Recipes for Ice Cream and Other Summer Treats

In summer, there's no sound that brings out the inner child like the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck. But a packaged Popsicle slurped down after a dip in the pool might not have the same allure in adulthood. Here are 11 recipes for frozen desserts that appeal to more adventurous grownup tastes, and are still as refreshing a treat as the sugar cones and milkshakes we remember from summers gone by.

See Also: Tips for brewing the best iced tea.

While indulging a sweet tooth shouldn't come after every meal, there's nothing like a cool treat on a hot day. Most of these recipes are conscious of calorie counts, and sugar and/or fat content, for guilt-free enjoyment.

Many of these desserts are Italian in name: gelato, semifreddo, affogato and granita; but their flavors range from Korean to American as apple pie — or as chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches.

Nondairy desserts

Red Bean Ice Dessert by Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee: This Korean treat, also known as pot bingsoo, consists of shaved ice topped with red beans in sweet syrup, a unique twist on the familiar snow cone.

Grapefruit and Champagne Sherbet by Christopher Idone: Elegant and effortless, this grownup sherbet is a cocktail and a dessert in one. It's refreshing and appropriate for a special occasion.

Lemon, Lime and Peppermint Sorbet by Jamie Oliver: Sorbet is sometimes eaten between courses as a palate-cleanser, and this fresh, clean tonic of citrus and fresh mint would serve well.

Dark Chocolate Sorbet by Lou Seibert Pappas: This is so rich and creamy that you'll be amazed it's dairy-free. This luscious iced treat provides a chocolate fix when it's too hot for heavy mousse or molten cake.

Dairy-based desserts

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies by Rosemary Black: While most of these frozen desserts are less likely to appeal to the kids' table, here's one that's sure to be a crossover success. Homemade chocolate cookies bookend spoonfuls of ice cream, with the edges rolled in miniature chocolate chips. Vanilla ice cream is the tried-and-true, but your favorite flavor is bound to work just fine.

Vanilla Bean Affogato by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito: Every dinner party between June and September should end with this match made in heaven: vanilla ice cream melting in a pool of freshly brewed hot espresso. "Affogare" means "to drown" in Italian. Whole vanilla beans make the experience truly extraordinary.

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