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If you’ve ever wondered how to make frozen bubbles, this easy science craft brings the magic of winter to life. Using a homemade bubble solution with just 4 ingredients, you’ll see how cold air turns bubbles into icy art right before your eyes. It’s a fascinating outdoor experiment and fun winter activity that blends science, creativity and fun for kids of all ages and adults on a freezing cold winter day.
Learn how to make frozen bubbles using a homemade 4-ingredient bubble solution that freezes in cold weather and creates beautiful ice-patterned bubbles outdoors.
More craft projects include ice suncatchers, a chunky hand knit blanket, cute pine cone turkeys, and a festive Christmas countdown calendar.
Why You’ll Love It
Fun science activity: Watch bubbles freeze and form sparkling crystal designs.
Simple ingredients: You only need water, sugar, dish soap and glycerin.
Educational: Teaches how temperature and air affect the freezing process.
Magical results: The bubbles look like miniature glass ornaments in the cold.
Frozen Bubble Experiment Materials
A complete list of supplies and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Warm water: Dissolves sugar and glycerin to create a smooth base.
Sugar: Strengthens the film and helps bubbles crystallize.
Vegetable glycerin: Adds flexibility and slows evaporation for better results.
Dish soap: Forms the structure that traps air and freezes beautifully. I got great results using Dawn dish soap.
How to Make Frozen Bubbles
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Mix solution: Stir warm water, sugar and glycerin together in a glass measuring cup until dissolved.
Add soap: Gently stir in dish soap without creating excess foam.
Chill mixture: Pour into a jar, seal and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Freeze bubbles: Take it outside on a very cold, calm day and blow bubbles over snow or another flat surface.
Observe: Watch the bubbles slowly freeze, revealing unique icy patterns.
Substitutions and Variations
Use corn syrup: Corn syrup can replace glycerin if needed.
Try other soaps: A thick brand like Ajax or Gain works well. Don’t use anything too thin – some liquid dish soaps are quite watery.
Add shimmer: Stir in fine glitter to make the frozen bubbles sparkle.
What to Do with Frozen Bubbles
Photography practice: Capture close-up shots of the icy crystal patterns with a macro lens (try sunrise or sunset photos with frozen bubbles!)
Science lesson: Teach kids about freezing points and surface tension.
Winter decorations: Use frozen bubbles to add magic to snowbanks or windowsills.
Creative projects: Turn bubble photos into art, bookmarks, cards or writing inspiration.
Family activity: Make freezing bubbles a fun, hands-on winter tradition.
How to Store Frozen Bubble Solution
Store: Keep leftover bubble solution sealed in a jar at room temperature and it should last for months.
Top Tips
Pick a cold day: Below 20°F with no wind works best. Even the slightest breeze can make the experiment much harder than it needs to be, so pick a sheltered spot with a cold surface for the bubbles.
Avoid sunshine: Soap bubbles don’t freeze well on a sunny day. Even weak sunlight can stop bubbles from freezing.
Stay patient: Larger bubbles may take longer to freeze.
Pre-chill solution: Refrigerate bubble juice overnight so it’s closer to outdoor temperature.
Experiment: Try stacking bubbles or freezing one inside another.
DIY Frozen Bubbles FAQs
Yes, either works fine. Straws often make smaller bubbles that freeze faster.
Cold air makes the water in the bubble film crystallize and these ice crystals form beautiful ice patterns.
Yes, just make sure there’s adult supervision and get everyone to dress warmly.
Frozen Bubbles Tutorial
How to Make Frozen Bubbles
Equipment
- Straws
- Glass Jar 8-Ounce with Lid
- Spoon
Supplies
- ⅔ Cup tap water, very warm
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable glycerin
- 4 Tablespoons dish soap, Dawn works best
Instructions
Make the Bubble Solution
- In a small measuring cup, combine the warm tap water, the sugar, and the glycerin. Use a spoon to stir gently until fully dissolved.
- Add 4 tablespoons of dish soap. Stir just enough to mix the dish soap. Do not over mix so that you can save all the suds for the frozen bubbles!
- Transfer to a small jar.
Chill for Several Hours
- Place the solution in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. The colder, the better! This will bring the bubble solution closer to the freezing temps outside, and they will be ready to freeze quickly.
Make the Frozen Bubbles
- After the chilling process, grab your solution and your straws and head outside. I like to use the rails of our deck, but a patio table or a soft patch of snow (if you have it!) works nicely too! You can have fun trying to blow bubbles into the air to see if they freeze before they land. We have had a few bubbles blow away, stick and freeze to poles. If it is closer to the 20-degrees mark, it can take up to a whole minute before the bubbles freeze. The colder it is, the faster the bubbles will freeze. Sunshine, even on a COLD day, can be enough to keep them from freezing. It needs to be COLD! (Hand warmers in your pockets are SUPER handy!)
- When we did this experiment, it was 4°F and the sun was shining. It took 1 to 2 minutes for the bubbles to fully freeze! We had great results. It's important to practice patience when freezing bubbles. With a little bit of practice, you'll be a bubble-freezing expert in no time! Have fun trying to stack them or maybe even create a bubble within a bubble. The patterns will amaze you.
Notes
Avoid sunshine: Soap bubbles don’t freeze well on a sunny day. Even weak sunlight can stop bubbles from freezing.
Stay patient: Larger bubbles may take longer to freeze.
Pre-chill solution: Refrigerate bubble juice overnight so it’s closer to outdoor temperature.
Experiment: Try stacking bubbles or freezing one inside another.
Knowing how to make frozen bubbles turns any cold morning into something magical. When the temperatures drop, take advantage of the colder temperatures to make your own frozen bubbles. The mix of science and creativity makes this a fun activity that’s engaging for the whole family. So what’s the the secret to creating the perfect frozen bubble? All you need are simple ingredients, a calm day below freezing and a sense of curiosity. You’ll end up with icy, shimmering bubbles that capture the wonder of winter.
Other Crafts to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
