How to Make Easy Ice Bowls

Ice bowls make a fun and elegant centrepiece for a party and making them couldn’t be more straightforward with our super easy method. We decorated ours with pretty edible flowers but you can easily customise them to suit your theme and the time of year.

I packet of Blu Tack

2 nesting stainless steel bowls - one slightly smaller than the other.

Hint: I advise using metal bowls for making ice bowls as both ceramic and glass. When water freezes, it expands and can cause glass and ceramic bowls to crack

Decorations to sit in the ice (I used edible flowers)

Previously boiled water.

Hint: Tap water contains lots of oxygen bubbles which give a cloudy effect when frozen. For a more transparent result, use water that has been boiled and allowed to cool.

Small can or similar to act as a weight.

To begin, cut the Blu Tack into quarters, and roll each one up as shown in the photo.

Lay the flowers face out around the inside of the larger of the two bowls.

Position the 4 rolls of Blu Tack equally spaced around the rim of the bowl.

And centre the smaller bowl on top, pushing it down on to the Blu Tack.

Use a jug to pour water between the two bowls. Depending on the size of the gap, you may find that some of the flowers float up. If they do, you can use a chopstick or similar to push them back under the water line.

Place the small can in the centre of the top bowl. As the ice bowl freezes, it will expand, and the weight stops the top bowl popping off the Blu Tack under the force of the ice.

Pop in the freezer and freeze for a minimum of 8 hours.

Do not be tempted to run the metal bowl under the tap. A quick release using even lukewarm water can cause fractures in ice bowls.

Take out of the freezer and leave to stand for 15 minutes. You should then be able to remove the top bowl easily.

Place a plate over the outside bowl and turn over, your ice bowl will slide out on to the plate.

To return it to the freezer for storage, wrap it in plastic wrap or foil for protection.

How long an ice bowl lasts is dependent on a few factors. How thick the ice is. The ambient temperature and what you serve in it.

I suggest you use it on a plate or tray to catch any water as it melts. A doily or napkin is also helpful to prevent the bowl from sliding about.

Ice bowls look gorgeous filled with delicious sorbet on a summer day but are equally fun in winter with the added bonus that they last much longer.

Why not use them to serve a batch of snow ice-cream for a unique, winter dessert.

Visit our blog Craft Invaders for more easy to follow craft tutorials. We love to think up quirky, out-of-the-box craft ideas so you don’t have to!