20 of the Best Ice Cream Recipes for Summer

There aren’t many—if any at all—instances that wouldn’t be bettered with ice cream. Watching fireworks for the Fourth of July? Perfect time for ice cream. Driving home from swim lessons? May as well stop for ice cream. Summertime apple pie looking a little bland? Nothing a scoop of vanilla can’t fix!

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You get the idea. While a good thing may still be a good thing without ice cream, 99% of the time, a cold scoop of deliciousness will enhance it. But what’s even better than stopping by an ice cream shop on the way home or coming home with your favorite brand from the grocery store? Making it at home!

Like picking out the perfect scoop at your favorite ice cream shop, we deserve options, even when we’re in our own kitchen. That’s why we wanted to bring together all of the fun summer ice cream recipes your heart could possibly desire. We’re talking everything from the classics to extra-special ice cream-centric desserts—and even an option specifically for the parents! Read on for 20 of our favorite ice cream recipes for summer.

In this article

1 Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

2 Ice Cream Dessert Recipes

Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

1. No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream

Let’s start off with a classic. This chocolate ice cream recipe requires no churning (because who has time for that?) and is even more delicious than you can imagine.

Source: Family Food on the Table

2. S’mores Ice Cream

We knew this list of ice cream recipes wouldn’t be complete without this inclusion after we came across it. S’mores are a pillar of summertime fun, so combining them with ice cream can only mean one thing: best. summer. ever.

Source: I Heart Naptime

3. Shark Frenzy Ice Cream (Vanilla)

Who says we can’t play with our food? Or at least have fun with it? This is a fun twist on the classic vanilla ice cream and can be customized with any food coloring and gummy candy of choice.

Source: A Night Owl Blog

4. Roasted Strawberry Balsamic Ice Cream

Take your classic strawberry ice cream and make it just that much better with this recipe! Strawberries are a staple of summer, but who knew using balsamic vinegar can really enhance their flavor? Now that we do, we’ll never go back!

Source: Closet Cooking

5. Homemade Cereal Milk Ice Cream

We know how it sounds, but no, this recipe doesn’t require you save the milk at the bottom of your bowl of cereal. It does, however, get all of the same yummy flavor by steeping cereal in a creamy mixture overnight. This is such a fun twist on everyday ice cream that you won’t want to miss out on.

Source: Lovely Little Kitchen

6. Avocado Ice Cream

Anyone who has become an avocado-lover needs to try this recipe ASAP. If you’re feeling a bit unsure, that’s OK. Once you give this combo of rich, creamy avocado and sweet ice cream a try, there will be no going back.

Source: Two Peas & Their Pod

7. Moscato & Blackberry Ice Cream

This one’s for the adults only—sorry, kiddos! But parents deserve something sweet, too. This boozy ice cream recipe is the perfect way to end a summer date night.

Source: Sugar Spun Run

8. Hazelnut and Salted Caramel Ice Cream

A sweet and salty combination is always welcome in my household, and it doesn’t get much better than salted caramel. Add in the earthy sweetness of the hazelnut to this recipe and you’ve got a treat that’s simply decadent.

Source: Foodie Crush

9. Paleo Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Anyone trying out paleo or needing to be dairy-free, be sure to check out this recipe. It has all the goodness of regular chocolate chip ice cream without refined sugar.

Source: Movement Menu

10. Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

Prepare for this ice cream to blow your mind. And before we lose you on the idea of putting cottage cheese in ice cream, know that the concept went viral for a reason. There’s no cottage cheese flavor, and this recipe is packed with protein—meaning we can actually feel good about eating ice cream. I’d call that a win!

Source: RachL Mansfield

Ice Cream Dessert Recipes

11. Ice Cream Nachos

Never did I think nachos could get any better… then I found this recipe. This would be a great dessert to make for a birthday celebration for anyone who never turns down an ice cream sundae run.

Source: The Salty Marshmallow

12. Roasted Peaches

For most places, summertime means fresh peach season and it’s only right we take advantage of them while we can. These roasted peaches with cinnamon ice cream are exactly what the family needs at the end of a hot day.

Source: Celebrating Sweets

13. Animal Cookie Ice Cream Cake

I, too, once thought the perfect ice cream cake had to be bought. I’m happy to say I was mistaken. Keep this recipe bookmarked for your next summer birthday celebration for an animal cracker-loving kiddo.

Source: Grandbaby Cakes

14. Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

I’m not sure a combination more delicious than ice cream and cookies actually exists. In this easy-to-follow recipe, make the most beloved combination that’s the perfect summer treat.

Source: Sally’s Baking Recipes

15. Brown Butter Cinnamon Ice Cream Float

We all know (and love) the classic root beer float, but this recipe takes the concept and makes it 10 times better. This yummy delight is made with cream soda, brown butter apple cinnamon ice cream, and salted honey caramel—yum!

Source: With Salt and Wit

16. Fried Ice Cream

I remember hearing about fried ice cream for the first time and thinking that the logistics couldn’t possibly make sense. Lucky for all of us, with this recipe, we can easily make this delicious treat at home with little mess!