, White & Blue M&M Ice Cream Sundaes
Ingredients
Making the ice cream
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk cold
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream cold
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 6 ounces Red, white and blue M&Ms chopped
Ice Cream Toppings
- cup heavy whipping cream cold
- 1 cup chocolate sauce
- Red, white and blue M&M's 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 1/2 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
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Nutrition
Published: June 7, 2019. Last updated June 3, 2025
I am wishing everyone a fun and happy summer filled with family, friends, good food, and celebrations.
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About Jere’ Cassidy
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. I am glad to be sharing sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
Oh, yum! These are so cute for the 4th of July. We always host a 4th of July party, so I’m definitely putting this on the menu — super easy and delicious!
I love that you’ve given two different ways to enjoy this dessert – the no-churn ice cream mix and the sundae route too! I think these are both fun and easy desserts that everyone will enjoy!
Thanks, I just try to have easy desserts for the 4th. Too much other stuff going on to be spending time in the kithcen,
Oh la la! My kids were dancing seeing this. My daughter really wants to give this a go this coming weekend. Thanks for sharing. Simple and delicious.
Ha, so funny. This is the great thing with the ice cream, kids can make it and it’s fun.
Sundaes are my fav and these look so perfect to celebrate the 4th of July! Yum!
The red, white and blue M&M’s are just so perfect in this ice cream.
“The best summer dessert is ice cream”. You speak the truth here! Especially around the 4th with these patriotic toppings.
This has been my easy to go ice cream these days, it’s so tasty and handy. Love the addition of M and M’s here, children will surely love it.
It’s definitely kid-friendly.
Anything with M&Ms is good with me. I bet kids would love these.
Right! You can’t go wrong with M&M’s.
Oh wow! This recipe looks fun and creative at the same time. I love home made desserts and this one looks like a winner in my book. Thanks for sharing!
Great idea, so perfect for 4th of July! You can’t go wrong with M&Ms on an ice cream Sunday. So delicious!
So true.
I have to confess I have never made ice-cream! Terrible right? I’ve made sorbet though! However, this no churn ice-cream looks delicious and sounds so easy. I really want to make ice-cream now!
Sorbet is just as good.
I also appreciate a slow churn ice cream but there are days that don’t allow this to happen so this is the perfect recipe when time does not permit. I love how festive this ice cream is!
Slow churn, no churn, as long as I have ice cream I’m happy
Great delicious treat for the 4th of July celebration!
It just screams fireworks.
Mmmmm, this is a perfect patriotic dessert to celebrate the Independence day! And it is not that loaded with sugar and carbs! Yummmm!
I remember making ice cream the old fashion way with the crank ice cream maker, ice and salt – thaat ice cream was the best – but, these days I do prefer no churn ice creams and yours has me drooling! Can’t wit to try!
Soon no one will know the old fashion way to make ice cream, I miss it, but I will never own a crank ice cream maker again. No churn is just so easy.
My daughter would be so happy if I made these for her! Perfect weekend treat.
My daughter helped me make this then proceded to eat most of it.