This Mason Jar Ice Cream Hack Changes Everything

There's something special about homemade ice cream. Maybe it's all the good childhood memories that come with it, or maybe it's the fact that this incredibly delicious treat was made by loving hands, but homemade ice cream beats store-bought every time. 

Making ice cream at home can be a joyous process for the whole family, and especially for the kids. And the good news is it doesn't have to be complicated. There are lots of ice cream making hacks out there that are fairly mess-free and don't involve a cumbersome ice cream machine or ingredients you don't all ready have in your pantry. From the ice cream in a bag hack that can also double as a science experiment to no-churn recipes galore (via Food Network) making this frozen and much-loved dessert has never been so simple. 

But we've got an ice cream hack for you that just might rival all others and become the go-to method you and your kids will enjoy the most. What's the hack? Mason jar ice cream is the next "it" ice cream trend that will have Instagram food accounts posting creamy and yummy ice cream made in the iconic and multi-purpose mason jar. 

So how do you make ice cream in a mason jar?

First you need a mason jar with a lid, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. The jar needs to be large enough to hold one cup of heavy cream (via The New York Times). If you don't have any heavy cream on hand, don't worry — you can always use the half and half you use in your coffee and mix it together with some butter (via Healthline). 

Once you have your cream in the jar, add your sugar, vanilla, and salt, and screw on the lid. Make certain it's on tight so you don't end up with spillage because you are about to shake it like a Polaroid picture. The kids will enjoy this step and you can even create competitions of who can shake it the longest because it will take between four and five minutes for the mixture to double in size (via Yahoo!). 

If you need to taste test to ensure it's thick enough, no judgment here. You are looking for the consistency of brownie batter, according to The New York Times. Put the lid back on and pop it in the freezer for three hours. Toss in anything you love in your ice cream — chopped up Reese's peanut butter cups, Oreos, or even berries — and enjoy.