These Simple Ice Cream Desserts Will Provide the Perfect End to a Summer Meal

If you are looking for frozen dessert recipes, here are fun, delicious ice cream desserts that are easier to prepare than your guests will imagine.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Buy your favorite soft baked cookies (I like Pepperidge Farm) and your favorite, high-quality ice cream. Obviously, you will need two cookies per serving, but it seems there are always a broken cookie or two in each package, so keep that in mind when you are calculating how many packages to buy. Let the ice cream soften just enough to spoon... you want it to still be firm. Pack an inch or so of ice cream on the bottom of one cookie; top with the other. Smooth the edges. You can either serve as is, or roll the edges in sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, toasted coconut, or minced nuts. One of the quickest ice cream desserts you can make.

You will need a loaf pan, one pint of raspberry sorbet, one pint of peach ice cream, and one pint of vanilla.Spray the loaf pan with nonstick spray and line with plastic wrap, pressing in at corners. Soften the peach ice cream (you can do 10 second intervals in the microwave) and press it firmly into the pan (to eliminate air bubbles), filling it 1/3 full. Freeze 30 minutes or until hard. Repeat with raspberry sorbet so the pan is 2/3 full and freeze until hard. Finish with vanilla ice cream and freeze at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish each plate with a sprig of fresh mint, or drizzle with raspberry coulis.

Raspberry Coulis

Thaw one 12 oz. bag frozen raspberries. Combine 1/2 c. sugar and 1/4 c. water in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar completely dissolves... about five minutes. Puree raspberries and sugar syrup in blender then push through fine mesh sieve to remove seeds. Use as is, or stir in 1 t. Frambois or brandy.

Mocha Ice Cream Soda

You will need tall glasses, milk, seltzer, good quality chocolate syrup, and coffee ice cream.In each tall glass, combine four parts milk to one part seltzer. Stir in chocolate syrup to taste. Place a couple scoops of coffee ice cream in the glass and serve with a straw and a long spoon.

Simple Berry Compote

Slightly crush ripe berries and combine with just a little orange juice in a heavy saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat for a couple minutes and serve over vanilla ice cream.

Ice Cream Sorbet Swirl Pie

This is one of the ice cream desserts that your guests won't have had often before.

For one 9 inch pie, you will need:

Nonstick spray

12 ice cream sugar cones

4 T. sugar, divided

6 T. unsalted butter, melted

1 pint ice cream

1 pint sorbet

1 c. chilled whipping cream

1/2 t. pure vanilla extract

shredded toasted coconut or chopped nuts, for garnish

Directions: Spray 9 inch glass pie pan with nonstick spray. Break up ice cream cones, place in processor with 3 T. sugar and pulse until fine crumbs form. Add butter and blend until crumbs stick together, then press mixture on bottom and up sides of pie dish. Freeze at least 30 minutes, until firm.

Soften ice cream and sorbet. Scoop into large bowl and swirl; do not overmix. Transfer to pie dish and smooth top. Cover and put back in freezer at least two hours, or overnight.

When ready to serve, beat chilled whipping cream with vanilla and remaining 1 T. sugar until peaks form. Spread over ice cream pie and sprinkle with coconut or nuts.

That's it! Take your pick from these easy ice cream recipes next time you want to quickly make something fun for your guests.

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