Our 10 Favorite Holiday Ice Cream Recipes

December 9, 2015

With the holiday season upon us, just about everyone is gearing up for a whole pint-load of parties and gatherings. And you know what pleases just about everybody at a holiday party? Desserts. And you know what kind of dessert is the best? Ice cream. (You saw that one coming, didn't you?) 

We've gathered together our absolute favorite, tried-and-true ice cream recipes into one comprehensive list. So pick your favorites, and consider your holiday pot-luck planning complete:

  • Ice cream balls being dipped into chocolate fondue.

    Chocolate Fondue

    For holiday get-togethers, there's nothing better than a dessert that's also an activity. Instead of listening to your cranky uncle grumble about how dry the mashed potatoes were, hand him a tasty treat on a stick and tell him where he can dip it. Recipe here.

  • Triple Caramel Brownie Ice Cream Cupcake

    Triple Caramel Brownie Ice Cream Cupcakes

    Layers of brownie and Triple Caramel Chunk ice cream, crafted in individual cupcake cups and topped with your favorite garnishes. Our studies have shown that there is nary a wrong way to combine chocolate and caramel, so you could even get creative with this one. Recipe here.

  • A pumpkin bread ice cream sandwich struts its stuff next to a pint of Ben & Jerry's Vanilla ice cream.

    Pumpkin Bread Ice Cream Sandwich

    We know, we know, pumpkin is a flavor for autumn – it's more associated with falling leaves, sweater weather and buying school supplies than with mall Santas, twinkle lights and fresh snow. But we are fully against typecasting this marvelous flavor as exclusively for fall. Bring a little pumpkin into your holiday-season culinary repertoire, and your taste buds will thank you. Recipe here.

  • Cookie cups filled with Ben & Jerry's Vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce. Serious yum.

    Sundae Cookie Cups

    Aside from being incredibly adorable and fun to eat, these cookie cup sundaes are great for customizing. Make them with Vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce. Make them with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream for the extreme cookie lovers in your crowd. Cherry Garcia with a chocolate drizzle? Sounds good to us. Let your creativity run wild. Recipe here.

  • Spumoni ice cream cake made with Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

    Spumoni Ice Cream Cake

    You're wondering what 'spumoni' is, aren't you? Here's an opportunity to bring some culture to your next holiday gathering: Spumoni is an Italian ice cream dessert that features layers of different ice cream flavors, often with fruit and nut chunks. Sound pretty tasty? Wait until you try it with Ben & Jerry's Pistacio, Pistacio, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Cherry Garcia flavors. Delizioso! Recipe here.

  • One gorgeous chocolate panna cotta dessert made with Boom Chocolatta Cookie Core ice cream.

    Boom Chocolatta Panna Cotta

    Speaking of Italian-inspired desserts, let us tell you about the majesty that is Boom Chocolatta Panna Cotta. With only two ingredients, this crowd-pleaser never fails to impress even the most exacting of palates. Garnish with fruit, or keep the chocolate euphoria au naturaleRecipe here.

  • Chocolate bundt cake made with Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Dusted with confectioner's sugar.

    Bake a Cake With a Pint

    Cake and ice cream are a match made in heaven (and a staple at every birthday party you've ever been to). But what about making a cake with Ben & Jerry's ice cream baked right in? It's genius! And you can even add more ice cream on top for even more ice cream euphoria. Recipe here.

  • Delightfully adorable truffles made with Ben & Jerry's Spectacular Speculoos Core ice cream.

    Spectacular Speculoos Ice Cream Truffles

    For holiday gatherings in particular, treats that your friends and family can grab and gobble without a fork or plate are especially delightful. Particularly when they're as addictive as these Spectacular Speculoos ice cream truffles. These won't last long, so make as many as you can fit in the freezer. Recipe here.

  • Smores ice cream cake looking delicious.

    S'mores Ice Cream Cake

    Bring a piece of summer to your next winter gathering, and your friends will thank you for the reminder of warmer times. Ben & Jerry's S'mores ice cream makes this cake a snap to make, and a surefire crowd-pleaser. Recipe here.

  • Half baked bars: layers of cookie dough, ice cream and brownies topped with a chocolate drizzle.

    Half Baked Bars

    For lovers of Half Baked, this treat is a delicious departure from the pint. Keep them individually wrapped in your freezer for a late-night snack, or bring them to your next party to keep the masses appeased. We're betting you won't even need to worry about them melting on the platter, because they'll be gone in a snap. Recipe here.