Swirled vanilla cones dipped in chocolate, chocolate dripping down your hand, or double scoops of loaded cookies & cream on a hot afternoon. The kind of ice cream you’d eat after bike rides around the neighborhood, backyard BBQs, and sprinkler-soaked summer days (the best days!).
I pulled together all my favorite homemade ice cream recipes for those hot days when you want something cold, creamy, and easy to throw together. You’ll find classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, fun twists like cookie butter and roasted banana, plus plenty of options you can make without an ice cream machine.
And of course, we’re not skipping the toppings. Chocolate sauce, caramel, cookie crumbles, basically all the best parts of homemade sundaes as a kid!
Whether you’re making ice cream for a summer party or eating it straight from the container in your pajamas, this is your summer lineup.
This is the creamiest homemade French Vanilla Ice Cream recipe you’ll ever eat! This custard-based ice cream has an equal ratio of cream and whole milk to provide a perfectly rich base with just enough eggs to stay nice and smooth.
Death by Chocolate Ice Cream recipe features an ultra rich, thick, and creamy double chocolate custard-based ice cream with chocolate fudge swirled throughout. Every bite is a chocoholic's dream!
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream is egg-free and uses secret ingredients to make easy, creamy, and flavorful ice cream. Better than the expensive brands!
Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream is bursting with so much fruity, tangy flavor. It tastes like you turned the best strawberry cheesecake ever into a scoop of ice cream. HEAVEN!
Cookies and Cream Fudge Swirl Ice Cream starts with an easy homemade vanilla ice cream base studded with Oreo cookies and a rich and thick homemade fudge swirl. Possibly the best ice cream you’ll ever taste!
No Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream requires just a few ingredients and a few minutes of prep for a rich creamy ice cream with tons of peanut butter flavor. Super easy recipe that will satisfy any peanut butter lover's cravings!
This easy Cookie Butter Ice Cream recipe is a total sleeper hit. Crushed bits of Biscoff cookies and thick ribbons of cookie butter make every bite a total delight. The no-egg, no-cook homemade ice cream base takes just 30 minutes to prep and churn.
Chocolate Ganache is a must-have for any baker! Made with just two ingredients, my quick and easy recipe includes three versatile ratios for making silky-smooth filling or frosting, thick truffle-worthy ganache, and thin, pourable ganache for flawless drips.
Make rich, silky caramel sauce in just 15 minutes, no candy thermometer needed! Follow these simple step-by-step instructions for a homemade treat that’s far better than store-bought.
How to Make Butterscotch Sauce from scratch in just 10 minutes! Just as good as caramel but so much easier. Can be made ahead of time. This recipe makes 1 1/3 cups sauce.
Just 3 ingredients and 15 minutes and you have DIY homemade toffee bits from scratch! They’re absolutely amazing in cookies, brownies, streusel toppings on muffins or pies, or just as a sweet snack.
These classic cheesecake bars have a buttery graham cracker crust and ultra creamy filling. Simply chop into bite-sized pieces for the BEST ice cream mix-in!
Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches are the ultimate summer treat! Homemade red velvet sugar cookies, sandwiched with vanilla ice cream, and decorated with red white and blue sprinkles. Perfect for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day! Can be made ahead of time.
Chewy, soft, and fudgy brownie cookies sandwich decadent cookie butter ice cream for a frozen treat that's out-of-this-world delicious! Rich, chocolatey, and spiced just right.
Easy 4th of July Ice Cream Sandwiches are the perfect festive summer dessert! Made with red, white, and blue M&M chocolate chip cookies and customizable with the ice cream flavor of your choice. Perfect 4th of July dessert recipe for a crowd!
Coffee Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches feature two layers of thin but ultra rich and fudgy brownie cookies sandwiching a generous layer of creamy cold brew coffee ice cream.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Sandwiches combine ultra chocolaty, creamy, and rich ice cream with chewy peanut butter cookies and crunchy salted peanuts.
Frozen Mint Chocolate Chip Pie is the perfect summer dessert! Mint Oreo crust, easy homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream, and a thick, fudgy layer of chocolate ganache.
I’ve owned my ice cream maker for over 10 years and have discovered all the best tips and tricks for making incredible homemade ice cream that beats any expensive ice cream shoppe.
Learn how to make ultra-creamy ice cream at home—no machine needed! Try any of my four easy no-churn methods with step-by-step instructions, a how-to video, and flavor ideas galore!
If you’re making homemade ice cream, a good ice cream maker makes a big difference.
My favorite is the Cuisinart ICE-21 Ice Cream Maker. It’s affordable, easy to use, and it’s the machine I’ve used for over 10 years to test recipes. It consistently makes smooth, creamy ice cream without any fuss.
If you want a deeper breakdown of how different ice cream makers compare, including freezer bowl vs. compressor machines, you can read more about how to choose an ice cream maker here.
Use a good quality ice cream scoop like this OXO one or this Zeroll one. A good scoop will glide through hard ice cream, give you cleaner scoops, and make serving so much easier.
Make sure it’s completely dry before using, and pack your scoop generously with ice cream.
While any freezer-safe container will work, these white pint-sized containers are so cute and fun, especially if you plan to experiment with lots of flavors!
This usually comes down to fat, sugar balance, or how it’s stored.
For the creamiest texture, avoid low-fat dairy. The fat from cream and whole milk helps keep ice cream smooth and scoopable.
To prevent ice crystals, store ice cream in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface.
If your ice cream still freezes too hard, adding a small amount of alcohol (about 3 tablespoons of vodka or liqueur) at the end of churning can help keep it softer. A tablespoon of corn syrup can also help reduce crystallization.
Why is my ice cream not freezing?
This is most often because the freezer bowl in your ice cream machine has not been frozen long enough. It can take 8 hours to freeze solid. If it still sloshes when you shake it, your ice cream will stay soupy instead of thickening. Learn more about how to use ice cream makers here.
How do you assemble ice cream sandwiches?
The key is to assemble them ahead of time so they can set up in the freezer.
Make sure both the cookies and ice cream are fully frozen before assembling. I like to flatten scoops of ice cream between plastic wrap using a measuring cup so they match the cookie size perfectly, then sandwich and freeze until firm.
What is the difference between French vs. Philadelphia-style ice cream?
French-style ice cream (like my Vanilla Ice Cream) is custard-based and made with egg yolks, which makes it extra rich and creamy.
Philadelphia-style (like my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream) skips the eggs and is made by simply mixing cream, milk, sugar, and flavoring. It’s quicker, but less rich and can get icy in the freezer.
How do you scoop ice cream perfectly?
Let it soften in the fridge for about 30 minutes before scooping so it softens evenly.
Use a good scoop (like an OXO or Zeroll), keep it dry, and pack it generously for perfect scoops.
How to store homemade ice cream:
Store it in an airtight container and press plastic wrap against the surface to avoid ice crystals forming. I love this 1-quart ice cream container, but any freezer-safe container will work.
For best results, freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. The longer you freeze, the more time the flavors will have to ripen.
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