Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe
If you’re on the hunt for a show-stopping dessert that’s goofy fun, super simple, and absolutely delicious, you’ve got to try my Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe. Trust me, this recipe is fan-freaking-tastic because it combines rich cake batter flavor, spooky black color, and fun candy mix-ins—all without an ice cream maker. Whether you’re gearing up for a Halloween party or just craving something wildly indulgent, this no-churn ice cream will totally wow your friends and family.
Why This Recipe Works
- Zero Ice Cream Maker Needed: You don’t have to fuss with fancy equipment—just an electric mixer and freezer.
- Rich, Creamy Texture: The whipped heavy cream folded into sweetened condensed milk mimics that classic ice cream mouthfeel flawlessly.
- Fun, Festive Look: The spooky black tint with candy mix-ins makes it perfect for parties, and it tastes as good as it looks!
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in the Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe plays a key role in building that creamy, flavorful, and spooky dessert everyone will rave about. I’ve learned the hard way to use chilled cream and just enough black food coloring to get the color right without overpowering the taste.
- Princess Cake and Cookie Emulsion (or cake batter extract): This is the magic flavor that brings the “cake batter” taste to life—so important for authenticity.
- Salt: A pinch balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds natural sweetness and creamy texture without needing to cook anything down.
- Unsalted Butter (melted and cooled): Adds richness and smoothness—you want it melted but cooled so it blends without cooking the other ingredients.
- Super Black Food Coloring: The star for that perfect deep black hue, but be careful with quantity as it darkens when frozen.
- Heavy Whipping Cream (well chilled): Whipped to stiff peaks, this provides the fluffy, airy body that makes the ice cream so luscious without churning.
- Mini Kit Kats (chopped): For crunch and chocolaty bites that mix so fun into the ice cream.
- Cake Batter Oreo Cookies (crushed): Adds texture and double down’s on the cake batter vibe plus some Oreo crunch.
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with the candy mix-ins in this Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe depending on the occasion. You can easily swap out Kit Kats for other favorites or add festive touches. The key is making it feel personal and fun—because that’s what makes the end result extra special.
- Variation: I sometimes swap the Kit Kats for crushed Reese’s pieces when I want a peanut butter twist—it’s surprisingly addictive! You’ll enjoy seeing how easy it is to customize this base recipe.
- Dietary Modifications: For a dairy-free version, you can experiment with coconut cream instead of heavy cream and use a dairy-free sweetened condensed milk, though texture may be a bit different.
- Seasonal Change: Around Christmas, I add crushed peppermint candies instead of candy corn to keep it festive and fresh.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Tools for the Best Whip
First things first—pop your medium mixing bowl and the beaters from your electric mixer into the freezer for about 10 minutes. This little chill makes a huge difference when whipping heavy cream because cold tools help keep everything light and fluffy. Trust me, I learned this the hard way after struggling with a too-soft whip that just wouldn’t hold.
Step 2: Mix Your Boo Batter Base
In a large bowl, whisk together your sweetened condensed milk, melted (but cooled!) butter, black food coloring, cake and cookie emulsion, and salt. Here’s a tip: add black food coloring slowly. The mix looks like a light gray at first but will deepen beautifully once frozen. Adding too much at once can turn it bitter or stain. If you want a super black ice cream, a little extra color after chilling is the way to go.
Step 3: Chop and Crush Your Mix-Ins
Time for the fun stuff! Chop your Mini Kit Kats into half-inch pieces—big enough to get satisfying chocolate bites but small enough to blend through every scoop. For the Oreos, I just toss them into a ziplock bag and crush gently with a rolling pin until you’ve got a mix of crumbs and small chunks. It’s a great tactile step that gets very satisfying as you hear those cookie bits crunch.
Step 4: Fold in the Fluffy Cream
Whip your chilled heavy cream to stiff peaks in the cold bowl you prepared. Then, gently fold that fluffy goodness into your black condensed milk mixture. This folding step is key: you want to keep as much air in the whipped cream as possible so your ice cream stays light—no overmixing here! Keep it gentle and slow, like you’re tucking in a cozy blanket.
Step 5: Mix in Candy & Freeze
Stir in your chopped Kit Kats, crushed Oreos, and about 2 tablespoons of Smarties into the mixture. Then transfer everything into a freezer-safe container—(I use a loaf pan, which fits perfectly in my freezer and makes slicing easy). Top with extra candy for garnish, cover tightly, and freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight. Remember, no-churn ice cream tends to melt faster, so plan to serve soon after thawing!
Tips from My Kitchen
- Chill Everything: Cold bowls and beaters make whipping cream a breeze—don’t skip this step!
- Black Food Coloring Patience: Adding too much at once can overwhelm the flavor, so add it gradually and taste as you go.
- Use a Loaf Pan: It’s perfect for freezing and slicing easy ice cream bars later.
- Serve Quickly: This ice cream melts faster than store-bought, so scoop and enjoy right away for best texture.
How to Serve Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe
Garnishes
I like to top mine with extra mini Kit Kat pieces, candy corn, candy eyes, and of course some leftover Smarties. These garnishes aren’t just for looks—they add a fun surprise of colors, textures, and flavors. Plus, they make it feel like a party every time you scoop into a bowl.
Side Dishes
This ice cream is so rich and flavorful that I often serve it just as-is or alongside simple baked goods—think chocolate chip cookies or a warm brownie. The warm/cold contrast always makes the experience feel extra special.
Creative Ways to Present
For Halloween gatherings, I’ve served this ice cream in waffle cone “cauldrons” lined with black or orange tissue paper, or scooped into little spooky-themed cups with candy eyes stuck to the side. It’s such an easy way to amp up the fun factor without extra fuss.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream in an airtight container, preferably with a layer of plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface to minimize ice crystals. This keeps it tasting fresh and creamy longer. I’ve had great luck keeping it good for about a week this way.
Freezing
When freezing the ice cream initially, I always make sure it’s covered tightly to avoid freezer burn. It behaves best when frozen solid overnight—any sooner, and it might be a bit soft. If your freezer is too cold, though, watch out for rock-hard ice cream that’s tough to scoop.
Reheating
No need to “reheat” ice cream, but if it’s too hard straight from the freezer, let it sit at room temp for about 5 to 10 minutes before scooping. This little patience trick saves you the headache of broken scoopers and preserves the creamy texture perfectly.
FAQs
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Can I make the Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe without black food coloring?
Absolutely! While the black food coloring gives the ice cream that iconic spooky look, you can skip it or use less to keep the dessert pale with just the cake batter flavor. Just keep in mind it won’t have the dramatic visual effect, but the taste will still be delicious.
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How long does Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream last in the freezer?
Stored properly in an airtight container, it should stay fresh for up to a week. After that, you might notice some ice crystals forming or slight flavor changes, though it will still be safe to eat. Always keep it well wrapped to maintain quality.
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Can I add other candies or mix-ins?
Definitely! This recipe is super flexible. Try crushed pretzels for salty crunch, mini marshmallows for chewiness, or even swirl in some fudge sauce. Just fold gently to keep the texture light.
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Is this ice cream very sweet?
It is on the sweeter side because of the condensed milk and candies, but the pinch of salt helps balance it. If you prefer less sweetness, you could experiment with slightly less condensed milk, though it might affect the texture.
Final Thoughts
I genuinely adore this Boo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe because it’s easy enough for a last-minute dessert but special enough to feel like a celebration. Every time I make it, the fun colors and mix-ins bring out smiles—and sometimes a little playful scary delight. I hope you’ll give it a try and enjoy the mix of spooky whimsy and creamy happiness as much as I do. It’s the perfect treat to share with friends, family, or just keep all to yourself (I won’t judge!).
PrintBoo Batter No-Churn Ice Cream Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Boo Batter Ice Cream is a fun, no-churn recipe perfect for Halloween or any festive occasion. Combining cake batter flavor and cookie mix-ins, it’s an easy homemade treat that requires no ice cream maker and freezes into a creamy, colorful delight.
Ingredients
Ice Cream Base
- 1 teaspoon Princess Cake and Cookie Emulsion or cake batter extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter melted and cooled
- ¾ tablespoon super black food coloring (Americolor brand recommended)
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, well chilled
- 4 mini Kit Kat bars, chopped into ½ inch pieces
- 8 cake batter Oreo cookies, chopped or crushed
- 2 tablespoon smarties
Garnish
- Candy corn
- Smarties
- Broken pieces of mini Kit Kat chocolate bars
- Candy eyes
- Waffle cones (optional)
Instructions
- Chill Bowl and Beaters: Place a medium mixing bowl and electric mixer beaters into the freezer for about 10 minutes to chill thoroughly.
- Mix Base Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, melted butter, super black food coloring, cake and cookie emulsion (or cake batter extract), and salt. Adjust black food coloring to achieve desired darkness, keeping in mind the color intensifies after freezing.
- Prepare Mix-ins: Chop the mini Kit Kat bars into ½ inch pieces. Crush or chop the Oreo cookies by placing them in a ziplock bag and using a rolling pin to break them into chunks.
- Combine Mix-ins with Base: Fold the crushed Oreos, chopped Kit Kats, and about 2 tablespoons of smarties into the black ice cream mixture.
- Whip the Cream: Using chilled bowl and beaters, whip the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks.
- Fold Whipped Cream into Base: Gently fold the whipped cream into the black condensed milk mixture until just combined, taking care to keep the mixture light and airy.
- Freeze the Ice Cream: Transfer the mixture into a freezer-safe container such as a loaf pan. Garnish the top with additional Kit Kat pieces, candy corn, candy eyes, and smarties for festive decoration.
- Freeze Until Solid: Cover tightly and freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight until firm.
- Serve: Remove from freezer and serve immediately to prevent melting.
Notes
- No-churn ice cream melts faster than traditional ice cream made with an ice cream maker—serve immediately to enjoy optimal texture.
- Black food coloring can stain and causes a strong color in the ice cream and should be used judiciously; inform guests especially children to avoid surprises.
- For the best texture, ensure heavy cream is very well chilled before whipping.
- You can substitute the cake batter Oreo cookies and Kit Kats with similar candy bars and cookies if unavailable.
- Using a loaf pan inside a larger container helps prevent spills and makes it easier to transfer the ice cream in and out of the freezer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg