Breastmilk Ice Cream Recipe
With summer approaching and temperatures soaring, every parent is looking for ways to keep their baby cool. A popular way to combat the heat is to make breast milk ice cream. Hydrating, nourishing, and packed with goodness, it is perfect for keeping your baby healthy and cool during the summer months.
Today, more and more parents are seeking natural ways to keep their babies healthy and safe. Breastmilk is celebrated for its nutrient-rich composition, convenience, and natural approach. It is also ideal for anyone on a budget, as it is completely free!
Our guide will talk you through the health benefits of breastmilk ice cream, how to make it at home, and all the necessary safety precautions.
What is Breastmilk Ice Cream?
Breastmilk ice cream is as simple as it sounds; ice cream made using breastmilk rather than cow’s or plant milk. This can then be used during the hot, summer months to keep your baby cool, although you can give it to them any time you want!
Most recipes include the addition of bananas and fruit. If you are adding anything extra, you should not serve it to your baby until they have started eating solids.
How Do You Make Breast Milk Ice Cream?
Making breastmilk ice cream at home is simple and easy. There are two main methods, depending on what equipment you have access to.
Simple Breastmilk Ice Cream Recipe (unsuitable for babies not weaning)
One of the easiest ways to make breast milk ice cream is by using a blender and freezing a banana beforehand. This method involves minimal ingredients and effort.
Ingredients: 2 oz breast milk
1 banana
¼ tsp cinnamon powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
Equipment: Blender
Method:
- Peel and freeze the banana. You may prefer to break the banana up first if your blender isn’t very powerful.
- Using a blender, mix the frozen banana, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly add the breast milk until it has a creamy consistency.
- Enjoy immediately or place it in the freezer to be enjoyed later.
No-equipment Breastmilk Ice Cream Method
Not everyone has access to a blender at home. If this is you, don’t panic - you can still make breast milk ice cream at home.
Ingredients: 1 cup breast milk
5 cups of ice
5 tablespoons of salt
1 tablespoon sugar or sweetener (optional)
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Equipment: Gallon-size ziploc bag
Quart-size Ziploc bag
Oven mitts
Method:
- In the quart-size ziploc bag, place the breast milk and vanilla if using. Seal it tightly.
- In the gallon-size ziploc bag, place the ice and salt.
- Place the quart-size bag inside the gallon bag, and seal it tightly.
- With the over mitts to protect your hands, roll and shake the gallon-size bag continuously. Do this until the ice cream reaches the desired consistency. This should take around ten minutes.
- Serve straight away or store it in the freezer in an airtight container such as a breast milk storage bag.
If you have one, you can use an ice cream maker to make breast milk ice cream. To do this, freeze the breast milk for 24 hours before adding it to the ice cream maker. You may need to add some thawed or fresh breast milk to achieve the desired consistency.
Variations
One of the benefits of making breast milk ice cream at home is that you can flavor it however you want. Some popular options are:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Nut butters
- Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.)
- Honey (only suitable for babies older than one)
Breast milk ice cream can also be enjoyed by adults. Some great, grown-up additions are:
- Matcha powder
- Coffee
- Cardamom
What Are the Benefits of Breast Milk Ice Cream?
Nutritional Powerhouse
For centuries, parents have known how powerful breastmilk is. In recent years, science has stepped up to support these claims with studies and facts. We now know that breastmilk is made up of a range of compounds that work together to support your baby’s health and development. Some of the key players are:
Antibodies: Breastmilk is packed with immunoglobulins, such as IgA. These help to protect your baby from infections by supporting the immune system.
Prebiotics: These help your baby’s gut to grow the necessary bacteria to keep the digestive system functioning at its best.
White blood cells: Breastmilk contains live cells, such as white blood cells, which help fight infection.
Proteins: It is full of proteins that help tissue growth and repair, including whey, casein, and lactoferrin.
Fats: These are essential in brain development and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, such as A, D, and K.
Carbohydrates: Help give your baby all the energy they need.
Vitamins: Breastmilk offers a whole range of vitamins vital for healthy growth and development.
Breastmilk is also full of a vast array of helpful compounds, such as enzymes, hormones, and minerals. These ensure your baby gets everything they need.
Cost Effective
The cost of everything seems to be going up these days, and many parents are looking to save money where they can. A big benefit of breastmilk is that it is completely free! Making breast milk ice cream is also a free way to keep your baby cool while nutritionally balanced.
Natural Approach
Sadly, many of the products targeting young children are packed with sugar and additives. Made with whole ingredients, breastmilk ice cream is packed with natural goodness only.
Staying Safe
When feeding your baby, safety is always at the forefront of any parent’s mind. You should always use fresh or frozen breast milk. Make sure you check it hasn’t turned rancid and smells okay. Dr Tabot’s MilkFresh Sensors track milk freshness, and results can be accessed via a handy app.
When adding extras to your recipe, make sure they are age-appropriate. Some food items aren’t suitable for younger babies or need to be served in smaller portion sizes to avoid
FAQ: Your Breast Milk Ice Cream Questions Answered
Can I Use Previously Stored Milk?
Yes, absolutely! Just make sure it has been stored correctly and is still in date. We recommend the use of breast milk storage bags for maximum space efficiency.
What If My Child Has Allergies or Intolerances?
Breast milk is a great alternative to regular ice cream if your child suffers from allergies. Be mindful of what extras you add, as some may cause a reaction.
How Does It Taste?
Breast milk ice generally doesn’t taste massively dissimilar to regular ice cream. Breast milk itself is generally sweeter than cow’s milk, so it lends itself well to ice cream.
Can I Share My Breast Milk Ice Cream?
Generally speaking, you should not share breast milk with other friends or wider family. This is because the risk of contamination and disease is high. If you do want to share, you should follow certain precautions, such as pasteurizing it and screening it for harmful bacteria. More information can be found on La Leche’s website.
Conclusion
We all know that breast milk is packed with nutritional value and benefits, but making it into ice cream is a relatively new trend. An excellent way to keep your baby hydrated and healthy during the summer months, it is no wonder that it is gaining in popularity. With more and more parents looking to provide their children with a home-made, natural diet, it doesn’t look like this trend is going anywhere soon.
For more breastfeeding and baby care advice, explore our blog and wellness hub.
