Here’s some trivia to share with your kids on a hot summer’s day. Which president designated July as National Ice Cream Month? The answer: Ronald Reagan back in 1984. The president went so far as to appoint the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day (no word on his favorite flavor). He even recommended that people honor the day with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Now that’s a holiday!
Whip up something sweet to celebrate by trying out one of these recipes for ice cream you can make at home. Whether your kids prefer plain vanilla or loaded up chocolate ice cream (hello, rocky road!), these recipes are fun to make for the whole family.
Vanilla Ice Cream
What’s the most popular flavor of ice cream in the U.S.? If you guessed “vanilla” you deserve extra sprinkles! Create your own version by following the Joy of Baking’s recipe for vanilla ice cream.
No-Cook Strawberry Ice Cream
This recipe for no-cook strawberry ice cream from Southern Living includes a surprising ingredient. Of course, there are plenty of fresh strawberries in the mix. But to play up the flavor of the sweet berries, the recipe calls for a generous helping of lemon juice to give them a tart kick.
Chocolate Ice Cream
What sundae is complete without a scoop of chocolate ice cream – well, and a cherry on top! This chocolate ice cream recipe from Taste of Home uses evaporated milk instead of heavy cream. The recipe also suggests that for an added layer of chocolatey goodness, you can use chocolate milk in place of plain.
Rocky Road Ice Cream
With mini marshmallows and walnuts dotting the smooth surface of a rich, bitter chocolate, this rocky road ice cream from the Brown Eyed Baker is decadent. It helps that the recipe’s base include two cups of heavy cream with both dark chocolate and cocoa powder melted in. Top with hot fudge for an explosion of chocolate flavor!
Salted Caramel Ice Cream
The latest trendy flavor to hit the ice cream shops has to be salted caramel. The mix of savory sea salt with the added depth of caramel blended into cream is a flavor circus for your tastebuds. But you don’t have to go to an ice cream parlor to give it a try – mix up this recipe for deliciously rich salted caramel ice cream from Real Simple any time. Bonus: You can have as many scoops as you want!
Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag
No ice cream maker required: Disney’s Spoonful offers this recipe for homemade ice cream in a bag. You’ll need both pint-sized and gallon-sized plastic baggies to make this version, but it’s easy enough to do in your backyard. Your kids will love it.
