24 Frozen Dessert Recipes that Are Perfect for Chilling Out (2024)

Lemon Verbena Ice Cream Pie

Almost too stunning to eat (but not quite!), this ice cream dessert is crowned with edible flowers and built on a warm-spiced gingerbread-shortbread crust. In between, scoop in a lovely homemade ice cream scented with brightly-flavored lemon verbena. Once you try just one bite, you'll declare that no spring or summer gathering would be complete without this.

Confetti Cake and Ice Cream Pops

The iconic duo of cake and ice cream is reinvented as portable pops in this frozen dessert recipe from cookbook authors Paul Arguin and Chris Taylor. The party-on-a-stick features confetti cake layers with swirls of mango and raspberry sorbets. The best part? This layering method works with any combo of cake and ice cream you want.

Peach Pie Shake

Pie oh my! All you need to blend up this quintessential summer dessert is a slice of peach pie (even yesterday's leftovers will do), frozen peaches, and vanilla ice cream. Finish the cold peach dessert with a splash of milk to marry everything together and prepare to enjoy a sip of summer.

Grown Up S'mores Torte

Translate the ooey-gooey goodness of the campfire favorite into a modern, gourmet-looking yet easy-to-prep torte. Dulce de leche and coffee ice cream paired with marshmallow creme update the classic s'mores recipe flavor combo. Don't skip the final broiling step for nicely toasted marshmallows atop this tempting frozen dessert recipe!

Ice Cream Sandwich "Tiramisu"

This frozen dessert recipe has the flavors of the fancy coffee dessert you know with the help of store-bought ice cream. Classic tiramisu is reimagined as a super-easy icebox cake using ice cream sandwiches (in place of ladyfingers), chocolate wafer cookies, and a simple coffee-flavored mascarpone cream filling.

Fried Ice Cream Truffles

The fried ice cream sundaes we enjoyed at Mexican restaurants as kids inspired these perfectly poppable snacks. To make the experience even more fun at home, finish off with caramel, fudge, and cinnamon whipped cream for dipping.

Frozen Peanut Butter Pie

Chocolate-peanut butter cups are good. But you know what's even better? An ice cream pie that features the same flavors, just reimagined in a tasty slice-shaped package. Its creamy whipped peanut butter filling and chocolate cookie-crumb crust make for a melt-in-your-mouth frozen dessert recipe.

Pistachio Gelato Brownie Bars

Thin brownies surround velvety pistachio gelato in this rich frozen dessert recipe. The trick to perfectly tidy layers? Dividing the batter and baking it in two pans (rather than halving it after baking) creates delightfully crisp edges.

Coffee Cone Affogato

Finish off the remaining half of your pint in these pint-size coffee shop-inspired drinks. A mini scoop of vanilla ice cream and a shot of espresso make a dream duo inside the chocolate-coated edible cups. If you're serving this easy cold dessert after dinner or close to bedtime, we recommend choosing decaf over regular brewed coffee.

Neapolitan Pops

These pretty ice cream dessert pops are the perfect ending to a summer meal. You get a trio of flavors: vanilla, chocolate (two layers, by way of ice cream and the cookie crust), and strawberry in every bite. And since this cold dessert comes served on a stick, you can enjoy it almost anywhere. No bowl or spoon required.

Cornbread Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Soft and sweet with a hint of nuttiness, these cutout cookies make a tasty match for summery berry ice cream fillings. Use cookie cutters to form any shape you like. Make these frozen desserts up to 2 weeks in advance of your summer party for easy prep.

Shortcut Pumpkin Ice Cream

When you're longing for fall comfort food but don't want to turn on the oven to make a pumpkin pie, you can still enjoy the season's signature flavor with this easy frozen dessert recipe. Simply combine purchased vanilla ice cream with canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice for a taste of fall even if it's during the hot summer months.

Polka-Dot Neapolitan Pie

Classic neapolitan ice cream takes on a new look in a pie with a crunchy sugar cone crust and peekaboo pattern of strawberry and chocolate polka dots. Toasted strawberry meringue crowns the confection.

Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake with Mascarpone Ice Cream

Tiramisu is already one of our all-time favorite Italian dessert picks. But once we dreamed up the idea of upping the ante with creamy, decadent mascarpone ice cream, the espresso-infused treat becomes downright irresistible. To make prep for this frozen dessert recipe low-fuss, we call for starting with boxed cake mix.

Chocolate-Peanut Ice Cream Cake

Savor a scoop of both chocolate and vanilla! With a cookie crust, two layers of ice cream, and crunchy chocolate-covered peanuts throughout, this ice cream cake is everything you could ever want in a dessert. Melt together fudge sauce and creamy peanut butter for a wildly tasty topping.

Ice Cream Tacos

Tacos need not be savory to be sensational. Inspired by a popular supermarket freezer find, these tacos center around a sweet ice cream "taco" filling. Wrap a waffle bowl in a damp paper towel and microwave for 15 seconds so you can shape it into a shell. Then, instead of lettuce, cheese, and sour cream, garnish your ice cream dessert tacos with candies, sprinkles, and a cherry.

Lemon Bar Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

No need to decide between ice cream, cookies, or candy. This sweet-tart frozen dessert item sneaks all three into each bite! Lemon curd-swirled vanilla ice cream is stuffed between homemade sugar cookie squares, then surrounded by crushed lemon candies in this mouth-puckeringly perfect treat.

Chocolate-Marshmallow Ice Cream Sandwiches

Give leftover candy bars new life in these semi-homemade frozen dessert sandwiches. Chocolate cake mix makes the cookies oh-so-easy to bake up, while Twix-infused ice cream and marshmallow creme team up for the dreamy filling.

Pick-Your-Cereal Milkshakes

Whether you're Team Cocoa Puffs or Team Cinnamon Toast Crunch (or both!), you can customize your quick-fix ice cream shake to feature your favorite breakfast cereal(s). A pint of vanilla ice cream, a cup of milk, and a cup of cereal are all you need to end your meal with a frozen dessert recipe inspired by one of the sweetest ways to start the day.

Butterscotch Crunch Squares

Creamy, crunchy, and cool all at once, these oat-crust bars showcase many layers of summer dessert deliciousness. Choose butter brickle, chocolate, or vanilla ice cream and top with a sugary, crumbly nut mixture. If you're really feeling like a "treat yourself" moment (and who isn't?!), drizzle this frozen dessert recipe with caramel ice cream topping before serving.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

This mint ice cream showstopper is perfect for any season! Dig out those peppermint sticks from the holidays and put them to great use in this summer ice cream cake that's beyond refreshing on a hot day.

Test Kitchen Tip: Prepare this easy cold dessert up to a week ahead of time and store in your freezer until ready to serve.

Peppermint-Fudge Pie

Why reserve peppermint for winter holidays alone? Its uber-refreshing, naturally cool flavor is perfect for taming the heat. Layers of peppermint ice cream and homemade fudge sauce are topped with fluffy meringue then baked to golden brown for a nod to summery s'mores.

Smoothie Pops

You'll need just 5 ingredients to whip up a batch of these frozen fruit pops. With wholesome ingredients like frozen berries, banana, and Greek yogurt, these sweet treats can do double duty as breakfast or dessert. You can make a batch and have them stashed in the freezer in just minutes.

Vegan Ice Cream Base

Our vegan ice cream recipe starts with coconut milk and cornstarch to achieve a thick, luscious texture. Add in your favorite flavors or choose from our variations like toasted coconut, chopped fruit, and chocolate chip. A batch of this homemade vegan ice cream will last for up to three months in the freezer.