Irresistible types of ice cream and all the recipes you need
5 min
©foodspring
Surviving summer without ice cream? Practically unthinkable. So naturally, we’re treating ourselves to as many types of ice cream as we can this summer. To help you enjoy it all and keep you feeling your best, we’ll give you the scoop (get it?) on a few ice cream recipes that show ice cream can be so different than just a sugar bomb.
Jump into summer with a variety of ice creams
As the days get longer and sunnier, we start to crave lighter foods to keep us feeling active. Nowadays there are countless ice cream variations and trends popping up everywhere. Whether it’s cookie dough, caramel cores, marshmallows, matcha, or basil – the creamy frozen dessert is always reinventing itself with different flavors, new toppings, and extra ingredients. Never a dull moment!
There’s something to be said for the classics, too. Who can resist a great scoop of chocolate, pistachio, strawberry, or vanilla ice cream? No matter what your favorite flavor, ice cream remains a beloved snack and a welcome way to cool down on hot days. The average person in the UK goes through nine liters of the stuff in a year. That’s not all, though – did you know that people in Scotland and Northern Ireland eat more ice cream on average than those in England and Wales?
There are so many types of ice cream out there, varying not only in taste, but also in texture and ingredients. So what different takes are there to try?
Let’s start with the classic frozen custard, which owes its creamy texture to containing eggs and at least 50 percent milk. A lot of ice cream is made with around 18 percent milk fat. However, some ice cream contains at least 70 percent whole milk, and some ice creams use other milk and dairy products such as yogurt or kefir.
Then there’s sherbet, which has a double-digit fruit content – strawberry sherbet, for example, is at least 20 percent strawberry. Not to be confused with sorbet, which has no milk or dairy, but a slightly higher fruit content. And last but not least, of course, we can’t forget popsicles, a childhood favorite. These are very different from the other types of ice cream in their texture and fat content (which is less than three percent).
Our tip: Bye-bye, sugar bombs! We prefer to treat ourselves to a summer cool-down with a snack that’s great for our muscles.
Recipes: Healthy ice cream flavors for every palate
Naturally, flavor is the key factor for a memorable ice cream. But more and more fans are placing great value on their ice cream’s quality and origin. Keep in mind, though, that what’s in the product isn’t always exactly what’s on the label. For traditional ice cream, promises such as “made from scratch” and “homemade” have no legal binding. Even ice cream shops can mix their ice creams from ready-made powder in-house and still get away with calling it homemade.
Our favorite flavors are often packed with calories, sugar, and fat. But they don’t have to be! If you want to play it safe, try making your own ice cream this summer. We promise: The healthy alternatives taste at least as good. Plus, it’s fun to create your very own ice creams. Looking for inspiration? We have some great recipes for you here.
Peanut & Banana
If you like peanut butter, you’ll love this vegan nice cream, combining tasty peanuts and banana sweetness – it’s a real feast for the tastebuds. Plus, it’s sugar-free and low in calories!
Chocolate & Peanut Butter
Chocolate ice cream can also be sugar-free without sacrificing taste. Peanut butter and chocolate are a dream team and make this a summer highlight.
Hazelnut
Who knew a protein shake could come on a stick? Sounds unconventional, but it’s pretty tasty. These hazelnut-flavored treats are not only refreshing, but also a great dessert. Stick a caramel or raspberry Whey Protein in there instead if you’d prefer!
Blueberry & Coconut
It’s sweet. It’s light. This refreshing flavor is the closest you can get to taking a dive in the pool. The blueberry-coconut combo is the perfect duo and brings vacation vibes along for the ride.
Coconut & Pineapple
The carefree taste of summer: With these tropical pops, cravings don’t stand a chance. They’re creamy, fruity and even protein-packed – everything you need for the perfect snack.
Berries & Yogurt
No need to choose between ice cream and frozen yogurt – it’s the best of both worlds. Enjoy them in any weather.
Matcha
It’s not easy being green – unless you’ve got a giant scoop of our matcha nice cream. Matcha is a food trend for great reason, and this nice cream is a perfect way to enjoy all the flavor of your favorite matcha latte, while keeping cool at the same time.
Vanilla & Strawberry
Combining vanilla ice cream and strawberries has never been so tempting! The fruity and sweet blend makes our hearts go pitter-patter. Not to worry, there’s still much less sugar than in conventional ice cream.
Recipes: Types of ice cream for getting creative
While some may be satisfied with plain old ice cream, others will go the extra mile. And for them, we’ve collected some recipes for a frozen dessert that is anything but boring.
Ice Cream Cups
Ever heard of fluffy pancake cupcakes? Well, it’s about time you did! And these low-fat, high-protein snacks are best served with some delicious ice cream. Oh yeah, it makes our mouths water just thinking about it.
Ice Cream Sandwich
What would an ice cream article be without an ice cream sandwich? Our offering is vegan, to boot. Ditch the refined sugar and come to the healthier sweet side. We have cookies.
Ice Cream Cake
A typical cake in this heat can really drag you down. So we’re going for a lighter approach, namely ice cream cake. This one features a nutty base combined with creamy coconut ice cream and a sweet peanut layer. That’ll catapult any foodie to cloud nine.
Summary
- Every year, new trendy flavors of ice cream pop up: but classics such as chocolate, pistachio, and strawberry ice cream never go out of style.
- Ice cream continues to be the reigning summertime favorite. In 2020, each person consumed an average of eight liters of the frozen treat.
- Traditional ice cream varieties differ in taste, but also in consistency and composition. Varieties include gelato, sherbet, and sorbet.
- While conventional ice cream unfortunately often contains a lot of fat, sugar, and calories, you can easily make it yourself. There is a wide range of options with lots of protein and zero regrets.
Sources for this article
We at foodspring use only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Bundeszentrale für Ernährung (as at May 2021): 113 Kugeln Eis pro Jahr https://www.bzfe.de/service/news/aktuelle-meldungen/news-archiv/meldungen-2018/august/113-kugeln-eis-pro-jahr/
- Bundeszentrale für Ernährung (as at May 2021): Speiseeis: Kühler Genuss in zahlreichen Geschmacksrichtungen https://www.bzfe.de/lebensmittel/lebensmittelkunde/speiseeis/
- Statista (as at May 2021): Pro-Kopf-Konsum von Speiseeis 2001-2020 https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/20152/umfrage/entwicklung-des-eiskonsums-in-deutschland-seit-2001/
- Verbraucherzentrale (as at May 2021): Qualität von Speiseeis ist in der Eisdiele oft schwer zu erkennen https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/lebensmittel/lebensmittelproduktion/qualitaet-von-speiseeis-ist-in-der-eisdiele-oft-schwer-zu-erkennen-17340
