24 Ice Cream Recipes You Have to Try This Summer (or Anytime)

Ice cream scoops, sandwiches, cakes, and more

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published July 29, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
strawberry marlow in two bowls next to table napkins and spoons

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

To be honest, I love ice cream any time of year. It's ultimately the most refreshing in the summer, but there's just about no evening I can think of that wouldn't be that much better when finished with a scoop.

I'm assuming that's why you're here too, and in honor of our shared love of ice cream, here are the 24 best homemade, no-churn, and "nice" cream recipes, plus a few fun frozen desserts made with store-bought ice cream to treat yourself to this summer—or, really, anytime!

  • Snickers Ice Cream Casserole

    Dessert dish of Snickers ice cream casserole with caramel and chocolate

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "This style of ice cream casserole works really well with other candies, too. Some of my favorites are Kit-Kat bars, Reese’s cups, and Crunch bars. Just be sure to give them a rough chop for the best texture in the dessert."—Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • S'mores Ice Cream

    A bowl of s'mores ice cream

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickle

    "This ice cream is all about those classic childhood s’mores flavors—vanilla ice cream, slightly charred marshmallows, crispy graham crackers, and chocolate to bring it all together. It is sweet, so a little goes a long way."—Summer Miller, Contributor

  • Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

    Scooping vanilla ice cream out of a container.

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Real vanilla beans give you a more intense flavor, but you can also use vanilla extract. It is often easier to find and more affordable than vanilla beans. You'll still get a tasty result by substituting 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract in place of the vanilla beans in this ice cream recipe."—Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Ice Cream Cake

    Ice Cream Cake That Was Cut Into on Plate with a Glass in the Background

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    "Ice cream cakes make frequent trips to the freezer to chill in between layers and before serving. I recommend clearing the space before starting so the cake layers are not sitting at room temperature in between steps which could cause it to melt."—Cambrea Gordon, Recipe Developer

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  • Chocolate Ice Cream

    Double scoop of homemade chocolate ice cream cone set in a dish.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    " For this recipe, you'll need 60% cacao dark chocolate, ideally in baking bar or wafer form, which are the best for melting. Steer away from chocolate chips, as the stabilizers that help to keep their shape while baking prevent them from melting as easily or smoothly."—Elise

  • Brioche con Gelato

    Brioche buns with scoops of ice cream served on a tray

    Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn

    "If gelato is hard to find, you can use ice cream in these sandwiches instead. Opt for high-quality ice cream as it will melt slower and have a richer creaminess that pairs well with the buns."—Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

  • Homemade Coffee Ice Cream

    A bowl of coffee ice cream

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "If you make your own coffee ice cream, you can make it with decaffeinated beans! No late night jitters."—Elise

  • Strawberry Ice Cream

    Homemade strawberry ice cream

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "In this recipe, since the strawberries are cooked down or pureed, you can use either fresh or frozen berries. You still want the berries sliced or diced, so I would buy sliced frozen berries rather than whole, if possible. I would also thaw the berries before pureeing them."—Summer Miller, Contributor

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  • Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream

    Overhead view of scoops mexican hot chocolate in a bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "What makes Mexican chocolate different from regular chocolate? The cinnamon! Cinnamon is the distinctive flavor of Mexican chocolate."—Elise

  • Easy Peach Melba

    A dish of sliced peaches with scoops of ice cream, raspberries, and red sauce

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    "Created for opera singer Nellie Melba in the 1890s, Escoffier’s original recipe for Peach Melba was simply fresh peaches poached in syrup made with a vanilla bean and served over vanilla ice cream. Later, the chef added a drizzle of raspberry sauce."—Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

  • Butter Pecan Ice Cream

    Four scoops of butter pecan in a shallow bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Toasting the nuts for this butter pecan ice cream is doubly important: it adds an almost caramelized flavor to them, which complements the brown butter ice cream. Toasting also crisps the pecans, keeping them from getting soggy in the finished ice cream."—Elise

  • Classic Ice Cream Sandwiches

    Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe - ice cream sandwiches on a tray
    Simply Recipes Team

    "If the basic chocolate and vanilla combo isn’t spectacular enough for your freak flag side, or you’re looking for a way to include the kids, break out some sprinkles, sanding sugar, mini chocolate chips, and nuts. Press the sides of the ice cream into any of the above, wrap, and freeze."—Summer Miller, Contributor

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  • No-Churn Peach Cobbler Ice Cream

    Peach cobbler ice cream is being scooped and chopped peaches are visible.

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera

    "To reduce ice crystal formation, I add vanilla extract and vodka. It’s not enough to make you tipsy, and the small amount of alcohol keeps the fruit from freezing rock hard. It’s an important part of this recipe."—Marta Rivera, Recipe Developer

  • Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

    Mint ice cream served in waffle cups.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Did you know there are more than 600 varieties of mint? Many of them offer their own unique flavors. Spearmint, for example, is relatively mild in flavor while peppermint is more intense. Most fresh mint sold in grocery stores is spearmint, but you can also use peppermint in this ice cream recipe."—Elise

  • Grilled Banana Split

    Four Grilled Banana Splits Topped With Chocolate Sauce, Peanuts, Whipped Cream, and Three Maraschino Cherries in Banana Split Dishes and a Bowl of Diced Pineapples

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "This recipe works best with bananas that are a few days away from ripening. They should be mostly yellow with a touch of green on the top of the stalk and along the edges of the banana peel curves. Slightly underripe bananas work great since they are a little bit firmer and can withstand the heat of the grill without softening too quickly and becoming mushy."—Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer

  • Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

    Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    "Cottage cheese is a little tangy, so the flavor reminds me of frozen yogurt, which I love. My kids were not aware I was trying out the recipe and thought I had bought frozen yogurt at the grocery store. For all these reasons, I would highly recommend you try this."—Myo Quinn, Former Associate Editorial Director

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  • 2-Ingredient Ice Cream Sandwiches

    Tray of 2-Ingredient Ice Cream Sandwiches at a Table With Decorative Single Use Napkins

    Simply Recipes/ Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle

    "Premium ice cream works best during the shaping step of this recipe: it’s denser, more creamy, and melts slower than lower-quality ice cream, which is lighter and more airy."—Laura Manzano, Recipe Developer

  • Banana Nice Cream

    Three Scoops of Banana Nice Cream in a Bowl With a Spoon, and on the Counter, a Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "There is really only one challenge, and that’s making a smooth puree before the bananas thaw. To make this easier, make sure to slice the bananas thinly before freezing. That means the blender or food processor can blast through more quickly, without as much heat-creating friction."—Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

  • Ice Cream Pie

    Ice cream pie with a slice removed, showing layers of frozen filling and a creamy topping, garnished with chocolate sprinkles

    Simply Recipes / Molly Allen

    "I love the option of using a chocolate cookie crust for an ice cream pie to add deep, chocolatey flavor, but any crumb crust will do. Choose a store-bought chocolate crust or a graham cracker crust from the baking aisle at the grocery store."—Molly Allen, Recipe Developer

  • Ritz Cracker Ice Cream Sandwiches

    A plate of Ritz cracker ice cream sandwiches partially dipped in chocolate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Ellen Mary Cronin / Food Styling by Rochelle Honeygan Burgess

    "This is a great make-ahead dessert for summer entertaining, as the sandwiches keep well in the freezer for up to two months. You can play around with different flavors of ice cream and even add a few sprinkles for festive flair."—Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

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  • Oreo Ice Cream Cake

    Plate of Oreo Ice Cream Cake With a Slice Cut Out

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "This cake takes a bit of time and patience, but the wonderful thing about an ice cream cake is that it's the perfect make-ahead dessert!"—Kayla Hoang, Recipe Developer

  • Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream

    Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "The "via" instant coffee packs at Starbucks work great for this recipe."—Elise

  • Cinnamon Ice Cream

    A bowl of cinnamon ice cream with two cinnamon sticks in the bowl.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "A chilly treat with a fragrant, spicy glow that sort of buries itself in your stomach and fans embers through your body. This ice cream is a wonderful alternative to vanilla when served with pie, cake, or stewed or fresh fruit."—Garrett McCord, Recipe Developer

  • Strawberry Marlow

    strawberry marlow in two bowls next to table napkins and spoons

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

    "Fresh strawberries give this marlow recipe an almost strawberry cheesecake-like flavor. Top with more fresh strawberries and you have the perfect summer dessert."—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

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