Ice Cream Desserts to Cool Down Your Summer

Four of our favorite ice cream-based desserts that you’re sure to enjoy!

The hazy hot days of summer are here! Whether you’re spending time by the pool, heading to the beach or simply relaxing after work on your patio or deck, an ice cream-based dessert can be the perfect addition to your day.

We’ve got a few of our favorite recipes to share—and help keep you cool—this summer!

Fried Ice Cream Dessert Bars

While we love a chocolate dessert as much as the next person, overly rich desserts can seem a bit heavy and overwhelming when temperatures are soaring to the triple digits. That’s why we liked this recipe from Andrea Price, shared by Taste of Home. Combining the flavors of cinnamon and crushed corn flakes with a creamy filling—what’s not to like? Try the recipe.

Easy Ice Cream Cake

If you’re like us and always have a few flavors of ice cream in your freezer that you need to use up, ice cream cakes can be the perfect solution. You can make them easily by layering ingredients you probably already have on hand. Simply assemble your ingredients in a freezer safe container (line it with plastic wrap so you can easily pull the cake out and slice it later), pop it in the freezer and enjoy later! Have a pound cake, brownies or sandwich cookies? Use them as your base, then top with your softened ice cream, hot fudge or caramel. whipped topping and any toppings you’d like (think sprinkles, fruit, crushed cookies or candy bars—whatever you like)! Loaf pans are a great size if you don’t want to make a huge ice cream cake.

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Looking for a simple, no-cook, no-egg homemade ice cream recipe? We really like this one featuring heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, vanilla and salt. Make it as is and serve it with your favorite toppings or on top of brownies or cobbler. Or, if you’d like to add your favorite fruit or crushed cookies or candy to the ice cream, simply add that in after the ice cream has started to thicken and form a soft serve consistency. Remove from ice cream maker and freeze for 5-6 hours before serving.

Ice Cream Dessert

Simple, easy and delicious! This recipe, shared by our founder’s mom, features a crust and topping made from rice krispies, coconut, pecans, butter and brown sugar. Coconut can be a polarizing ingredient, but if you’re not a big fan, it simply adds to the complexity of flavor in this recipe and most coconut-haters won’t notice it. One of the big selling points of this recipe is that you can literally use any ice cream flavor you need to get out of your freezer and top with your favorite toppings. Get the recipe.