When a pint of ice cream won't cut it, turn to ice cream desserts like cakes, shakes and sandwiches to satisfy your sweet tooth.
35 Ice Cream Desserts We Love
1/35
Ice Cream Cookie Dessert
From the Recipe Creator:
Our family loves dessert, and this chocolaty, layered treat is one of Mom's most-requested recipes. It's so easy to prepare this Oreo ice cream cake! —Kimberly Laabs, Hartford, Wisconsin
Looking for an easy-to-make frozen dessert that’s also one of our most-requested Oreo recipes? This is just the thing. It’s made of layers of crushed Oreos, ice cream, fudge sauce and cream. The dessert is delicious as-is, but also easy to zhuzh up with chopped nuts or different flavors of ice cream.
2/35
Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
While growing up, I loved treats from the ice cream truck that rolled through my neighborhood. This ice cream cake is inspired by one of those crunchy, strawberry novelties. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
If this cake reminds you of a certain frozen strawberry pop from childhood, that’s the point! Use freeze-dried strawberries and crushed vanilla Oreos to create the copycat, along with two kinds of ice cream on a cookie crust. It’s the perfect summer celebration cake if you love strawberry desserts.
3/35
Frozen Key Lime Delight
From the Recipe Creator:
In the middle of summer, nothing hits the spot quite like this sublime Key lime dessert. Cold, creamy and tart, it tastes like sunshine. —Melissa Millwood, Lyman, South Carolina
Capture the flavor of Key lime pie in homemade ice cream squares. The baked crust is a blend of cashews, brown sugar and coconut. Use your ice cream maker to churn up the filling, made with sweet cream and Key lime juice.
4/35
Fried Ice Cream
From the Recipe Creator:
Make this Mexican restaurant-style dessert at home! Drizzle hot fudge or caramel on top of this crunchy, creamy frozen treat. —Ronda Weirich, Plains, Kansas
5/35
Pineapple Crunch
From the Recipe Creator:
A co-worker shared the recipe for this refreshing pineapple dessert years ago. Every time I take it somewhere, it's a favorite. —Betty Wiersma, Sherwood Park, Alberta
This unusual ice cream dessert combines ice cream with vanilla pudding mix to create a sweet and creamy layer over a toasted cornflake crust. The best part is the sweet pineapple on top! Use convenient canned pineapple or crushed fresh pineapple.
6/35
Grasshopper Baked Alaska
From the Recipe Creator:
Can you believe it? This stunning dessert is completely make ahead, including the meringue. All you need to do is bake it for a few minutes in the oven before serving. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Make a truly showstopping ice cream centerpiece that combines cool mint with rich, chocolate brownie. A baked Alaska has an ice cream center covered in a meringue shell and the whole thing gets briefly toasted in the oven.
7/35
Pumpkin Ice Cream Roll
From the Recipe Creator:
This wonderfully light dessert is our standby at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hint of pumpkin and the refreshing ice cream make a most delicious after-dinner treat. —Gayle Lewis, Yucaipa, California
It’s like a pumpkin roll at holiday time—except with a cool ice cream filling. Butter pecan and pumpkin flavors are gorgeous together in this ice cream roll cake, a dessert folks will want even after the holidays pass.
8/35
Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwich Minis
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband absolutely loves ice cream sandwiches and snickerdoodles, so I combined them into one fun treat. Here’s how we build this cool dessert. —Heather Pilon, Winslow, Maine
This recipe makes 16 adorable ice cream sandwiches, an easy-to-eat treat for parties, luncheons or after-school snacks. Snickerdoodle fans of all ages will love the flavors of soft cinnamon cookies sandwiched with vanilla ice cream. (Or try other ice cream flavors, like caramel!)
9/35
Easy Strawberry Lemonade Freezer Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
Three simple ingredients mixed together and spread into a graham cracker crust make magic while your freezer does all the work. Prep this pie ahead and freeze it overnight or even longer. Feel free to vary the fruit if you'd like! —Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
Pull this recipe out when you need a refreshing, frozen dessert that can be made in advance. The slices of strawberry lemonade pie are so pretty with sliced strawberries suspended in the creamy filling. Use a premade graham cracker or cookie crust.
10/35
Margarita Floats
From the Recipe Creator:
On a hot afternoon, what could be better than a cold margarita float? The addition of creamy ice cream really takes this treat to the next level. —Teri Schloessmann, Tulsa, Oklahoma
This version of a summery, citrusy margarita is even better than the original, because it has ice cream and sherbet! Want to make an alcohol-free batch for friends or for kids? Just omit the tequila and blend in a little agave syrup.
11/35
Giant Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this giant peanut butter cookie cake for my husband, adding light and low-fat products to the cookie dough. It was so fantastic that I fixed it with conventional ingredients for guests. Since it can be made ahead of time and frozen, it cuts stress for busy hostesses. And really, who doesn't love peanut butter ice cream? —Joann Belack, Bradenton, Florida
What a treat! This ice cream sandwich is so big it feeds 12 people. Peanut butter lovers will swoon over the creamy, peanut butter-cheesecake-ice cream filling between two giant peanut butter “cookies.”
12/35
Mud Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's one of those 'looks like you fussed' desserts that is so easy it's become a standard for me. I love the mocha version, but pure chocolate lovers may prefer using chocolate chip ice cream. The cookie crust is a snap to make. —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland
Even with a homemade crust, this ice cream pie is simple to make and looks so tempting. We love it with coffee ice cream, but try other flavors too, like fudge ripple, caramel swirl or Irish cream.
13/35
Slow-Cooker Bananas Foster
From the Recipe Creator:
The flavors of caramel, rum and walnut naturally complement fresh bananas in this version of a dessert classic. It's my go-to choice for any family get-together. —Crystal Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
An ice cream recipe in a slow cooker? Yes—it’s for the sauce. What a clever way to make this rich, rum-sweetened banana topping that tastes absolutely divine spooned over vanilla ice cream.
14/35
Peach Melba
From the Recipe Creator:
It’s simple to prepare a memorable dessert for just you and someone else. Straight from our Test Kitchen, this yummy classic peach melba recipe features fresh peaches and a super delicious raspberry sauce for drizzling. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Peach melba is proof that a sophisticated dessert doesn’t have to be complicated. Poach peach halves in lemon and sugar until tender, then chill and serve with ice cream. It’s a lovely dish to make with freshly picked summer peaches. Use leftover fruit in any of these peach recipes.
15/35
Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
From the Recipe Creator:
These chilly gluten-free ice cream sandwiches are perfect for hot, sunny days. The gluten-free chocolate cookie is so tasty you could eat it plain…but you won't want to miss out on the ice cream! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
No need to convert your recipe to a gluten-free version. Soft, gluten-free chocolate cookies use ingredients like xanthan gum, potato starch and tapioca flour to achieve the right texture. Look for GF ingredients in the baking aisle from brands like Bob’s Red Mill. Sandwich the cookies with vanilla or any flavor ice cream you like.
16/35
Rainbow Sherbet Angel Food Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Talk about a dessert that pops off the plate! Sometimes I make this easy cake even more eye-catching by tinting the whipped cream. Use whatever sherbet flavor combination you like. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Turn an ordinary angel food cake into a colorful, frozen dessert. Rainbow sherbet creates a tie-dye effect between the layers, and the fruit flavors are delicious with the light cake and clouds of sweetened whipped cream.
17/35
Tartufo Ice Cream
From the Recipe Creator:
This dome-shaped dessert hails from Calabria in Southern Italy. It's made with ice cream, filled with cookies and enrobed in a rich dark chocolate shell. Cracking the shell to reveal the yumminess inside is the best part! —Anna Gass, New Canaan, Connecticut
Tartufo is an impressive ice cream dessert that anyone can make. Just use a large mixing bowl to create layers of ice cream, crushed amaretti cookies, cherries and fudge sauce. The chocolate covering the tartufo is homemade “magic shell” chocolate sauce. (This is a fun one to make with kids.)
18/35
Coconut-Lemon Ice Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
I developed this cool treat because I wanted to find a new use for cream of coconut. The sweet coconut combines beautifully with the tart lemon juice, and the streusel adds a nice crunch. Look for cream of coconut in the cocktail mixer section of your grocery store. —Janet Gill, Canton, Ohio
The no-bake crust of this ice cream cake is a blend of buttery shortbread cookies, shredded coconut and macadamia nuts. Coconut and lemon in the vanilla ice cream filling are delicious together. Make this dessert for spring and summer celebrations.
19/35
Banana Split
From the Recipe Creator:
In 1904, the first banana split recipe was made here in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, by David Strickler, an apprentice pharmacist at a local drugstore. We still use his original formula when we make banana splits in our restaurants. —Melissa Blystone, Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Everyone should know how to make a banana split! This staple of old-fashioned ice cream shops and soda fountains is ideal for sharing and has something for everyone: fruit, peanuts, chocolate sauce and three kinds of ice cream.
20/35
Copycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Growing up, getting a Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake was always a special treat. There was something magical about that creamy soft-serve layered with rich fudge and crunchy cookie filling that I tried replicating in this recipe. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Our recipe shows you how to replicate Dairy Queen’s famous ice cream cake. You’ll need a standard springform pan, and yes, springforms are used for more than cheesecake. The cake includes layers of ice cream, homemade ganache and a chocolate cookie crust.
21/35
Peachy Buttermilk Shakes
From the Recipe Creator:
The tang of buttermilk blended with sweet peaches prompts frequent requests for this shake from my husband and grandchildren. —Anna Mayer, Fort Branch, Indiana
A splash of buttermilk in these milkshakes complements the sweetness of peaches and vanilla ice cream. This recipe is a great way to use freshly picked peaches when they’re in season.
22/35
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
From the Recipe Creator:
After sampling this flavor at an ice cream stand, I kept trying to duplicate it until it was just right. This blueberry cheesecake ice cream is a hit! —Melissa Symington, Neche, North Dakota
Use your ice cream maker to churn a cheesecake-flavored ice cream, then swirl in an easy homemade blueberry sauce and graham cracker crumble. Enjoy this treat in dishes or scooped into a sugar cone.
23/35
Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe
From the Recipe Creator:
Why settle for store-bought ice cream sandwiches when you can have ones that taste even better and aren't that difficult to make? —Kea Fisher, Bridger, Montana
Did you know you could make those chocolate ice cream sandwich wafers at home? They’re delicious, and making your own means you can add any flavor of ice cream you want between them.
24/35
Bananas Foster Frozen Protein Dessert
From the Recipe Creator:
I love this recipe because it’s decadent while still on the healthy side. It’s high in protein too, so it feels like an indulgence while still providing good fuel for the body. —Liz McLaughlin, Ramona, California
Instead of ice cream, the creamy layers in these frozen cookie bars are made with protein-filled cottage cheese (which recently made a comeback) and bananas. The dessert is even better with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce.
25/35
Fudge Sundae Pie
From the Recipe Creator:
My son always asks for this guilt-free frozen yogurt pie for his birthday. Complete with peanut butter, fudge topping and nuts, it tastes ice cream parlor–good … but it's healthier. —Margaret Hanson-Maddox, Montpelier, Indiana
This ice cream pie has an intriguing caramel and rice cereal crust. It holds vanilla frozen yogurt and a ridiculously good peanut butter-hot fudge sauce.
26/35
Layered Sherbet Dessert
From the Recipe Creator:
Macaroons, pecans and layers of fruity sherbet combine in this beautiful, special dessert. Try garnishing with fresh strawberries and just listen to folks ooh and aah when you bring this in! —Kathryn Dunn, Axton, Virginia
Slice into this sherbet cake to reveal gorgeous, fluorescent stripes of fruity sherbet, nestled between “crusts” of whipped cream with toasted macaroon cookies. There are plenty of ways to change up this dessert, like substituting gelato or different nuts and garnishing with fresh fruit.
27/35
Peppermint Ice Cream Dessert
From the Recipe Creator:
If you’re looking for a dessert that’s festive, delicious and easy to make, this is the one for you. Drizzled in hot fudge sauce and loaded with pretty peppermint pieces, this almost tempting treat will have guests asking for seconds. —Pam Lancaster, Willis, Virginia
It couldn’t be easier to make, yet this dessert is attractive and so delicious. Serve up slices of this minty ice cream around the holidays, or make it in the summer for a refreshing treat.
28/35
Nutty Caramel Ice Cream Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Tuck this dessert in the freezer for one of those anytime celebrations. This caramel, butter pecan and almond version is our favorite, but try it with other ice cream, cookie and syrup flavors. —David Stelzl, Waxhaw, North Carolina
This frozen dessert is a celebration of buttery, nutty and caramel flavors. Choose a good quality ice cream or make your own butter pecan ice cream from scratch. Give each slice a generous drizzle of caramel sauce.
29/35
Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
From the Recipe Creator:
When I got my ice cream maker, a friend shared her dreamy freezy cheesecake recipe. For guests, I scoop this into tart shells. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Not just ordinary strawberry ice cream—this one has a silky cheesecake texture and loads of fresh strawberries. This flavor is delectable on its own, but also a great choice to layer into an ice cream cake or to use as the base for a hot fudge sundae.
30/35
Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
From the Recipe Creator:
Soft and chewy homemade cookies separate this ice cream sandwich from the rest. Use your favorite toppings like sprinkles or pecans! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
If you can’t decide between cookies and ice cream, have both! The soft and chewy homemade cookies were made for your favorite vanilla ice cream brand.
31/35
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
It takes 10 minutes, tops, to prepare this cool ice cream sandwich cake, but it tastes as though you spent a lot of time creating it. —Cathie Valentine, Graniteville, South Carolina
Use store-bought ice cream sandwiches to assemble this quick, sliceable ice cream dessert. It fits into a 13×9-inch baking dish, and the sandwiches are smothered in two kinds of dessert toppings, whipped cream and chopped caramel candy bars. Whoa!
32/35
Fried Ice Cream Dessert Bars
From the Recipe Creator:
Fried ice cream is such a delicious treat, but it can be a hassle to make individual servings. This recipe gives you the same fabulous flavor in an easy and convenient bar form. —Andrea Price, Grafton, Wisconsin
The flavor of crunchy cornflakes toasted in butter and cinnamon is heavenly with the creamy vanilla filling in this dessert. Top slices with fresh fruit, whipped cream and drizzles of maple syrup or honey.
33/35
Easy Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a gooey, chocolaty dessert that guests just can't resist. They'll never guess that you simply dressed up ice cream sandwiches from the store! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Forget the usual sheet cake—your new go-to choice for birthdays and other special occasions is this decadent ice cream sandwich cake! It takes no time to put together and makes more than enough to feed everyone at the party.
34/35
Spumoni Baked Alaska
From the Recipe Creator:
For a dazzling yet refreshing end to a rich holiday meal, try this freezer finale. It's bound to garner oohs and aahs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Italian spumoni layers three kinds of gelato together: pistachio, chocolate and cherry. Our baked Alaska version has these flavors too: pistachio and cherry ice creams on a chocolate brownie base and covered by a swirled meringue shell.
35/35
Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches
From the Recipe Creator:
If you’re tight on time, you can use store-bought cookies, but I highly recommend making these oatmeal chocolate cookies from scratch. The dessert sandwiches are pure fun. Sometimes I decorate the sides of the sandwiches with colorful jimmies, too. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
These ice cream sandwiches look just like oatmeal cream pies, but they’re far superior. Homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies hold a sweet, caramel-flavored ice cream filling.
Ice Cream Desserts FAQ
What is the most popular ice cream dessert?
It’s difficult to choose just one! I love ice cream cakes to celebrate summer birthdays and other special occasions. Ice cream sandwiches are a top pick too, since they’re easy to serve and combine ice cream with another favorite dessert: cookies!
Which ice cream desserts are classic recipes?
For generations, ice cream shops, soda fountains and dairy bars have served milkshakes and ice cream sundaes. Ice cream floats are another classic from this era. Even older than these ice cream creations is baked Alaska: layers of ice cream and cake covered in a meringue shell that’s toasted a golden brown. Baked Alaska first appeared on dessert tables in 1867.
Can I make a dairy-free ice cream dessert?
Yes! Many of the ice cream desserts in our collection feature store-bought ice creams layered with other ingredients. Replace regular ice cream with a dairy-free or vegan ice cream brand. Recipes that create ice cream from scratch are made from dairy ingredients like whipping cream and half-and-half. Simple swaps for nondairy ingredients don’t work as well in these recipes, as they can affect the flavor and texture. To make dairy-free ice cream from scratch, try a specific recipe for the dish, such as this coconut milk ice cream.
