I got one of those kinds of gimmicky ice cream makers for Christmas this year; you know the ones where you pop some cream and flavoring into a container and shake it?
Mine worked to an extent, there were little bits of ice cream in there, but it was mostly flavorless cream. The failure of this device made me realize just how handy it would be to be able to make my own ice cream, however, and I have since been on the hunt for simple but delicious recipes to enable me to do so.
On a scorching hot summer’s day you can’t beat a good bit of ice cream, and in colder months it is the perfect accompaniment to a warm dessert. I have steered clear of your average vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavors, because where’s the fun in that? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather push the boat out a little.
Tasty Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
1. Pineapple Mint Ice Cream
I challenge you to find a more refreshing sounding ice cream than this Pineapple Mint one. You would without a doubt be transported right to the beach.
This Pineapple Mint ice-cream is like an ice cream version of a pina colada, one of my favorite summertime cocktails, but elevated to a whole new level of freshness with the added mint. Pineapple chunks are perfect for adding to ice cream because it adds texture while still being soft enough to combine with the mixture.
2. Cookies and Cream Nutella Ice Cream
Cookies and cream are of course delicious but isn’t necessarily the most adventurous of ice cream flavors. Combine it with a Nutella base, however, and I couldn’t leave it out.
My sister isn’t the biggest fan of ice cream, and I can tell just by looking at the recipe that even she would love this Cookies and Cream Nutella Ice Cream. Nutella would give the base a slight hazelnutty taste, making it different from a plain chocolate ice cream and therefore more exciting. Be sure to leave your chunks of cookie nice and big.
3. Red Velvet Ice Cream with Marshmallow Swirl
Red velvet is my all-time favorite cake flavor; I just can’t get enough of the stuff. I have tried various desserts with their own take on the classic, like cheesecake and cookies, but never a Red Velvet Ice Cream.
As if this didn’t sound good enough in itself, they have added a marshmallow swirl. Surprisingly enough I am not the biggest fan of marshmallows, but when incorporated into things like they are here I love the texture and sweet taste they add.
4. Lemonade Ice Cream
This made me think of a lemonade float, which I will occasionally treat myself to when the sun decides to show its face. The best thing to enjoy outside in the summer, is either an ice-cold lemonade or a yummy ice cream, so why not combine the two and make the ultimate Lemonade Ice Cream?
Because of its citrusy flavor, this ice cream is bound to be both refreshing and sweet, and that frozen lemonade concentrate will take it from a classic lemon flavor to one resembling the fizzy soda we all know and love.
5. Brownie Batter Ice Cream
Because this recipe for Brownie Batter Ice Cream has a box of actual brownie mix in it, it is sure to taste exactly like the real thing.
This recipe would not be complete without having big, delicious chunks of brownie running through the ice cream, so I am thrilled they didn’t leave those out. It looks simple to make, and I can imagine making the most incredible ice cream sundaes with this ice cream, cookies, endless sprinkles and a pool of hot fudge sauce.
6. Rice Pudding Ice Cream
Being the huge dessert enthusiast that I am, I am pretty much in heaven when two desserts come together, and that is precisely what is happening in this Rice Pudding Ice Cream.
Rice pudding is something that’s been an occasional treat in my house for as long as I can remember, probably because of the fact my parents both love it. I don’t know why I had never thought that its flavors would go so well with ice cream. It’s not too sweet, but will still have that delicious caramel flavor, enhanced by the sauce, and spiced with a hint of cinnamon.
7. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ice Cream
As the recipe suggests, imagine this atop a big slice of steaming hot apple pie. I can’t think of anything more comforting and homely. If you wanted, you could even stew some chopped apple and combine it with the ice cream.
My favorite breakfast cereal is cinnamon flavored and has more sugar in it than I care to think about, so I can imagine this would have a similar taste. This Brown Sugar Cinnamon Ice Cream is simple in flavor, but still something a little out of the ordinary, and is bound to be enjoyed by all.
8. Key Lime Pie Ice Cream
Not only does this Key Lime Pie Ice Cream contain all the classic flavors of a key lime pie, but it also has graham crackers in it to add that pastry element. I like ice cream with a little something extra mixed with it, to give it a new texture and to make every mouthful slightly different.
This recipe would give you an ice cream that is sweet but still has that citrus kick coming through it, and if you know anyone who is a fan of the dessert, then they’ll love you for making them this.
9. Cake Batter Ice Cream
If you say that your favorite part of baking a cake isn’t licking the spoon once you’re done, then you are lying. I wish I could say that I have grown out of this habit since the days I used to help my granny in the kitchen, but I certainly have not.
This Cake Batter Ice Cream brings back nostalgic feelings and memories for me, which is one of the reasons why I love it. The addition of the sprinkles is a lot of fun and sets its appearance aside from a plain vanilla ice cream. I can imagine kids enjoying this.
10. Lavender Honey Ice Cream
Lavender Honey Ice Cream sounds like the most sophisticated of ice cream, and the kind that would be delicious as both a cooling afternoon snack or as a dessert after a nice meal.
If you want an insanely creamy and smooth recipe, then this one for Lavender Honey Ice Cream would be perfect. The flavors are simple but still something out of the ordinary, and because there is more honey than lavender in the recipe, it won’t taste overpoweringly floral, which I don’t find too pleasant.
11. Cherry Pie Ice Cream
I was so incredibly happy to find out that this Cherry Pie Ice Cream has an actual cherry pie in it. I am talking a whole cherry pie, pastry and all.
By making the ice cream like this, it means that the flavor will taste exactly like what it’s supposed to be, instead of being an artificial cherry flavor which doesn’t taste much like real cherries at all. The recipe is vegan, meaning you don’t have to worry about making different things to suit different dietary requirements and everyone will be able to tuck in and enjoy together.
12. Summertime Peach Ice Cream
Peaches are one of my favorite fruits around this time of year, be it a peach scented shower gel, a peach cobbler or a peach itself. I don’t think I have ever tried a peach ice cream, however. This Summertime Peach Ice Cream looks like the perfect place to start.
I love the fact this recipe uses fresh, diced peaches, as I initially thought they would be canned or frozen. Of course, these would also be fine, but to me, the only way to get that suitably natural peach flavor without overwhelming sweetness is with fresh peaches.
13. S’mores Ice Cream
If you want to capture a cozy night around the campfire in one bowl of deliciousness, then look no further than this S’mores Ice Cream. The texture of this will be incredible, with multiple different elements going on like the chewy marshmallows and crunchy cracker pieces.
If you wanted to, you could even add more little surprises into this ice cream, like cookies, sauces or white chocolate chips. It’s already not the healthiest, so why not go all out and make it the ultimate treat?
14. Sparkling Ice Cream
Upon reading the name, I thought this would be an ice cream with glitter in it, which I thought sounded pretty but not necessarily a flavor explosion. I was far from right, as the ‘sparkling’ in this Sparkling Ice Cream recipe refers to Prosecco.
This would make a perfect treat for a ladies lunch or afternoon tea, and no one would expect the flavor when you first set it down in front of them. Make sure to add some gold sprinkles for some extra luxury and serve in some pretty glasses.
15. Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Now this is one I have tried before, and I can confirm that it was one of the best tubs of ice cream I have ever consumed, and I have had a fair few in my time.
Aside from the fact that cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts in the world, this Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream is the perfect combination of sweet and fruity. Because it includes cheesecake mix, then there’s no chance of losing that flavor. I love that there are whole blueberries in there, so every now and again you’d experience a burst of fruity goodness.
16. Salted Caramel Toffee Pretzel Ice Cream
Salted caramel anything gets a massive thumbs up from me, and this Salted Caramel Toffee Pretzel Ice Cream both looks and sounds insane.
It’s like an explosion of all things caramel and delicious, and I love that it has huge chunks of pretzels and toffee through it to add an extra bit of texture and excitement. Don’t hold back when putting this recipe together, if you want to add additional pretzels go for it, if you’re going to drown it in sauce go for it, trust me – you won’t regret it.
17. Tropical Avocado Ice Cream
I was as shocked as you probably are when I first found out that there was such a thing as Tropical Avocado Ice Cream. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first, but after reading the recipe, I think I might be sold on the idea.
Avocado as an ingredient is incredibly smooth, so I can imagine this ice cream would follow suit. The recipe sounds tropical, with flavors like coconut and lime going in there along with the avocado, I am also in love with that lime green color.
18. Maple Honeycomb Ice Cream
I have tried both maple syrup flavored and honeycomb flavored ice creams before, but never one that combines the two in one heavenly tub like this Maple Honeycomb Ice Cream.
Because the honeycomb is kept in chunks and the maple syrup is added to the actual ice cream mixture, it will stop it from being overwhelmingly sweet. The method is easy to follow, which is perfect for any first-time ice cream makers, and it looks beautifully bejeweled with that golden honeycomb on top.
19. Apricot Ice Cream
I found a couple of Apricot Ice Cream recipes, but I opted for this one because many others used sweetened apricot puree as a means of flavoring them. This is of course entirely okay to do, but I thought that the apricot flavor might be more natural and close to the real thing if it were fresh apricots that were used.
All the ingredients required to make this ice cream are easy to get your hands on, and this would taste delicious either on its own or with other fruity ice creams as part of a fruit cocktail sundae.
20. Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream
Toasting marshmallows are one of my favorite summertime activities. There’s nothing better than sitting around a campfire with friends and family, wrapped in blankets as the evening cools, toasting marshmallows and sharing stories.
This Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream sounds too good not to try. When you toast the marshmallows, they will get deliciously crunchy and golden on the outsides, meaning that even when they’re mixed in with the ice cream, you will still get the occasional bit of crunchy mallow.
21. Eton Mess Ice Cream
The textures in this Eton Mess Ice Cream are exciting and fun, with crispy meringues and chunks of juicy strawberries.
The beauty of Eton mess, in general, is that it does have to look perfect, and this ice cream is no different. In fact, it seems better with imperfections, like the pieces of strawberry and meringue being different sizes. This means that every mouthful will be unique. The use of coconut milk will add a hint of coconut flavor, another something a little bit different.
22. Butterfingers Ice Cream
I love it when ice creams either include or are based on popular chocolate bars. Chocolate bars aren’t necessarily the first things you want to be eating outside on a hot day, so this is the perfect way to still enjoy them without ending up with a melted mess in a wrapper.
If you like ice cream with a bit of a crunch through it, then this could be perfect for you. This Butterfinger Ice Cream is an easy way to make a peanut butter and chocolate flavored treat. Make sure to leave some bigger chunks to sprinkle over the ice cream when serving.
23. Galaxy Ice Cream
This Galaxy Ice Cream has a classic vanilla flavor, which I said I wouldn’t include, but look at it! It would be difficult to find a more fun looking and appealing ice cream, and this would be positively perfect for parties or celebrations.
The great thing about this is that you could customize the idea however you wanted. To go for a unicorn theme, you could use bright rainbow food coloring with multicolored sprinkles, or stick to blues and greens for a mermaid feel. There is no limit to the number of colors and sprinkles you could add to this ice cream, so be sure to let your imagination run wild.
24. Dark Chocolate Orange Ice Cream
This ice cream uses dark chocolate, which is what drew me to it as that isn’t something I have seen often. One of my family’s favorite types of chocolate is dark chocolate and orange, so I do not doubt that this would go down well with them.
Looking through the ingredients, it sounds like this Dark Chocolate Orange Ice Cream will be flavorful as opposed to merely sweet, which I think is a flaw in many chocolate ice creams. There are extra ingredients in there like vanilla and cinnamon, which I think will complement the two main flavors beautifully.
25. Passion Fruit Cheesecake Ice Cream
I couldn’t settle for only one cheesecake inspired ice cream recipe, so here is another. Passionfruit is one of my favorite fruits, especially in the summer when they are deliciously juicy and tropical tasting.
Because this Passionfruit Cheesecake Ice Cream uses cream cheese, it will have an authentic cheesecake flavor, especially as it is combined with biscuits to mimic the base. I would enjoy this on its own in a cone or bowl, but you could easily pair it with a dessert like a pie, or even a fresh fruit salad.
26. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
This recipe has taken every delicious thing I can think of and combined them to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream. I love every single one of these elements separately so that I can imagine myself thoroughly enjoying this.
To make it even better – although you’d never guess it – this recipe is entirely vegan so that everyone can enjoy it. The fact that the cookie dough is homemade makes the whole thing even more special, and every single spoonful of the decadent ice cream will be undeniably delicious and full of flavor.
27. Wild Blueberry Lavender Coconut Ice Cream
I would expect to find this Wild Blueberry Lavender Coconut Ice Cream in a fancy little cafe or patisserie. I would never have thought I would be capable of making it myself.
The colors of this ice cream are beautiful, with the different shades of blue and violet creating a pretty marbled effect. There isn’t too much lavender in there, so it will add a soft background flavor without overpowering those delicious blueberries. Guests would be incredibly impressed if you served this up to them, or you could, of course, be greedy and keep it all for yourself.
28. Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
This three-ingredient Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream looks both simple to make and yummy to eat.
Pumpkin spice is most commonly seen as an autumn flavor, and it becomes harder to find sweet treats of this flavor as the warmer months roll in. This ice cream is a perfect way of bringing pumpkin spice to summer. I believe this would taste delicious along with a warm slice of pie, or on its own with some gooey caramel sauce poured over it.
29. Mojito Ice Cream
Both mine and my mom’s favorite cocktail, mojitos scream summer and holidays to me. My dad is a bit of a pro when it comes to making them, so we are fortunate.
This Mojito Ice Cream looks like the perfect evening treat and is most definitely one for the adults considering the 150ml of white rum. I am so glad that this recipe uses fresh mint leaves, and that along with the limes will make for the most refreshingly boozy ice cream you could ever dream of.
Conclusion
I am going to have to make different ice cream for every warm day of the year to try out all the recipes I love the look of. There is something for everyone, from the chocolatey to the fruity, and from the kid-friendly to the adult-only flavors.
The Passionfruit Cheesecake Ice Cream is stuck in my head, and I want to give that Tropical Avocado Ice Cream a go too, only because I can’t imagine it, so I am eager to see how it turns out. To be honest, all of the ice creams look sensational to me, I mean look at that Red Velvet with Marshmallow Swirl!
Have you ever tried making your own ice cream? Do you prefer ice cream as an accompaniment to a dessert or all on its own? Feel free to add your comments below, we love hearing from you.