Easy No-Churn M&M Ice Cream

This M&M No-Churn Ice Cream is creamy, colorful, and easy to make without an ice cream maker. Chopped M&M’s are layered into a simple vanilla ice cream base, then scooped into sundae glasses with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and cherries.

Use red, white, and blue M&M’s for the 4th of July or Memorial Day, or change the candy colors for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, school parties, or any celebration that needs a little extra fun.

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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 this M&M ice cream is one of my favorites. Homemade ice cream always feels like a treat, but this no-churn version keeps things simple.

I do own a small electric ice cream maker that makes great ice cream, but sometimes I don’t want to drag out another appliance. This recipe is for those days when you want homemade ice cream without the fuss.

This recipe is part of 15 Favorite 4th of July Desserts. Make sure to check it out for some more fabulous patriotic desserts.

M&M’s are fun to add to ice cream because they bring color and crunch. I like to chop them first, then layer them into the ice cream so you get little candy pieces in every scoop. Plus, you get all the colors of the candy.

Why This No-Churn Ice Cream Works

• No Ice Cream Maker Needed: Perfect for those without one.
• 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

• Heavy Whipping Cream – Use cold heavy whipping cream so it whips into stiff peaks.
• 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 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.

Best Pans For Freezing Ice Cream

Step 5. Freeze: Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 6 hours or until firm.

For easier scooping, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

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.

Easy Ways To Change This Ice Cream

This no-churn ice cream is easy to change for different holidays and parties.

• Use red and green M&M’s for Christmas.
• Use pastel M&M’s for Easter.
• Use school colors for graduation parties.
• Use regular M&M’s for birthdays and summer cookouts.
• Keep extra mix-ins small so the ice cream is easy to scoop once frozen.
• Try mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, toasted coconut, cacao nibs, or mini marshmallows.
• If you don’t have sundae cups, serve the ice cream right from the pan with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, chopped M&M’s, and cherries.

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.

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

• This fruity Homemade Blackberry and Peach Ice Cream screams summertime dessert.
• Easy Fried Ice Cream Balls with a delicious sweet honey drizzle.
• Chocolate-Covered Oreo Ice Cream Bites are perfect for everyday snacking or for making a batch for your next party.
• 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 couldn’t be any easier, and the sundaes are just the perfect treat. Grab your American flag and watch some colorful fireworks.

Recipe

Tried it? Rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ & comment below; your feedback keeps the oven mitts flying here at One Hot Oven.

Published: June 7, 2019. Last updated June 30, 2026

Wishing you a fun and happy summer filled with family, friends, good food, and plenty of reasons to celebrate.

  

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