I’ve been waiting for summer to hit the usually-cooler cities everywhere so I’d have an excuse to talk about ice cream. (I’m always looking for a reason to bring up ice cream.) Yes, it doesn’t have to be warm outside to enjoy it, but I figured it might make me appear more seasonal than obsessed if I waited until summer.
We’ve discussed ice cream here before, talking about tips and tricks to homemade ice cream, and I’ve bombarded you with quite a few ice cream roundups in the past. Whether homemade or store-bought, ice cream is the perfect summer treat. So easy, too! Just grab from the freezer, scoop, and eat. Instant gratification.
But today, we’ll take a bit of a different approach. After all, there’s more than one way to enjoy ice cream. Which is always a good thing. Today, we want to know:
What’s your favorite thing to make with ice cream?
Do you like ice cream cakes (like that incredible Banana Split Ice Cream Cake you see above)? Ice cream sandwiches? Soda floats? Super thick milkshakes? Or are you against all things that complicate ice cream and firmly believe all it needs is a spoon?
These days, I’ve been enjoying that wonderfully simple Italian affogato. All it is, really, is a scoop of gelato or ice cream with a shot of hot espresso poured over it. Sometimes I’ll add some Bailey’s in there, but that’s it—just one extra step after scooping the ice cream. Almost feels like cheating.
Kids love ice cream in any form, and an afternoon treat that includes it in any way is always a big hit with them. With adults, too! So let’s broaden our ice cream repertoire this summer and find even more ways to enjoy it!
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Amanda on 6.14.2015
I love to make my own ice cream sandwiches with homemade cookies. I have a recipe for peppermint bark cookies I make every Christmas, and let me tell you, there is nothing like two of those cookies with chocolate ice cream sandwiched between them. Woohoo!
Nina on 6.12.2015
my most recent obsession is to make sgroppino with it – it’s an italian cocktail, my mum made it for us at our last family dinner
you can find a few variations online, she used lemon ice cream (500ml), coconut milk (half of a can), a dash of vodka and a bottle of prosecco, mix everything in the blender for a few seconds and you’ve got a great, creamy, frothy summer drink – which doubles as a dessert
Sue on 6.12.2015
I am a mexican sundae girl all the way….the combo of spanish peanuts and thick gooey fudge are sooooooo good!
Darlene on 6.12.2015
A stand at our farmers’ market sells stacks of very thin (but surprisingly sturdy), crispy, chocolate cookies by the pound. They have a circular shape with pretty scalloped edges. During the summer, I keep a tin of them in the pantry (they stay fresh for a long time) and make ice cream sandwiches to order. Of course, once a big scoop of slightly softened ice cream is squished between two cookies, the edges of the ice cream can be rolled in the topping of choice (mini chocolate chips are a favorite). My favorite feature of these ice cream sandwiches is the cookies remain crisp.
Rani on 6.11.2015
I use the recipe for the ice cream cake above and it’s always a hit! Thanks!
lauren on 6.11.2015
scoop it into a big mug and pour hot caramel over it. Heaven in a cup
westmonster on 6.11.2015
In summer, instead of having a mid-afternoon cup of coffee, I love a glass of ice-coffee – that’s one or two scoops of vanilla ice cream in a tall glass of cooled coffee with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top, sometimes a cherry, too. Kids love ice-chocolate, which is the same, but chocolate ice cream and chocolate milk.
Yum-O!
kim on 6.11.2015
I have two favs:
I only do it when the husband is out of town, but one of my favorite ways to enjoy ice cream is to buy a pint of super premium in a flavor only I enjoy – butter pecan or lemon mousse – and eat it right out of the container with a spoon. It’s nice to feel like you’re getting away with something once in a while.
My other favorite is something my brother and I did as kids, and my mother always clucked at us in disgust. Put a couple of scoops of plain old chocolate in a bowl, let it melt a bit, and then stir it into the consistency of, say, sour cream. Then dip good salty thin potato chips in it. I know, disgusting, right? NOT! Think peanuts on a sundae; it’s that salty/sweet thing at its best. Don’t judge me until you’re tried it.
Judy Fox on 6.11.2015
One of my favorite desserts my grandmother used to make, which my mom has now taken over making is ice cream pie: cherry jello mixed with vanilla ice cream over a bed of vanilla wafers and just before it sets all the way, drop in some slices of banana. It is out of this world good and Mom always lets me take extra home with me because she is the best!
kwiltbug on 6.11.2015
I have an old recipe that uses softened vanilla ice cream in a layered apricot jello salad. Other than ice cream pie, this is a way to incorporate ice cream in a recipe.
Lisa F. on 6.11.2015
Vanilla ice cream topped with Kahlua. Delish! My kids love ice cream milkshakes: vanilla ice cream, bananas, cinnamon, vanilla and whipping cream seriously to die for. And plain old any-flavor-of-soda-we-have floats.
Patricia @ ButterYum on 6.11.2015
The kids and I love to make root beer or orange creamcicle floats with vanilla ice cream, but my husband loves his vanilla ice cream all by itself. He has a small bowl almost every night.
Deb C on 6.10.2015
My mom likes to let her vanilla ice cream soften a bit, uses an Oreo cookie to scoop out a bite, eats and repeats with a new Oreo or 10….she claims it is out of this world.
Sandi W. on 6.10.2015
Vanilla ice cream & orange soda; a classic that always fulfills that creamsicle craving! For a quick dessert I use a scoop or two of quality vanilla bean ice cream and then top it with at least 3 of those mini eclairs or mini cream puffs then a little whip cream and drizzle carmel and/or chocolate sauce; it’s always a hit!
Laurie on 6.10.2015
I love ice cream pie, made with graham cracker crust.
Lynette Anderson on 6.10.2015
I can’t decide strawberry shortcake with ice cream (not whipped cream) or a root beer float.
Donna on 6.10.2015
Ice cream Sunday with 2 flavors of ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry on top! YUM (my daughter loves peanut butter sauce instead of hot fudge).
Diana on 6.10.2015
I love the idea of doing something fun with ice cream, but when it comes down to it, I just don’t have time. So into a dish it goes! But ice cream floats sound really, really delicious (and super easy), and I think we are going to have to have those as soon as possible!
Jessica HZ on 6.10.2015
I “make” a bowl of it, so that I can put it in my mouth as soon as possible.
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 6.10.2015
Love, Love, Love Ice cream, smoothies, frozen Yogurt, Gelato, toppings!!! Yum-o.