Homemade Ice Cream Recipes Made for Hot Summer Days

No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream
Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Cold, creamy ice cream is essential for surviving sweltering days in the South, and you don't have to visit an ice cream parlor to get your fix. Break out the ice cream maker collecting dust in your closet and churn up a batch of our easy homemade ice cream in your favorite flavor. We have dozens of delicious ice cream recipes to choose from, whether you like chocolate, vanilla, fruity flavors, or all of the above. Just follow these expert tips and your batch of ice cream will come out smooth and creamy every time. No ice cream maker on hand? No problem. Get a little creative with technique and you can make an equally stunning batch of ice cream. Our Birthday Cake Ice Cream comes together in a loaf pan in the freezer, and our Strawberry Ice Cream in a Bag miraculously freezes with a little salt and shaking.

In the mood for something special for a summer party? Make an Ice Cream Sandwich Cake or a Creamy Peach Icebox Cake. No matter how you enjoy your ice cream, one thing's for sure: This frozen treat is supremely satisfying.

01 of 20

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream
Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Make the most of leftover angel food cake and summery fresh strawberries in this frozen riff on one of the South's favorite desserts, strawberry shortcake.

02 of 20

Blueberry Ripple No-Churn Ice Cream

Blueberry Ripple No-Churn Ice Cream
Joy Howard

Recipe: Blueberry Ripple No-Churn Ice Cream

Only 5 ingredients go into this delicious homemade ice cream flavor.

03 of 20

Putt's Butter Pecan Sundae

Putt’s Butter Pecan Sundae Recipe
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Putt's Butter Pecan Sundae

Once you taste this praline sundae topping, you'll be sure to keep a batch stocked at all times.

04 of 20

Bourbon Ice Cream With Bourbon-Caramel Swirl

bourbon ice cream
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist:Christine Keely Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Bourbon Ice Cream With Bourbon-Caramel Swirl

A bourbon-caramel swirl is the finishing touch in this sophisticated scoop.

05 of 20

Pineapple Ice Cream

Pineapple Ice Cream
Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Pineapple Ice Cream

Perfectly sweet and oh-so refreshing, this Pineapple Ice Cream recipe is sure to be your new favorite dessert.

06 of 20

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

The trick is in the cookies. A very fine consistency will make sure every bite meets your cookie-filled expectations.

07 of 20

Chicory Ice Cream

Chicory Ice Cream
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicory Ice Cream

Serve this chicory coffee-flavored ice cream with a warm bowl of King Cake Bread Pudding for a true taste of New Orleans.

08 of 20

Birthday Cake Ice Cream

Birthday Cake Ice Cream
Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Birthday Cake Ice Cream

No ice cream maker? No problem. This fun shortcut ice cream—studded with cake crumbles and sprinkles—comes together in a loaf pan in the freezer.

09 of 20

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

If you can't decide between brownies or ice cream, why not have both in one delicious dish?

10 of 20

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars

Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars

Crumbled cake coating tops strawberry ice cream in this easy recipe to create a decadent summer dessert.

11 of 20

Avocado-Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Avocado-Key Lime Pie Ice Cream
Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Avocado-Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Avocado and key lime pie flavors come together in this recipe to create a rich and creamy treat.

12 of 20

Sea Salt Ice Cream

Sea Salt Ice Cream
Greg DuPree Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Sea Salt Ice Cream

If you savor sweet and salty flavor combos, you won't be able to get enough of this simple, yet sophisticated Sea Salt Ice Cream.

13 of 20

Pistachio Ice Cream

Pistachio Ice Cream
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Pistachio Ice Cream

You'll want to use roasted salted pistachios in this cool ice cream to achieve that crave-worthy sweet-and-salty flavor.

14 of 20

Strawberry Ice Cream in a Bag

Strawberry Ice Cream in a Bag
Southern Living

Recipe: Strawberry Ice Cream in a Bag

Looking for a fun activity to keep the kids busy? Make ice cream in a bag. Just toss all the ingredients—which you probably already have in your pantry—into a Ziploc bag and shake away.

15 of 20

Banana Ice Cream

banana ice cream
Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Recipe: Banana Ice Cream

With a creamy custard base and a dose of flavor from ripe mashed bananas, this ice cream is the perfect way to finish off a summertime meal.

16 of 20

Cornbread Ice Cream

Cornbread Ice Cream
Southern Living

Recipe: Cornbread Ice Cream

Meet the Southern ice cream flavor you never knew you needed.

17 of 20

Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Fresh Peach Ice Cream
Southern Living

Recipe: Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Turn that summer haul of fresh peaches into a frozen treat you can enjoy year-round.

18 of 20

Cream Cheese Ice Cream

Red Velvet-Berry Cobbler Recipe with Cream Cheese Ice Cream Recipe
Photo: Jennifer Davick / Food Styling Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Cream Cheese Ice Cream

The best way to keep your ice cream creamy and dreamy? Add cream cheese.

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Basil Ice Cream

Cherry Tomato Cobbler
Southern Living

Recipe: Basil Ice Cream

Pair this homemade Basil Ice Cream with Cherry Tomato Cobbler for the ultimate summer treat.

20 of 20

No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

You don't need an ice cream machine to pull off this sophisticated scoop.

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