Carnival In A Cone: Homemade Cotton Candy Ice Cream Recipe

By Brittni • posted on 02/14/2024

Recipe // Homemade Cotton Candy Ice Cream

I had some leftover cotton candy from the DIY candy nests I made the other week. So I thought I would use the leftovers for a fun recipe: cotton candy ice cream.

Eeeee. It’s like a carnival in a cone, which is pretty much my new favorite thing. Well, after funnel cakes that is. Somebody hold me bake before I make funnel cake waffles or something.

Want to make a batch of homemade cotton candy ice cream? Here’s what you’ll need…

Cotton Candy Ice Cream Recipe. Bring the carnival to any colorful cone, at home.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp corn starch
1 tsp vanilla extract
cotton candy

Youll also need:

Ice cream maker (I like this one from Amazon) // 2 quart sauce pan // Freezer-safe pans or containers // Whisk // Heat-safe spatula // Bowl (large enough to fit the sauce pan in with ice) // Ice // Thermometer

Cotton Candy Ice Cream Recipe

Instructions:

1. Freeze the ice cream freezer bowl for 24 hours in advance. The bowl must be thoroughly frozen before beginning. Keep the freezer bowl in the freezer until the churning step.

2. Combine 2 tbsp of the whole milk with the corn starch and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and set aside.

3. Combine the rest of the whole milk with the heavy cream, granulated sugar, and salt in the sauce pan. Set aside.

4. In the bowl, prepare an ice bath for the sauce pan. This will be used to chill the ice cream base afterwards.

5. Move the sauce pan with the milk mixture to the stove and bring to a simmer on medium heat. Once the mixture is at a steady simmer, heat the mixture for 6 minutes, stirring with a whisk.

6. Reduce heat to low and, while stirring, add corn starch mixture.

7. Increase back to medium heat and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

8. Remove from heat and submerge the sauce pan into the ice bath. Keep stirring! This will help cool the ice cream base more quickly and evenly.

9. Once the mixture registers 45 degrees Fahrenheit, add the mixture to the ice cream maker and turn it on. This step will take between 35 to 45 minutes (depending on how cold the base was before starting). Wait for the ice cream to begin developing a soft serve-like texture and starts pulling away from the sides of the freezer bowl before stopping the churning process.

This is where you can start adding in pieces of cotton candy (long strands work best, if possible, almost like ribbons. OR you can wait to add it into the last step, if it’s easier. Up to you.

10. Once ready, stop the machine and scoop the ice cream into freezer-safe pans, cover with airtight lids, and freeze overnight.

Recipe // Cotton Candy Ice Cream. Yum!

Cotton Candy Ice Cream Recipe. Bring the carnival to any colorful cone, at home.

Cotton Candy Ice Cream. Bring the carnival to any colorful cone, at home. Click through for this unique, homemade ice cream recipe.

Recipe by Linda Jednaszewski for Paper & Stitch
Concept, photography, and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff

Are you a cotton candy fan? What are your favorite carnival type foods?

For more ice cream posts like this, check out the ice cream tag.

21 comments | Click here to reply

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Thanks you! Gonna go pick that polish up this week most likely! 🙂

Mary

They are so cute!! I love to see all those colors, they will be perfect for decorate a party in the summer, and I can only guess how delicious they will be!! 😉

Stefania

You really hit it out of the park with those shots.. all those colors drew me in. But what I really liked was the sound of cotton candy in the form of ice cream, sounds delicious.

Alexandria

‘Tis the season for ice cream… thanks for sharing!

sue

OMG yum! I cant wait until its warm enough to try this recipe out!
www.southernfolly.com

Hannah S

I’m secretly hoping cotton candy is the next big thing and THIS is just AMAZING! Love the colors and styling and, well, it just looks so darn delicious.

Kelly @ Studio DIY

Hi Mary. It’s Essie in Butler Please.

Brittni

Hey Brittni! What nail polish are you wearing here? I love the color!

Mary

That looks unbelievably gorgeous!! Have been needing an excuse to get the ice cream maker out (not that I really need one..).

Matilde

This brings back memories of my first job working at Coldstone Creamery. What a fun and colorful way to celebrate spring! And as a side note, I just love your nail polish!

Kaitlyn Powell

Agree Paige! Hard to beat colorful cones.

Brittni

Those cones are so fun! The perfect summer treat!

Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com

Paige

Haha. Thanks Karen.

Brittni

Aww how cute! I don’t even want to eat it, just have it for decoration

www.littleblackshell.com

Karen Farber

Thanks Christine. Definitely give it a try. I think you’ll love it.

Brittni

Love this and can’t wait to try my hand at making it. I love that you even used blue and pink ice cream cones!

Christine
www.DimesandDonuts.com

Christine
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