Don’t put your ice cream maker in storage just yet! These delicious fall ice cream pairings are the perfect thing for those of you still waiting on cooler temps, and even if you’ve already got a nip in the air, they’re a fun way to à la mode all your fall baking.
Having lived in LA for a few decades, I know all too well the pain of pumpkin-spice-latte season peaking while it’s still 100F outside.
Maybe that’s why I’ve accumulated a nice little collection of fall-themed frozen treats here on the blog. For those of you not battling the heat, I’ve included some yummy fall ice cream pairings to take your fall and holiday dessert plans over the top!
how to create ice cream/dessert pairings for the perfect à la mode!
Balance Sweetness: Pair very sweet desserts with less sweet ice creams to avoid overwhelming your taste buds!
Balance Richness: Pair rich desserts with lighter ice creams ~ so chocolate cake with vanilla.
Complement Flavors: Match flavors that enhance and elevate each other like coffee and chocolate or apple and caramel.
Contrast Textures: Use creamy ice cream to balance crispy or crumbly desserts like cookies or crisps.
Mind Temperature: Pair warm desserts with cold ice cream for a satisfying temperature contrast. No one can resist those melting rivulets of ice cream.
12 Fall Ice Cream Pairings
Here are my creative suggestions for teaming up ice cream with dessert for fall dinner parties and the holiday celebrations to come…
No-Churn Cranberry Ice Cream
The bright, tart flavor of cranberries is unique, and the color is out-of-this-world gorgeous! I find that strong tart fruits like cranberry (and lemon) make fabulous ice cream flavors, so grab a few extra bags of berries next time you see them, you’re gonna want to make this on repeat all fall.
Pairing Suggestion ~ Flourless Belgian Chocolate Cake
Cranberry and chocolate go unexpectedly great together. I think a scoop of creamy, tart, cranberry ice cream over a warm slice of flourless chocolate cake would be a pretty amazing way to end a holiday meal.
Maple Walnut Ice Cream
This ice cream has a sweet, nostalgic flavor that I just love. You don’t see it in ice cream shops much anymore, and it’s such a shame. It’s wonderful as is, but imagine it scooped over a warm apple crisp or apple fritter bread just out of the oven!
Pairing Suggestion ~ Roasted Banana Bread with Walnuts
A simple loaf or pound cake can easily be elevated to elegant-dessert-material with a scoop of ice cream. The toasty notes in my roasted banana bread with walnuts would compliment the maple ice cream beautifully.
No Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream
No ice cream maker required ~ this quick and easy pumpkin spice ice cream tastes just like pumpkin pie in ice cream form. Make it in the morning and it will be perfectly scoopable by dinner.
Pairing Suggestion ~ Maple Frangipane Pecan Pie
Get all your Thanksgiving dessert fixes in one fell swoop by making my unique take on pecan pie and topping it with pumpkin spice ice cream!
Honey Ice Cream
Honey is one of the world’s most amazing foods, and there are over 300 different types worldwide, each one with a unique flavor profile and color. Compare that to plain old granulated sugar!
pairing suggestion ~ Butter Pecan Shortbread
A scoop of honey ice cream turns a square of nutty pecan shortbread into a company worthy dessert.
Gingerbread Ice Cream
I really love the unusual pairing of fall spices with creamy, cool ice cream. This gingerbread ice cream uses molasses for an authentic flavor. It’s one of my favorite ice cream recipes on the blog, so if you love gingerbread, give it a try.
Pairing Suggestion ~ Gluten Free Pear Crisp
Every crisp needs a great ice cream to complete it, and I think the warm spices in my gingerbread ice cream would be amazing with a fresh pear crisp. In fact, I know the flavor combination is a winner, because I’ve got a Spiced Gingerbread Pear Crumble on the blog, too!
No Churn Bailey’s Ice Cream
A little goes a long way with spiked ice cream, so I like to serve it in cocktail glasses. It’s the perfect dessert all by itself after any meal ~ think of it as an extra delicious digestif!
Pairing suggestion ~ Scottish Shortbread
A sophisticated pairing from the British Isles!
No Churn Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
If you love caramel, this is your dessert, the texture is mind-blowingly smooth, silky and… custardy! I’m racking my poor brain for adjectives here — this is truly unlike anything I’ve ever had before.
pairing suggestion ~ Rustic Apple Galette
The rich caramel dulce de leche is an obvious pairing with a fall apple tart.
Cookie Dough Ice Cream
My mission was to create an ice cream that tastes exactly like everybody’s favorite forbidden pleasure ~ chocolate chip cookie dough ~ in a refreshing frozen form.
pairing suggestion ~ Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Let’s mix things up ~ instead of ice cream garnish your dessert, how about your dessert garnishing your ice cream??
Nutmeg Ice Cream
Nutmeg is one of those under appreciated fall spices. I keep a ready supply and I always grind it fresh, the heady aroma comes through even in ice cream!
Pairing Suggestion ~ Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies
This nutmeg ice cream is excellent sandwiched between my Chewy Ginger Cookies, but I also love it with my Gingerbread Snickerdoodles, or these Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies.
Amarena Cherry Gelato
Wild sour cherries from Italy preserved in a thick rich syrup make this homemade ice cream utterly unique and indescribably delicious.
Pairing Suggestion ~ Lemon Madeleine Recipe
This luxe ice cream actually requires no companion, but simple Madeleines would be a nice choice. They provide a textural contrast without overshadowing those fabulous cherries.
Coffee Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Everybody’s favorite cookie ice cream with a kick of caffeine. So good!
Pairing Suggestion ~ Microwave Cookie in a Mug
Sort of a cookie lovers dream, this quick and easy ice cream pairing will become a favorite, guaranteed.
Which ice cream machine do I recommend?
I get asked all the time about what machine I use. I use and recommend Cuisinart. I’ve had my machine for years without any issues, I think because there are no fussy electronic parts to break down ~ it’s a simple motor that turns the freezer bowl for churning the ice cream and it works quickly and perfectly every time.
The machine I use, and it’s the base model. It works great for ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbets, and makes all of them in about 20 minutes. Click HERE for more info.
Luckily, I live in New England where maple walnut ice cream is a staple! It’s wonderful with apple pie. But butter pecan ice cream is more of my go to – also wonderful with apple pie. However, I am intrigued by your suggestion of honey ice cream with butter pecan shortbread. Definitely on my list!
Sue, this is a terrific article. All of your ice creams and pairings are perfect suggestions.
Thanks so much Ellen!
You are so right on! Seems a little early for the pumpkin spice anything. We are experiencing upper 80s and even 90s I. Some areas of LA. Most people don’t understand we don’t have summer weathe until September and October being the perfect month in So Cal! So these ice creams are perfect for our time of year. You’re missing out Sue! Happy autumn ?
They all look so yummy! Thanks for sharing!
These all sound fabulous and I don’t know where to start. Could you please send samples?
Thank you for the inspiration and your recipes upped my desert game for the holidays
Droolworthy ice creams — and your pairing suggestions are spot on. We’re in South Florida — and we won’t feel cooler temperatures (as in the 70s) until December…. This is genius.
Thanks Lisa, i knew my warmer climate readers would love it 🙂