There’s something gleefully unrestrained about turning a drink as comforting as horchata into ice cream. You still get the sweet, creamy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla in Horchata Ice Cream. But, let me tell you, it’s twice as luscious as an indulgent dessert.

Horchata Ice Cream

I was introduced to horchata at a young age because it was (and still is) my older sister’s favorite drink. Every time I travel with my sisters, we make sure to stop and grab some horchata for her wherever we arrive. It’s a tradition.

This is the same sister who shared her intense love of mangoes with me. So, I can say that she’s at least partially responsible for my mango ice cream, too. It reminds me of so many ways that I have been influenced by my siblings, and I am grateful.

When I first played with the idea of making a horchata ice cream flavor, I wasn’t really chasing the exact flavors. I wanted to nail the excitement of being a kid when my big sister would wink at me and then share a sip of her drink. It didn’t matter what was in the glass, it was pure joy to be trusted to drink it with her.

Rice Ice Cream

Flavor-wise, this ice cream is beautifully layered. Horchata is a sweet, spiced rice drink, and this ice cream mimics that. Warm notes of cinnamon hit you right away, while the vanilla remains subtle. The rice is more of an undertone throughout each bite. It’s there, but it’s not the thing that draws your focus.

If you make it with RumChata, the liqueur adds a wonderful element to the ice cream. It begins very sweet, almost hiding in the ice cream. As the ice cream melts in your mouth, the alcohol emerges and becomes more dominant toward the end of each bite. It’s an incredible experience. So, be sure to savor each spoonful.

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

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Waves of salty and sweet churn together in a luscious creamy base in this Sea Salt Ice Cream. Yeah, I’ll admit I could wax poetic on this one.

The salt and sugar enhance one another instead of competing for your attention. It’s exactly like one rolls in while the other rolls out, over and over again. This is one of those flavors that makes you pause mid-bite and wonder how is this so good?

Sea Salt Ice Cream

I first tried a salted ice cream while in Santa Fe with my sisters earlier this year. As soon as the first bite hit my tongue, I knew I’d be working on a sea salt ice cream to share with you.

I’ll tell you now that salt and ice cream isn’t a combination for everyone. I went crazy over it and my younger sister did as well. My older sister? She wants nothing to do with anything remotely salted with her desserts.

The salt in this ice cream is very subtle, verrrrrry subtle. It mostly enhances the sweetness and flavor. However, if you look closely at the photos, you’ll see that I generously sprinkled additional salt over the servings and am now a very happy convert to salting every scoop of ice cream. It’s transformative.

Salt and Ice Cream

Salt and ice cream may sound like a strange combination. I get it. But, let’s talk about salt for a second. See, I come from a long line of low sodium cooks. My mom and grandma each had their reasons for skimping on salt. Nevertheless, I grew up with very little first-hand experience for how salt actually works in cooking. So, I’m making up for lost time!

In a nutshell, salt increases our ability to taste four of the five primary flavor categories: salty, sweet, sour, and umami (savory). And, as an added bonus, salt actually decreases our ability to detect bitterness. This is why a teeny pinch of salt in your coffee can make even a basic brew taste noticeably better.

This dynamic is one reason why recipes like salted caramel sauce are all the rage. Yes, there is saltiness. And, if you’re not expecting it, that might be off-putting. But, that saltiness then gives way to an incredible, boosted e

I just got back from a walk, and the leaves are absolutely stunning. Fall is here, at last. And, with the turning of the season comes a new lineup of irresistible fall ice cream flavors to celebrate its best ingredients. From caramel apples to pumpkin spice, peppermint, and cinnamon, these recipes bring a fresh scoop of autumn right to you.

Fall Ice Cream flavors

These are hands-down the best fall ice cream flavors. We’re talking about sweet maple syrup, nutty pecans and walnuts, apple crisps, and all the other things I can’t get enough of, at this time of year. These fall flavored ice cream recipes deliver.

Maple Nut Ice Cream

This rich, homemade maple ice cream requires just four ingredients! Pure maple syrup gives this ice cream a smooth natural flavor with hints of caramel and vanilla.

Apple Crisp Ice Cream

Luscious vanilla ice cream is loaded until it’s positively bursting with bits of cinnamon and baked apples in this apple crisp ice cream with a crunchy streusel topping. Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? 

Mascarpone Ice Cream is velvety and rich like gelato, but has that cheesecake-like tang that makes each bite feel absolutely indulgent. This is not one of those cottage cheese rip offs that you have to convince yourself tastes good. There’s no going back from this kind of dreamy decadence.

Mascarpone Ice Cream

I tried a few different ways to develop this recipe. At first, I thought this would need to be a custard-based ice cream, made with eggs. But, the results of that attempt were actually my least favorite. The texture wasn’t super smooth, and you could totally taste the eggs. The mascarpone was too subtle.

I’m glad that I stuck with it, though. Because it turns out that the simple combination of mascarpone, condensed milk, cream, and milk resulted in a perfectly smooth and creamy, barely tangy ice cream that kept me coming back for more. I was in paradise.

This ice cream is perfect for pairing with fruits. That should come as no surprise. Because fresh fruit and cheese just go together. Always. But, I like to kick it up a notch with grilled peaches, a warm berry sauce, or even a baked apple. Drizzle some salted caramel sauce on top, and you can put a fork in me. I’m done.

The most popular question I get is whether it’s possible to make ice cream without a machine. The answer is YES. You can make ice cream without a machine. Find the full directions here!

What is Mascarpone?

Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese. Not the kind you put on bagels. It’s richer, softer, and less tangy. This is the cheese you find in tiramisu and certain frostings. Think of it as Phil

You’ll savor every spoonful of this M&M Ice Cream, where the unmistakable crunch of M&Ms collides with the smoothness of luscious vanilla. Bonus? It takes just a few minutes of effort to whisk everything together for the ice cream maker.

M&M Ice Cream

This ice cream is on the simpler side of the recipes I’ve developed. But, simple is a good thing with this M&M Ice Cream. How could I complain about being able to serve freshly churned, colorful, and fun ice cream with very little fuss?

While M&Ms aren’t my favorite candy, I do keep them on hand. They appear in some of my favorite recipes, like this incredible cookie dough ice cream which was inspired by my grandma’s monster cookies. But, it’s not like M&Ms are my whole identity, ok?

This one is for you, Miles.

I feel the need to point that out because my brother Miles has a long and storied history with the yellow M&M. It started in 1995, the year he started high school. That was when M&Ms first gave their animated candies distinct personalities.

Miles used the yellow M&M as his calling card in his candidacy for high school president (which he won!). And so my siblings and I have been surprising him with Yellow M&M swag pretty much ever since. As a result, this ice cream makes me think of him when I eat it.

Ice Cream Mix Ins

There are so many different candies, treats, syrups, nuts, and more that can be used as ice cream mix ins. I’ve made a ton of recipes like this M&M ice cream, already. And, one thing I’ve found is that ice cream is so versatile, you can use what you have on hand.

I used minia