Have you heard…?! The Van Leeuwen ice cream brand has recently released a limited-edition ice cream version of one of your favorite most iconic comfort foods – Kraft Macaroni and Cheese!! We just couldn’t resist trying our hand at a copycat Mac and Cheese Ice Cream capturing the cheesiness of a box of kraft macaroni in a tub of churned ice cream. Perfect iconic ice cream for a hot summer day, this brow-raising cheese ice cream is both sweet and salty with creamy buttery flavor and…. oh so cheesy.
If you have conflicting feelings about this, you’re not alone! Apprehension, possible revulsion and a healthy dose of intrigue all come to mind, right?!
When the ice-cream truck rolled up to hand out free samples in Union Square on National Mac and Cheese Day, the lines were immediate proof that New Yorkers’ curiosity was piqued! Van Leeuwen stores are located in New York, Houston, and Los Angeles, by popular demand, the controversial new flavor sold out in Van Leeuwen shops across stores and on the Van Leeuwen website in just hours! Van Leeuwen is a cult-favorite brand popular in New York City (they’re based in Brooklyn) where they combine high quality ingredients and turn them into signature ice cream flavors free from artificial flavors.
With ice cream reviews going viral online, this Mac and Cheese Ice Cream is circulating on social media while daring homemade versions have become the latest TikTok craze.
Using myself and my family as guinea pigs, I set off to conquer this weird (yet super cool) ice cream challenge. The results were pretty great – a sweet and creamy ice cream that tastes just like mac and cheese from the first bite…and it definitely grows on you!
Would you dare eat this cheese flavor ice cream? Try it out for yourself and drop me a comment with your first time thoughts 🙂
Mac and cheese not your choice dessert? lol. Try these Turtle Brownies, or Soft Sugar Cookies instead.
We love our Mac and Cheese in our home! One of our favorite base recipes to enjoy is our Smoker Macaroni and Cheese! If you want to keep your cheesy noodles savory, this one is for you!
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🍦🧀 Ingredients:
- Eggs – a staple ingredient in homemade ice cream
- Sugar – to sweeten the ice cream
- Milk – we use whole milk
- Heavy whipping cream – rich cream to make this fun ice cream, creamy!!
- Kraft Mac & Cheese powder – (use the macaroni noodles for a different purpose and savor the sweet flavor of the powdered cheese)
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Equipment Needed: Ice Cream Maker
Substitutions and Variations
- You can choose your own favorite boxed Mac and Cheese brand. It does not have to be Kraft, but we like the results with Kraft better than the alternatives.
🔪 Instructions:
PREP: Ensure your ice cream maker bowl is frozen in the freezer for the time as recommend by the manufacturer.
Step 1: Whisk eggs until frothy.
Step 2: Add sugar and kraft cheese sauce mix packets and continue whisking until mixture has thickened.
Step 3: Add milk, heavy cream, and whisk until combined. The cheese powder may separate and stay clumpy initially, but let it set for 5 minutes or so and then whisk some more and it will fully combine.
Step 4: Transfer mixture to the chilled bowl of an ice cream maker and churn until ice cream thickens and the mixer slows or stops.
Step 5: Scoop spoonfuls of thickened ice cream into a freezer-safe container.
Step 6: Freeze ice cream for 12-24 hours to harden well.
GARNISH/SLICE/SERVE: This treat does not need to be accompanied by anything else, it stands alone perfectly! Scoop and enjoy the cheese-flavored ice cream.
What Other Weird Flavors of Ice Cream Exist?
You don’t need to search far to find some pretty weird ice cream flavors that are readily accessible to those in the United States, and that’s not even mentioning those you’ll find on a global scale!
If you’re the adventurous type, then you’ll want to check out these new flavors of savory ice creams:
- Goat Cheese Ice Cream With Red Cherries by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
- Devil’s Breath Carolina Reaper Pepper Ice Cream by The Ice Cream Store – but be warned, you actually have to sign a waiver in order to even sample this ice cream!
- Lobster Ice Cream by Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
- Mild Cheddar Cheese, Olive Oil, Peppercorn, Carrot and many more by il Laboratorio del Gelato.
- Earl Grey Tea Ice Cream by Gimme Some Oven
Can I Make Mac And Cheese Ice Cream Without An Ice Cream Maker?
Yes, you can! I can recommend two alternative methods for making this ice cream that won’t require an ice cream maker:
Making Ice Cream With A Food Processor (This method gives you as close a result as you’ll get to an ice cream maker):
- Make your ice cream base and store it in the freezer, flat in a Ziploc bag, for about 2 hours.
- Once frozen, break your ice cream into chunks and give it a good pulse using your food processor.
- Place your processed ice cream into a freezer-safe container and leave to freeze overnight.
Making Your Own Makeshift Ice Cream Maker:
Now, if you don’t have a food processor either, don’t worry! My next suggestion involves an ice bath and hand mixer. Here’s what you need to do:
- You’ll need to replicate an ice cream maker by using a large bowl filled with ice and ice cream salt and then a smaller bowl placed inside the larger bowl where you’ll assemble your ice cream base.
- Set the ice cream bowl into the ice bowl and mix with a hand mixer until the ice cream base freezes into a creamy soft consistency.
- Then, place both bowls as is into the freezer for 45 minutes which will give you some delicious ice cream!
The only downside to using this bowl-in-bowl method is the fact that it takes up quite a fair amount of freezer space and greater effort making your ice cream this way as you’ll essentially be using a makeshift ice cream maker!
Recipe Tips For Making Mac And Cheese Ice Cream:
- Ice cream makers differ in terms of churn times and the length of time required to freeze your ice cream bowl so make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific ice cream maker.
- Homemade ice cream usually lasts in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. After that, the ice cream can become grainy in texture and form ice crystals.
- Serve up this special on National Cheese Day (June 4) or National Macaroni & Cheese Day (July 14). Your family will love your ingenuity.
- Try this cheese special with a slice of apple pie – I’m pretty sure it would be a match made in heaven.
- Read the press release announcing the Kraft-Van Leeuwen partnership here!
Recipe FAQs
Just like any ice cream, you can keep this in the freezer for up to 3 months, in a sealed and airtight container.
Other Delicious Ice Cream Desserts!
If you tried this Mac and Cheese Ice Cream Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
Mac and Cheese Ice Cream – Copycat
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 packets Kraft cheese powder (use noodles for a different purpose)
Instructions
- Whisk eggs until frothy.
- Add sugar and continue whisking until mixture has thickened.
- Add milk, heavy cream, and cheese packets and whisk until combined. The cheese powder may separate and stay clumpy initially, but let it set for 5 minutes or so and then whisk some more and it will fully combine.
- Transfer mixture to the chilled bowl of an ice cream maker and churn until ice cream thickens and the mixer slows or stops.
- Scoop spoonfuls of thickened ice cream into a freezer-safe container.
- Freeze ice cream for 12-24 hours to harden well.
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Notes
- Ice cream makers differ in terms of churn times and the length of time required to freeze your ice cream bowl so make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific ice cream maker.
- Homemade ice cream usually lasts in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. After that, the ice cream can become grainy in texture and form ice crystals.
- Serve this up special on National Cheese Day (June 4) or National Macaroni and Cheese Day (July 14). Your family will love your ingenuity.
- Try this cheese special with a slice of apple pie.
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
kacio says
but why
Stefanie says
LOL, it was a trend a couple summers ago. Definitely fun to see who will try it and what they think!