Grab a carton of your favorite ice cream and turn it into something memorable! Easy ice cream desserts from terrines and sundaes to ice cream cakes, milkshakes, and pie!
ice cream based summer dessert recipes
There’s enough to worry about when you’re entertaining in summer – wilting salads on the buffet table, grill flare-ups, ice melting in the cooler…let’s make dessert easy! A carton of good ice cream gets you halfway to some of my favorite warm weather treats, from roasted seasonal fruit served with a scoop of vanilla, to a fancy (but easy!) layered ice cream terrine.
want to make your own ice cream?
- Fresh Mint Chip Ice Cream
- Fresh Lemon Ice Cream
- Old Fashioned Rhubarb Ice Cream
- Manhattan Cocktail Ice Cream
- Chocolate Frozen Custard
- Maple Walnut Ice Cream
- Honey Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
- Black Raspberry Ice Cream
- No Churn Bailey’s Ice Cream
how to make an ice cream terrine
I can guarantee this will be the most fun you’ll have in the kitchen this summer. Store bought ice cream in all your favorite flavors are layered, terrine-style, in a loaf pan for a colorful eye-catching summer treat. Save me a slice!
fresh cherry dessert sauce with ice cream
If you have fresh seasonal cherries, you have to make this unbelievable cherry sauce! It’s divine with a bowl of good vanilla ice cream, but I also love it over cheesecake or a slice of grilled pound cake.
the best homemade hot fudge sauce
When was the last time you had a hot fudge sundae? This is my mom’s recipe, and I think it’s the best hot fudge recipe in the world. As far as summer desserts go, this is right at the top.
Cardamom Affogato
A classic ice cream dessert from Italy, my affogato features a cardamom ice cream for a Turkish coffee flair!
homemade sprinkled ice cream cones
Take your ice cream up a notch by making your own super fun be-dazzled ice cream cones! Kids will love the colorful cones and it’s a great excuse to break out the sprinkle collection this summer.
homemade magic shell
This is one of those times when the homemade version of a classic commercial product outshines the original by a long shot. This is truly magical!!
roasted plums with ice cream
Simple cooked seasonal fruit with ice cream is one of those treats I don’t think to make very often, but every time I do, I’m floored by how delicious and sophisticated it is! Plums make a beautiful pairing with vanilla bean ice cream, but lots of other seasonal fruit will work just as well. Try peaches with butter pecan ice cream, or strawberries with chocolate.
ice cream bon bons
These little bite sized ice cream desserts are easy and fun to make, and so customizable! Use any ice cream flavor you want and decorate them with sprinkles, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, or whatever you love.
tiramisu ice cream cake
This fun take on the flavors of tiramisu uses store bought ice cream and a store bought pound cake, so it’s super simple and all the focus is on the fun assembly. Once you’ve tried this grown up version of an ice cream cake, I bet you’ll be dreaming up other flavor combinations!
drumstick ice cream pie
Remember drumsticks? Well I’ve just taken the concept and made it into an ice cream pie. You’re welcome.
the hummer cocktail
Revive this rum and Kahlua-spiked ice cream cocktail of ’60’s in your own backyard this summer. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
bourbon fried peaches with ice cream
Bourbon fried peaches is a gourmet summer dessert on its own, but pair them with some classic vanilla bean ice cream, and you’ve got a company-worthy dessert that took next to no effort to put together.
toasted almond milkshake
A classic milkshake is an old fashioned ice cream dessert I can never turn one down! This toasted almond version is layered with nutty almond flavor and crunchy texture.
Nutella Magic Shell
A chocolate hazelnut take on America’s favorite ice cream sauce, this luxe chocolate shell topping isn’t just for the kids.
