Recipes for Ice Cream and Other Summer Treats

Mango Gelato by Lou Seibert Pappas: Gelato is an old Italian frozen dessert, of which ice cream is actually a much more recent variation. However, gelato has a lower butterfat content and a higher sugar content than ice cream. This version makes use of the natural sweetness of ripe mangoes.

Sour Cream Ice Cream by Alice Medrich: It might seem unlikely, but the rich, smooth tang of sour cream lends itself beautifully to this luxurious dessert.

Honeydew-Cucumber Shake With Cucumber Granita by Adam Ried: Decidedly not your child's milkshake, this dessert is cool as a cucumber — literally. Frozen, freshly made cucumber granita is blended with sweet honeydew melon and classic vanilla ice cream for a rejuvenating icy beverage.

Spice Ice Cream by David Burke: Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg make this scrumptious ice cream unique — if the dog days of July have you missing autumn's pumpkin pie, this should carry you over until October.

Strawberry Semifreddo by Victoria Blashford-Snell and Brigitte Hafner: In Italian, "semifreddo" translates to "half-cold," and refers to partly frozen dishes like ice cream cakes. Crushed meringues add textural depth.