Skip the ice cream truck and stock your freezer with these easy frozen dessert recipes! From creamy ice cream cakes and fruity popsicles to no-churn ice creams, frozen pies and make-ahead treats, these recipes are guaranteed to help you beat the heat in the sweetest way possible.
There’s something about frozen desserts that instantly makes life feel a little more fun. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of chasing down the ice cream truck as a kid, or maybe it’s just the magic of pulling a homemade dessert out of the freezer on a hot summer day and instantly becoming everyone’s favorite person.
Whatever it is, frozen desserts hold a permanent spot in my kitchen all summer long.
And while I’ll never turn down a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, I’m especially obsessed with frozen treats that do double duty: easy to make and guaranteed to impress. I’m talking ice cream cakes that feed a crowd, fruity popsicles that disappear faster than I can freeze them and frozen pies that taste like they came straight from a bakery freezer case.
The best part? Most of these recipes are make-ahead friendly, which means dessert is already handled before the party even starts.
Below you’ll find all my favorite frozen dessert recipes, from nostalgic classics to no-bake summer staples and refreshing treats perfect for backyard barbecues, pool days and everything in between.
My #1 Tip for Serving Ice Cream to a Crowd
Why waste time scooping when you can PRE-SCOOP?! You know how much I love make-ahead tips and tricks, and this one has been a fave of mine for years, especially at my kids’ birthday parties.
All you have to do is line a muffin pan with paper cups (Pro Tip: Use different colored cups for different ice cream flavors!), scoop in your ice cream(s) of choice, then pop the pan in the freezer. Now your scoops are all set to go and can be dished out in seconds!
I’ve been doing this forever because it WORKS:
Frozen Dessert Recipes
Frozen Chocolate Covered Bananas
It doesn’t get much simpler or more snack-worthy than frozen chocolate-covered bananas. This healthy and refreshing treat can be made with any variety of chocolate, while the topping options are endless (sprinkles, nuts and toasted coconut, to name a few!).
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
These homemade cookie ice cream sandwiches star soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies sandwiched together with ice cream and rolled in mini chocolate chips, sprinkles or chopped nuts. This is the ultimate summer dessert to keep stashed in your freezer for all of your last-minute dessert needs!
5-Minute Healthy Peach Frozen Yogurt
All you need is five minutes and four simple ingredients (frozen peaches, honey, yogurt and lemon juice) for this cool and creamy treat.
Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
This cottage cheese ice cream is made with just four ingredients, ready in 5 minutes and packed with 20g of protein. No ice cream maker, no patience required.
The Easiest-Ever Ice Cream Cake
This half-homemade sweet stars a frozen pound cake that’s sliced and layered with your choice of ice cream and toppings. I love it because it takes just 15 minutes to assemble, is easy to customize with any flavors, can be stashed in the freezer for weeks and creates minimal dirty dishes, which is always a big win.
Homemade Fudge Pops (Fudgesicles)
Creamy, chocolatey fudge pops made with pantry staples—no box mixes needed! These homemade fudgesicles are a nostalgic frozen treat the whole family will love.
Frozen Lemonade Pie
It’s the ultimate no-bake treat that marries a tangy fresh citrus flavor with a creamy consistency, and it’s all piled high inside a buttery graham cracker crust. Best of all, this lemon concoction can be easily transformed into a lime- or orange-flavored dessert by subbing in your preferred citrus flavor.
Healthy Greek Frozen Yogurt
Grab four simple ingredients and your food processor (or blender!) for this refreshingly creamy and oh-so-healthy frozen yogurt. This protein-packed treat can be made with any type of frozen fruit, so head to your freezer and use whatever you’ve got!
Frozen Peanut Butter Banana Pie
Creamy, crunchy, salty, sweet—what more could you ask for in a dessert? This frosty treat stars a chocolate cookie crust, sliced bananas and a peanut butter whipped cream filling.
Blueberry Frozen Yogurt
Grab the berries, whatever yogurt you have stashed in the fridge, lemon juice and honey, and get ready for refreshing froyo perfection.
Peach Sangria Popsicles
I’ve skipped the added sugar altogether in this popsicle recipe and instead relied on a splash of peach juice and the natural sweetness of the fruit itself to balance out the dryness of the white wine.
Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt Pops
Cool and creamy peanut butter froyo dunked in chocolate and showered with chopped peanuts.
No-Churn Ice Cream
All you need is three simple ingredients for creamy ice cream perfection. Best of all, you can stir in nearly every topping imaginable, from fresh fruit and chopped nuts to various extracts (hello, chocolate chip mint!) and all. the. chocolate.
Fruit Shaved Ice
I’m always on the hunt for cool, crunchy treats for my kids so I figured out a way to make flavored shaved ice using just one healthy ingredient: frozen fruit!
Ice Cream Pie
Rather than toss the broken waffle cone pieces, I transformed them into the ultimate crust for ice cream pie! Best of all, it’s easy to customize the pie with your ice cream(s) and toppings of choice.
Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Beat the heat with this ice cream sandwich cake made with store-bought ice cream sandwiches and layers of whipped topping. With just four base ingredients, this will be the easiest-ever no-bake summer dessert you make! Customize it with all your favorite ice cream toppings for a crowd-pleasing treat perfect for summer cookouts and parties.
Watermelon Slushies (Cocktail or Mocktail)
They’re cool and creamy, starring a simple blend of watermelon, coconut milk, lime juice and mint.
Healthy Strawberry Frozen Yogurt
All you need is four simple ingredients and 5 minutes for this creamy, healthy strawberry frozen yogurt.
Margarita Popsicles
Four ingredients separate you from these boozecicles that are a touch sweet, a touch sour and a whole lot-o-refreshing.
S’Mores Milkshakes
I’ve swapped the sticks for straws and blended up a creamy concoction of chocolate ice cream and marshmallow fluff for this frosty spin on classic s’mores.
Blackberry Mojito Popsicles
Made with just five simple ingredients, this boozesicle recipe is more of a template that allows you to sub in whatever fruit suits your fancy (strawberries, raspberries, peaches, etc.).
No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream
There’s no fancy machine needed for this extra-creamy ice cream. Best of all, you can tweak this recipe to include whatever fruit is in season, from peaches and raspberries to mangos and bananas.
Red, White and Blue Fruit Popsicles
Packed with layers of fresh fruit and creamy yogurt, these homemade popsicles are one of my favorite ways to cool down on a hot summer day. Naturally sweetened with honey and endlessly customizable with your favorite fruits, they’re the kind of feel-good freezer treat that disappears fast around here.
Peanut Butter and Banana Nice Cream Sandwiches
Homemade banana “nice cream” sandwiched between two peanut butter cookies. Made with just frozen bananas and a splash of vanilla, these easy ice cream sandwiches are creamy, naturally sweet and guaranteed to disappear fast on hot summer days.
Strawberry Margarita Popsicles
While the whole goal here is to drink your cocktail and eat it, too, you can absolutely go the mocktail route with this recipe!
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Going to try this at our next family get together!
We only have a hand held mixer, not the stand type w/attachments. That maybe a problem, huh!?
Hi Heather! Which recipe will you be making?
Wonderful for a summer party…good too..
Thanks Diane!