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How to save your sanity with single-serving coffee can ice cream.

How to save your sanity with single-serving coffee can ice cream.
It's one of those slow moving Saturdays. Your oldest kid is having a playdate with one of his best buddies. They've torn through all your son's toys in record speed, argued twice over who can "force push" and who has the power to perform a "Jedi Mind Trick" and have played the Wii WAYYYY longer than you meant to allow them. You don't want your kid's friend to report home that all they did was play video games and because you're "the boss," and mean, you turn off the blasted system. Bored, sad, and down-right grouchy (basically driving you insane) you need something to rescue you from this self-induced Swamp of Sadness your quickly sinking into. Now is the perfect opportunity to pull out the old timey "Let's make ice cream in a coffee can" trick. The beauty of this project is the single-serving size means they don't even have to share..thank god.
 
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Step 1Gather necessary materials and ingredients

Gather necessary materials and ingredients
The beauty of this project is it's one of those activities you can pull out when you're in need of something fun to do with the kids. Most of the ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard with the exception of saving a few empty containers and purchasing a box of rock salt.

For a single-serving of quick, yummy homemade vanilla ice cream you'll need:

1 empty medium sized coffee can. We used a 13oz can.

1 empty container with a lid that'll fit inside the coffee can with extra space around it for ice and salt. We used small empty jelly jars and plastic yogurt containers

(Now is the time to pat yourself on the back for recycling and having a mini-lesson with your kids about the importance of reusing items, consumption and global warming)

You'll also need:
1 Tablespoon measuring spoon

1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon

1/2 cup measuring cup

1 small spoon for stirring

For the vanilla ice cream you'll need:

1/2 cup milk. We used non-fat because that's what we drink. However, any milk will work and I even hear soy milk also works for you lacto-free folks

1-2 Tablespoons granulated sugar depending on how sweet you want your ice cream. We used 2 and it was a bit too sweet for my kids. My son's friend is pretty much sugar-free so he used 1 packet of Splenda and it turned out pretty tasty.

1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. The kids found 1 teaspoon of vanilla to be a little bit too over-powering

Small chunks of ice. Enough to fill the surrounding space around the small container inside the coffee can.

1-2 Tablespoons rock salt. We actually found ours at Von's and it was specifically made for ice cream

Optional ingredients:
1 teaspoon chocolate syrup substituted for the vanilla extract if you're craving chocolate
1-2 Small snack size Hershey's Chocolate bars or other chocolate that can be chunked up if you want to make chocolate chip ice cream



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39 comments
Jan 26, 2012. 6:39 AMmichaelko says:
You can mix mixed berries
Sep 14, 2011. 7:18 AMnroper says:
I´m from Costa Rica!!!
Tarrazu´s area coffee is one of the best. Nice to see that you appreciate really good coffee!
Aug 20, 2011. 2:16 PMjany says:
what a way to make personalized ice cream and keep the kids busy. I loved the bowling idea. Genius. I think you should get a 20 for the great directions and pictures.
Sep 5, 2010. 8:34 AMwhisperonthewind says:
Suggestion: Plastic coffee cans and mittens. And they make some really nice small reusable plastic storage containers too. I just cringe at the idea of a glass jar in a metal can with ice and shaking and... label me overprotective.
Mar 30, 2009. 8:48 PMLaura F says:
I super love this. but the splenda in the hand of a child---eeek. otherwise, mmmm ice cream
Jul 7, 2010. 8:15 AMSMBonante says:
I agree, I know how much damage that stuff can do to the body! Stevia is much better, but it can't be dumped like those packets.
Aug 5, 2010. 9:05 AMwrksnfx says:
They sell Stevia in packets Meijers has it.
Apr 9, 2010. 5:43 AMssinn5 says:
 I think this is a great, practical instructable, with some great game ideas and very easy to follow instructables. I know, from personal experience, that the games are really fun! Thanks a Heap!
Mar 14, 2010. 6:48 PMJyssa says:
Lol - I LOVE your intro!! I am having one of those days today - even without the friends over (just my own kids!) and I need a damn good distraction. :) And probably some coffee and icecream for me lol.

Nice 'Ible! :)
Oct 3, 2009. 12:26 PMlink605 says:
nice instructable, i want to do that tomorrow P.S. im turning 11 in 2 days
Sep 23, 2009. 11:09 PMmeejenbea says:
Awesome post, your kid's adorable btw.
Sep 23, 2009. 2:54 PMMig Welder says:
great game ideas!!
Mar 20, 2009. 8:41 PMPKTraceur says:
Nice! Are there any other container mediums I can use? A ziploc Bag? -PKT
Sep 23, 2008. 2:23 AMFather Christmas says:
I love the NBC shirt lol
Dec 23, 2008. 12:40 AMwolf555hound says:
unfortunetly, i've had nightmares from that movie....*shivers* altohugh you have to love Jack!
Dec 23, 2008. 7:28 AMFather Christmas says:
how did you manage that?!?!
Dec 26, 2008. 3:58 PMwolf555hound says:
i don't know, maybe too little expeirince with it as a little kid. I tihnk it's kinda like that wallis and gromet thing. It's jsut plain freaky to me.
Dec 26, 2008. 7:31 PMFather Christmas says:
hahaha now that, i can relate to.
Jan 2, 2009. 3:46 AMwolf555hound says:
At least you can.... my 7 yr old cousin like, LOVES it. i cant stand him either so.....
Jan 2, 2009. 10:01 AMFather Christmas says:
hahaha
Nov 20, 2008. 1:18 PMhammer9876 says:
"1 empty medium sized coffee can. We used a 13oz can" (sigh) Remember when coffee came in 1 pound cans? Great instructable.
Oct 25, 2008. 1:00 AMskunkbait says:
Great Ible! I love it!
Sep 19, 2008. 2:22 PMsrilyk says:
One word: Awesome! Great writing, great ideas, great pics. This is all around a great 'structible
Sep 19, 2008. 10:11 AMmomjeans83 says:
awesome! can't wait to try this with my moms neighborhood kids since mine are under two. i'm sure their parents will appreciate it too!
Sep 18, 2008. 11:48 AMnotjustsomeone says:
This is a great activity. It also works well by putting the ingredients in a snack-sized zip-lock bag and then putting that into a pint-sized freezer bag, we did stuff like that at the beginning of the semester to get people involved with college clubs. It's a cheap way to entertain a lot of people at one time.
Sep 18, 2008. 11:22 AMstimps says:
This is a very cool instructable, but part of it shocks me. When I was a kid oh so long ago, having ice cream was cool enough, no matter what was in it. You didn't get to decide what was in it down to the teaspoon. Ah well.
Sep 18, 2008. 10:25 AMaglaranna says:
This is an awesome instructable! I am passing it on to my friends with kids!!!
Sep 16, 2008. 9:55 PMfinfan7 says:
Good work.
Sep 15, 2008. 5:07 AMle-Sid says:
really nice instructable!! gotta try it someday _
Sep 14, 2008. 11:14 AMrob-e says:
Ice cream! Coffee cans! Not to mention wonderful pics and a very cool narrative--this rocks--thanks!
Sep 14, 2008. 9:57 AMtechnick29 says:
Great stuff. The best part about this isn't the ice cream -- though it looks delicious -- but the well constructed Instructable. Plus all of the bonus games! Keep up the good work!
Sep 13, 2008. 7:14 PMzachninme says:
Great Instructable! (with great narrative to boot!)

Nice way to keep the brats wonderful children occupied.

How well did the fat-free milk work? I thought you needed heavy cream (or at least half-and-half) for it to have the right texture... maybe not?

(Small thing, step 16, the link didn't work. Use this syntax:
[http://www.otterhop.com/content/central-services-presentsthe-board-educationim Central Services Presents...Board off Education].
)
Sep 14, 2008. 7:54 AMPKM says:
Nice way to keep the brats wonderful children occupied.

Here's a funny thing- this would be a great Instructable without the ice cream. This is exactly the kind of childhood I had (turn off the bowling game on the computer, create a bowling game out of empty bottles in the garden) and I firmly believe that is what gave me a passion for making/improvising stuff. There are sadly people out there who would benefit from reading an Instructable "How to play with your children"... now there's a collaboration idea for you :)

Anyway, that's enough misty-eyed reminiscence- great detail, great Instructable, now I want ice cream...
Sep 13, 2008. 9:03 PMArbitror says:
Nice way to keep the brats wonderful children occupied.

LOL!

Nice One!

Sep 14, 2008. 10:57 AMKiteman says:
Ha, it's amazing what low quality rubbish kids will eat if they made it themselves! Brilliant Instructable, well worth the Feature.
Sep 14, 2008. 7:05 AMslientbob says:
you can do this same with a very large bag, but it is not as fun.
Sep 14, 2008. 4:06 AMsuziwollman says:
This is worth a 10 just for the pix and directions (but I like the ice cream, too!). Never read an instructable this good!
Sep 13, 2008. 7:16 PMdxf224 says:
Wonderful... I am thrilled with the lovely simplicity.... and you used duct tape. Holy cow ... to be served with beer can chicken.... You could also do hot stuff like real potatoes in a can. ...or real creamed corn or real beets... and serve at a barbecue by putting all the stuff on the patio and asking the guests to keep their supper moving around for a while.

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Author:otterhopdotcom