Ice Cream Bread

What's Ice Cream Bread, you asked? Bread made with your favorite flavor of ice cream!

A loaf of moist and tender bread with just the right sweetness and flavor, plus perfect texture, was done with fewer ingredients and minimal effort. 

What You Should Know About This Recipe

Ice cream bread? Ice cream in the oven? A loaf of quick bread made with just ice cream and flour?! Can’t quite wrap your head around it yet? I kid you not; this recipe is 100% legit! A two-ingredient ice cream bread recipe that sounds- and tastes- too good to be true! This can possibly be one of the coolest and easiest bread recipes out there.

Though I love my Banana Bread and Zucchini Bread down to the last crumb, it is a novelty for me to make this short-cut bread recipe.

There's something so satisfying about quick bread recipes, and when I saw this idea circulating on social media, it piqued my interest. And I quickly added it to my summer dessert bucket list.

Heck, it was so easy to do that I thought it was worth a try.

So I did, and my family and I loved it so much that I made one using pineapple and coconut ice cream and another using chocolate ice cream!

Making them was so much fun I am still deciding whether to make another batch using butter pecan or strawberry; they both sound deliciously dreamy.

Hmm, maybe I’ll do both. Oh, my mind is racing with boundless possibilities!

The “Science” behind it

The old days when ice cream is only kept in the freezer are way over! This freeze-bound goody has found its way into the oven. Ice cream is made of eggs, milk, and sugar, some of the standard ingredients in making bread.

By mixing self-rising flour, which already includes salt and baking powder, you meet the requirements in making one. This genius food hack incorporates the instant flavor from whatever ice cream is used. Pretty neat, eh?

However, you MUST take note of the following: Only full-fat ice cream and self-rising flour should be used for this to work.

There is not much wiggle room for alternatives here. Also, remember that this is not a sweet treat by all means. So do not expect a dessert-like outcome. It is still bread, after all. It should be delicately flavored by whatever ice cream you use.

Why We Love This Yummy Ice Cream Bread

Ease - If you're looking for easy recipes, this one belongs to that category! What could be simpler than mixing 2 ingredients and popping them in the oven? This one can easily top the list of quick and magical recipes. Making delicious bread in just 45 minutes with barely anything hands-on is amazing.

Simplicity - using 2 ingredients only allows you to cut some corners. Less work and fewer expenses, especially if you happen to have some leftover ice cream sitting in your freezer.

Fun - What a dandy way to sneak in your favorite frozen treat for breakfast, right? And your kids will love you for this; you can thank me later!

Customizable- Pick whatever flavor of ice cream you fancy. There are so many different flavors you can try. Go chocolaty, fruity, coffee-based, buttery, nutty, or minty. Don’t get me started on the mix-ins and topping selections! Initially, I wanted to make it with strawberry ice cream but believe it or not, two supermarkets were sold out of that flavor.

ICE CREAM - This recipe calls for a pint of full-fat ice cream that is softened. Any ice cream flavor will go!

The flavor possibilities are quite endless. I've recently made this recipe with Butter Pecan Ice Cream!

Any ice cream flavor will go! I've recently made this recipe with Butter Pecan Ice Cream!

Tip: Use ice cream with bits of chocolate or small chunks of fruit; they will add texture and more flavor to the bread!

SELF-RISING FLOUR - You can easily find this in your local grocery in the baking aisle. However, homemade ones will also work.

Variations and Substitutions

Flour - it is easy enough to make your own self-rising flour at home. All you will need are all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder and ¼ teaspoon salt per 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Mix them well together.

Toppings - Make your bread more fun and colorful by topping it with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, or crushed nuts or seeds.

Use a muffin pan – make instant mini cakes by baking the batter into muffins instead! They will look adorable, especially if you add whipped cream and sprinkles on top!

How To Make This Recipe

1. Mix a pint of melted ice cream and 1 ½ cups of flour in a large bowl using an electric mixer.
2. Pour the mixture into a greased 9x5 loaf pan and bake at 350º Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.
3. The loaf is done if a wooden toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean. Let it cool completely before removing it from the pan.

Dos and Don’ts

DO - Make sure you pull the ice cream out of the freezer for at least an hour before using it. If you don’t have time, you can transfer the ice cream to a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in 10-second intervals. Use a wooden spoon to stir every interval until it is runny.  

DO NOT overmix the batter. Mix until well combined. Otherwise, you will end up with dense bread. That is not what we are aiming for here.

DO - Allow the bread to cool down before removing it from the pan. Transfer to a cooling wire rack and let it cool down further before slicing.

How To Store This Recipe 

Wrap any leftover bread with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. You can also place it in an airtight container. If refrigerated, it will last for 3-5 days. Frozen, it can last for months.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Freshly baked ice cream bread is perfect for breakfast with a tall glass of smoothie or as an afternoon snack with your favorite hot drink.

Depending on the flavor of the bread, you can spruce it up by smearing your fave spread on it.

A spoonful of Nutella on chocolate ice cream bread sounds decadent! Peanut butter with jelly on a slice of vanilla ice cream bread sounds great too!

More Delicious Dessert Recipes

• Dunkaroo Dip
• German Cherry Crumb Cake
• Apple Crisp
• Blueberry Dump Cake
• Strawberry Crisp