5 Ice Cream Cookbooks You’ll Crave All Year [Scoop Like a Pro]
Hot days, sweet cravings, and a frozen treat in hand ice cream makes everything better. From rich custards to fruity sorbets, homemade scoops bring joy with every bite. Supermarket tubs rarely match the flavor and freshness of ice cream made in your own kitchen.
That’s where a good cookbook steps in. These ice cream cookbooks go beyond basic vanilla. They explore bold flavors, smart techniques, and easy methods that work for beginners and dessert lovers alike.
Some focus on traditional churned recipes, while others highlight no-churn options for quick wins. Each book on this list offers more than recipes it shares inspiration, clear steps, and ways to make your freezer a dessert goldmine.
Spoons ready? These five ice cream cookbooks promise creamy success in every scoop. Get ready to discover your new favorite frozen treat and impress friends and family with homemade magic.
5 Ice Cream Cookbooks 2025
1.
Cookbook Overview
A Fun Beginning
Ben and Jerry didn’t start out as chefs. They were two kids who liked food and fun. The book tells how they met in 7th-grade gym class. It shares how they turned a $5 ice cream-making course into a popular brand. The story makes you smile and gets you ready to make your own ice cream story.
Classic and Crazy Flavors
This book includes 90+ recipes. Some are simple. Some are wild. You’ll find the famous Heath Bar Crunch, Oreo Mint, and New York Super Fudge Chunk. It also offers fruity ice creams, cookie-packed blends, and chocolate-rich mixes. There are sorbets, sundaes, and even baked treats.
Anyone Can Make It
No need to stress. The instructions are clear. The ingredients are easy to find. Even a first-timer can make creamy, tasty ice cream. The book encourages fun, not perfection.
Features
Easy Steps for Everyone
Each recipe breaks down into short, simple steps. No confusing words. No hard tricks. Even kids can follow along.
Uses Simple Tools
A basic ice cream maker will do. No need for fancy machines. The recipes work well with budget tools.
Fun Illustrations
Lyn Severance fills the pages with bright and quirky pictures. They add charm and help explain the process. The drawings match the joyful mood of the book.
90+ Recipes
You get more than just ice cream. There are recipes for sorbets, sundaes, and baked desserts too. Each one brings a new taste to your table.
Fan Favorites
This book brings back classics from Ben & Jerry’s early days. Like Dastardly Mash with nuts, raisins, and chocolate. Or Cherry Garcia, loved by many. These flavors bring the real Ben & Jerry’s experience home.
2.
Cookbook Overview
A Fresh Update of a Classic Book
This version adds new recipes and new photos. It feels fresh but keeps the heart of the original. The new design makes each page easy to read. It’s clear. It’s neat. And it feels fun.
A Wide Range of Frozen Desserts
The book covers more than just ice cream. It includes sorbets, gelatos, granitas, and even frozen cocktails. From soft and creamy scoops to icy and fruity blends, the book offers variety for every taste.
Creative and Timeless Flavors
Some recipes feel like home. Chocolate-Peanut Butter. S’mores. Others feel new. Lavender-Honey. Labneh with Pistachio-Sesame Brittle. Some feel fancy. Some feel cozy. All feel special.
More Than Just Ice Cream
David includes sauces, mix-ins, and crunchy toppings. These extras turn any scoop into a full dessert. He even adds frozen drinks like Negroni Slush and Spritz Sorbet fun options for parties or relaxing evenings.
Features
Easy-to-Follow Recipes
Each recipe uses clear steps. No hard words. No confusing tools. The directions guide readers from start to finish. Even beginners can make smooth, tasty ice cream.
Helpful Techniques
David shares tips that work. He explains how to balance flavors, how to churn properly, and how to store ice cream. These tips make a big difference. They help the ice cream taste better and feel smoother.
Bright and Clear Photos
Photos show what each dessert looks like. They feel real, not too fancy. Each picture gives an idea of texture and color. That makes it easier to pick a recipe and get inspired.
Bold Flavor Ideas
This book takes chances. It mixes fruit with herbs. Cream with spices. Cheese with sweets. That may sound strange but the flavors work. They feel exciting. Not boring.
Versatile Recipes
Many recipes use simple ingredients. Some are dairy-free. Some are low sugar. That makes it easy to adjust the recipe to different needs or diets. There’s something for everyone.
3.
Cookbook Overview
A Simple Start with a Strong Base
The authors Tyler and Kim Malek didn’t begin with fancy recipes. They asked friends in food to guide them. The result? A simple five-minute base anyone can make. From that base, all the flavors grow. This easy method opens the door to dozens of Salt & Straw’s popular recipes. No hard steps. No weird rules. Just mix, chill, churn, and enjoy.
Creative Flavors from Real Life
Every recipe tells a story. Salt & Straw sees flavor in the world around them. From fresh berries in summer to the comfort of Thanksgiving dinner. Flavors like Roasted Strawberry and Toasted White Chocolate bring warmth.
Others, like Buttered Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, bring surprise. But all of them bring joy. This cookbook celebrates fun, food, and the love of trying new things.
Praise from Trusted Food Experts
Top food voices love this book. Names like Ruth Reichl, Bon Appétit, and Eater call the recipes “astonishingly good” and “approachable.” That’s because the book stays simple. No fancy talk. No stress. Just ice cream that tastes great.
Features
Quick Five-Minute Base Recipe
Everything begins with this base. It takes only five minutes to prepare. No eggs. No custards. Just easy steps you can follow with basic tools. This helps even first-time ice cream makers get great results.
Step-by-Step Flavor Recipes
Each recipe includes clear steps. No long words. No confusing tricks. Just plain instructions that work. From Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons to Meyer Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Custard, each one gives full flavor in every bite.
Fun and Unique Combinations
Salt & Straw doesn’t stop at chocolate or vanilla. Their flavors surprise you. Try Olive Oil Ice Cream. Or Goat Cheese Marionberry Habanero. Every scoop feels like a fun science experiment but one you get to eat.
Seasonal and Local Inspiration
Many recipes come from local farms, markets, or holidays. They teach you how to think like a flavor maker. What’s in season? What does your family love to eat? Use those ideas to mix up your own blends.
Tips for Making Your Own Creations
Beyond recipes, the book gives advice. How to choose ingredients. What tools make it easier. How to invent your own wild flavors. Ice cream becomes a way to explore, create, and enjoy.
No Experience Needed
The book was made for beginners. You don’t need to be a chef. You don’t even need an ice cream machine, though it helps. Simple words, short instructions, and helpful tips guide you from start to finish.
Fun for All Ages
Kids love trying new flavors. Adults love the creativity. This cookbook brings the whole family together. Scoop, stir, taste, repeat.
Loved by Readers and Experts
This book is not just popular. It’s respected. Named one of the best cookbooks of the season by Eater, Delish, and Epicurious, it offers real value to anyone curious about frozen desserts.
Great for Gifting or Collecting
With colorful photos and thoughtful design, this book looks great on any shelf. But it also gets used a lot. It’s not just pretty. It’s practical.
4.
Cookbook Overview
About the Author
Jeni Britton Bauer runs a popular ice cream business in Ohio. People from all over the country love her unique flavors. She spent years testing recipes at home. She found ways to make smooth, creamy ice cream without fancy machines. Her book helps others do the same.
What’s Inside the Book
The book includes 100 recipes. Each one uses simple tools, like a $50 home ice cream maker. Jeni also shares her personal method. Her technique stops ice crystals from forming. That makes the ice cream soft and easy to scoop. The book also features bright, full-color photos. Each one makes you want to grab a spoon.
Award-Winning Quality
This isn’t just a fan favorite. The book won the James Beard Award for Best Baking and Dessert Book in 2011. That’s a big deal in the food world. The Washington Post even called it “ice cream perfection.”
Features
Easy to Follow
Jeni writes in a clear and simple style. She gives step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. Even first-time ice cream makers can get good results. No tricky words or hard-to-find tools.
Unique Flavors
The book goes beyond vanilla and chocolate. Jeni offers bold flavor ideas like Goat Cheese with Roasted Cherries and Bourbon with Toasted Buttered Pecans. Her Queen City Cayenne adds a little spice for those who like a surprise in each bite.
Home-Friendly Tools
All recipes are tested with a basic home ice cream machine. You don’t need a professional setup. Just a little freezer space and a love for dessert.
Real Ingredients
Jeni uses real cream, fresh fruits, and natural mix-ins. No fake flavors or shortcuts. That makes the ice cream taste fresh and rich.
Helpful Tips
The book includes tips on how to store ice cream, keep it from getting icy, and how to balance flavors. These tips help you get better each time you try.
Beautiful Photos
Each recipe comes with a photo. The images are bright and colorful. They show you what the final treat should look like. It adds inspiration to each step.
5.
Cookbook Overview
A Fun Guide with a Sweet Purpose
Old-Fashioned Homemade Ice Cream doesn’t feel like a regular cookbook. Thomas Quinn writes with a cheerful tone that feels personal. He starts with a fun look at the history of ice cream. Then, he guides you through every step of making it yourself.
He explains what you need, what could go wrong, and how to fix it. You’ll find recipes for both hand-cranked and electric machines. This means anyone can follow along, no matter the tools in their kitchen.
58 Tried-and-True Recipes
The book includes 58 ice cream recipes. Each one has been tested to make sure the texture is smooth and creamy every time. From rich chocolate to fresh fruit flavors, the choices keep things exciting. Every recipe is written in a clear and simple way. Even someone making ice cream for the first time can get it right.
Flavors That Go Beyond Basic
Quinn doesn’t stop with plain vanilla. You’ll find creative flavors like Chunky Apple Rum, Mexican Spiced Chocolate, and White Licorice. There are also five different versions of vanilla and 14 chocolate-based recipes. These recipes offer something fun for every taste.
Extras to Make It Special
The book also includes recipes for sauces and toppings. That makes it easy to turn a scoop into a full dessert. From sweet chocolate sauces to nutty sprinkles, every topping adds a new layer of flavor.
Features
Easy for Beginners
Clear directions make the process simple. Each step uses basic words and short sentences. No need to be a kitchen expert. Just follow along and enjoy the results.
Good for All Machines
Recipes work for both hand-cranked and electric freezers. That means no extra tools needed. Use what you have and get great results.
Fun for the Family
These recipes aren’t just for grown-ups. Kids can help, too. Making ice cream becomes a fun activity for the whole family.
Covers Common Problems
If something goes wrong, the book helps you fix it. Maybe the texture feels icy or the flavor seems weak. Quinn offers helpful advice to get everything back on track.
Flavor Variety
Expect a wide mix of flavors. Nut-based, fruit-based, chocolate-heavy, or even spicy there’s something here for every craving. Even the classic flavors come with a twist.
Rich and Creamy Every Time
Each recipe was tested to keep the texture soft and creamy. No icy chunks or strange aftertastes. Just pure, smooth ice cream in every bite.
Helpful Tips and Ice Cream Know-How
Besides recipes, the book explains the science behind ice cream. You’ll understand how ingredients work together. That makes it easier to try your own flavor ideas later.
Great for Gifting
With its simple style and wide recipe range, this book makes a thoughtful gift. Perfect for birthdays, holidays, or summer parties.
Final Thoughts
Homemade ice cream feels special. A good cookbook makes it easy to enjoy that sweet treat any day. Each of the five books offers something different classic flavors, fun twists, or helpful tips for beginners. They bring joy to the kitchen and smiles to the table.
If you’re trying ice cream for the first time or making it part of your weekend routine, these books keep things simple and tasty. Anyone searching for the best ice cream cookbooks will find something to love in this collection. Cold, creamy fun starts with just one recipe.
