5 Frozen Dessert Recipes to Help You Beat the Summer Heat

When summer heats up, there's no better relief than a frozen dessert. From timeless classics to innovative treats, these recipes are perfect for savoring in the sun's warm glow. Ready your scoop! These frozen dessert recipes are your ticket to turning any outdoor activities into a haven of icy, sweet bliss.

 

Are Frozen Dessert Recipes Healthy?

 

Making frozen desserts doesn't always mean you're indulging in sugary and fatty treats. Indulge without going off the deep end by incorporating nutritious ingredients such as dairy-free milk (almond, coconut, oat), natural sweeteners (honey, maple syrup), yogurt, peanut butter, and dark chocolate. These additions help transform your frozen desserts from simple pleasures to nutritious snacks, making them the perfect treat to enjoy on a sun chair under the warm summer rays.

 

What Essential Tools are Needed in Making Frozen Dessert Recipes?

 

 

Before we dive into the fun frozen treats, let's explore first the essential tools and equipment needed to bring these delightful dessert recipes to life.

 

• Ice Cream Maker: Ideal for churning creamy textures in ice creams, ensuring a smooth and uniform consistency.
• Blender or Food Processor: Essential for pureeing fruits and mixing ingredients smoothly for ice pops and certain ice cream recipes.
• Freezer-Safe Containers: Necessary for storing desserts in the freezer, designed to prevent freezer burn and keep treats fresh.
• Popsicle Molds and Sticks: Used for shaping and holding fruit ice pops and ice cream bars, allowing for easy freezing and handling.
• Mixing Bowls and Whisks: Important to combine ingredients thoroughly before freezing, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
• Baking Sheets and Cookie Cutters: Required for making cookies for ice cream sandwiches, providing uniform shapes and sizes.
• Silicone Molds or Mini Muffin Tins: Ideal for creating bite-sized frozen treats like yogurt berry bites, offering flexibility and easy release.

 

5 Best Frozen Dessert Recipes for a Hot Summer Day

 

As we delve into the heart of summer, let's turn our attention to the cooling salvation that fun frozen treats provide. Each of these five frozen dessert recipes promises a unique blend of flavors and textures to satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you cool, making them the ideal complement to any outdoor entertaining event or backyard BBQ feast.

 

1. Classic Vanilla Ice Cream

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

 

Instructions:

1. Freeze the bowl of your ice cream maker for at least 12 hours.
2. Make the base 2 to 24 hours in advance. Combine heavy cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, whisking often until the sugar dissolves.
3. Transfer the mixture to a heatproof bowl. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
4. Pour the chilled base into your ice cream maker. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Churn for 20 to 30 minutes.
5. After churning, the ice cream will have a soft texture similar to soft serve. For a firmer, scoopable texture, transfer the ice cream to a container and freeze for an additional 2 - 4 hours.

 

2. Refreshing Fruit Ice Pops

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups mixed fresh fruit (e.g., berries, kiwi, mango)
• 1/2 cup orange juice or coconut water
• 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup (optional)

 

Instructions:

1. Puree the fruit with orange juice and honey in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, leaving a little space at the top for expansion.
3. Insert sticks and freeze until solid, at least 4 hours or overnight.

 

3. Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream Bars

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups coconut milk (full fat)
• 3/4 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Melted dark chocolate for coating

 

Instructions:

1. Blend coconut milk, peanut butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into ice cream bar molds and insert sticks.
3. Freeze until solid, at least 6 hours, or overnight.
4. Once frozen, remove the bars from the molds and dip them in melted dark chocolate. Freeze again for 10-15 minutes until the chocolate sets.

 

4. Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches

 

 

Ingredients for the Ice Cream:

• 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Ingredients for the Cookies:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Instructions:

 

Making the Strawberry Ice Cream:

1. Put the sliced strawberries in a blender. Add 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to them. Blend everything until it's nice and smooth.
2. Pour your strawberry blend into a big bowl. Now, pour in 1 cup of heavy cream and stir everything together gently until it's all mixed.
3. Take your strawberry and cream mixture and pour it into your ice cream maker. Follow the instructions to churn it. This process will help your mixture turn into ice cream.
4. Once it's churned and looks like soft ice cream, put it in a container and freeze it. You want it firm enough to hold up between your cookies. This might take a few hours, so be patient!

 

Making the Cookies:

1. Mix 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a big bowl.
2. In another bowl, beat together 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter and 1 cup of sugar. You want it to be light and fluffy. This takes a couple of minutes.
3. Add 1 egg to the butter-sugar mix, then add a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Beat it again until everything's nicely combined.
4. Now, gradually add your flour mix into the bowl with your wet ingredients. Keep mixing until you have a nice, smooth dough.
5. Your dough needs to be firm to roll out, so wrap it up and put it in the fridge. Let it chill for about 1 hour.
6. Take your chilled dough, roll it out on a floured surface, and cut it into your favorite shapes.
7. Place your cut-out cookies on a baking sheet. Bake them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 8-10 minutes. They should be just golden.
8. Let your cookies cool completely after baking. They need to be cool to the touch before you assemble your sandwiches.

 

Assembling Your Ice Cream Sandwiches:

1. Take a cookie and put a scoop of your homemade strawberry ice cream on it. Then, gently press another cookie on top to make a sandwich.
2. Put your ice cream sandwiches in the freezer. You want them to firm up so they don't fall apart when you eat them.

 

5. Frozen Yogurt Berry Bites

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mixed berries (e.g., strawberries, blueberries)

 

Instructions:

1. Mix Greek yogurt with honey and vanilla extract.
2. Fill silicone molds or mini muffin tins halfway with the yogurt mixture.
3. Press berries into the yogurt, and top with more yogurt, covering the berries.
4. Freeze until solid, at least 4 hours, or overnight. Pop out of the molds and enjoy.

 

Savor These Delightful Frozen Dessert Recipes Outdoors

 

 

As summer arrives with its warmer days and brighter sun, indulging in delightful frozen desserts becomes a perfect way to celebrate the season.  Enjoying these treats outdoors significantly enhances the experience, whether you're engaging in outdoor games with friends, having a family picnic, or simply relaxing in your own backyard.

 

Let the sweet flavors of your homemade desserts blend with the summer breeze, creating memorable moments with friends and family. Dive into these frozen delights, share your favorite recipes, and stay cool and refreshed throughout your summer adventures.

 

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