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Cotton Candy & Bubblegum Swirl Soft Serve

A visually stunning, nostalgic homemade soft serve featuring an electric blue cotton candy and vibrant pink bubblegum swirl, made easily without an ice cream machine.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Freezing Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 cups
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Summer
Calories: 310

Ingredients
  

Dairy Base
  • 4 cups whole milk frozen into ice cubes
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream very cold
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14oz, chilled
  • 0.25 tsp fine sea salt
Blue Cotton Candy Flavor
  • 1.5 tsp cotton candy flavor extract
  • 2-3 drops electric blue gel food coloring
Pink Bubblegum Flavor
  • 1.5 tsp bubblegum flavor extract
  • 2-3 drops neon pink gel food coloring

Equipment

  • Ice cube trays
  • High-speed blender or food processor
  • Large piping bags
  • Large open star piping tip (1M)

Method
 

  1. The day before, pour the whole milk into ice cube trays and freeze completely solid.
  2. Chill your blender pitcher in the freezer for 15 minutes before starting.
  3. Make the Blue Half: Add half of the frozen milk cubes, half the heavy cream, half the condensed milk, half the salt, the cotton candy extract, and blue gel color to the blender.
  4. Blend on high, stopping frequently to scrape down the sides, until thick and perfectly smooth. Transfer to a bowl and place in the freezer.
  5. Clean and dry the blender. Make the Pink Half: Add remaining milk cubes, heavy cream, condensed milk, salt, bubblegum extract, and pink gel color. Blend until smooth.
  6. Transfer the pink mixture to a bowl. Let both bowls sit in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to firm up to piping consistency.
  7. Fit a piping bag with a large star tip. Spoon the blue mixture down one half of the bag, and the pink mixture down the other.
  8. Pipe in an upward swirling motion into cups and serve immediately.

Notes

Using gel food coloring rather than liquid is essential to maintain the thick texture of the soft serve without watering it down.