If you think that it will soon be too cold to enjoy delicious frozen ice cream, then you’re making a terrible mistake. With 1.5 billion gallons of ice cream and similar desserts produced in the United States annually, there’s no reason why it should all be eaten during the dog days of summer. While almost everyone thinks of ice cream as a perfect summer treat, there are plenty of excellent ways to enjoy it once the temperature drops.
Check out these cool ways to use ice cream in winter desserts — you might even be able to use them at your next holiday party.
- Winter flavors: Try incorporating some classic seasonal flavors into your next frozen dessert. Think peppermint, cinnamon, caramel, white chocolate, and more. These flavors can all be worked into cold weather desserts, even when using a frozen treat. If you can’t find any ice cream flavors that use these winter tastes, then try adding them in the form of toppings. Some crushed candy canes or hot fudge can turn basic vanilla into a perfect winter treat.
- Hot drink, cold treat: Step up your next batch of hot chocolate by adding a scoop of your favorite ice cream. The ice cream will melt in the drink, which just means you can drink it faster by cooling it off. It will also make your warm drink even more rich and creamy; a win-win all around. If you’re making a batch of next-level hot chocolate for your adults-only holiday party, consider adding a bit of alcohol to the mix too. A spiked hot chocolate with creamy vanilla ice cream will warm any party right up.
- Special delivery: Sometimes the difference between a chilly summer treat and a perfect winter dessert can be what you pair the ice cream with. Use ice cream to top brownies, pies, or bread pudding to instantly turn a warm-weather classic into a winter dessert. Better yet, turn your ice cream pairing into the dish for the ice cream itself. Brownie or cookies make great ice cream cups. You can also bake small cakes as the base for your sundae.
Regardless of how you use it, ice cream can be a great dessert option year-round. Which of these options is your favorite? Do you pair a classic scoop of vanilla with your favorite baked good, mix it into your warm drinks, or just eat it as is?
