10 Rum Cocktail-Inspired Ice Cream & Sorbet Recipes

Discover the 10 best rum dessert recipes, from mojito sorbet to piña colada ice cream. Cocktail-inspired, refreshing, and perfect for summer parties.

August is Rum Month — and with International Rum Day falling on the 16th, there’s no better time to celebrate! As we promised in our August Monthly Scoop, we’re sharing the rum love with a roundup of irresistible, cocktail-inspired frozen treats.

Rum has a way of making summer feel just that little bit more… well, summery and from tropical piña colada ice cream to zesty mojito sorbet and spiced rum punch granita, we’re sharing 10 rum dessert recipes that are bursting with flavour — and perfect for sunny days, summer parties, or a little grown-up indulgence any time of year.

And don’t worry… we’ve included alcohol-free options so everyone can get in on the fun.

✅ In This Article, You’ll Discover:

Ten irresistible rum-infused frozen dessert recipes inspired by classic cocktails — complete with ingredients, method & nutritional info
How to capture cocktail flavours in ice cream & sorbet form
Alcohol-free swaps so everyone can enjoy the flavours
Ideas for mixing and matching flavours to create your own signature scoops
Presentation tips to turn your summer spread into a Caribbean-style frozen dessert bar
Simple tweaks to adapt recipes for dairy-free, vegan, or lower-sugar diets

If you’d prefer to head straight to our recipes and methods, please use the following link, or read along to find out more.

Jump to 10 Rum Cocktail-Inspired Ice Cream & Sorbet Recipes

Rum, the Caribbean Spirit in Your Scoop

Rum’s story begins in the Caribbean, where sugarcane plantations first distilled its golden (and sometimes dark) nectar in the 17th century. It’s a spirit steeped in sunshine, sea breezes, and island celebrations — a drink that instantly evokes tropical beaches, steel drums, and the feeling of being on holiday.

When it comes to frozen desserts, rum is more than just a boozy addition. It brings layers of flavour — from the mellow sweetness of light rum to the deep, molasses-rich notes of dark rum, and the aromatic spice of flavoured varieties.

In ice creams and sorbets, rum not only adds complexity, it also slightly lowers the freezing point, giving your scoops a softer, silkier texture.

Paired with fruits like pineapple, mango, lime, and coconut — or with indulgent ingredients like chocolate, coffee, and cream — rum transforms frozen treats into something truly irresistible.

Whether you like your desserts tropical, refreshing, or decadently rich, rum has a way of making every spoonful taste like a little holiday.

👉🏽 If you want even more tropical inspiration, our article – Caribbean-inspired rum ice cream recipes – is bursting with sunshine in every scoop.

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10 Rum Cocktail-Inspired Ice Cream & Sorbet Recipes

From cool, zesty sorbets to rich, creamy ice creams, these cocktail-inspired creations capture the best of summer in frozen form.

We’ve included both boozy and alcohol-free variations so everyone can join the fun — perfect for sunny afternoons, dinner party finales, or whenever you need a taste of the tropics.

And with International Rum Day landing right in the middle of Rum Month (16th August), this list couldn’t be better timed — the perfect excuse to grab your scoop and start celebrating.

1️⃣ Mojito Sorbet

Flavour notes: Limey, minty, and refreshingly light with a rum-kissed finish.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

300ml water
150g caster sugar
Zest & juice of 3 limes
10–12 fresh mint leaves
75ml white rum (or see alcohol-free swap)

Method:

In a small pan, heat water and sugar until dissolved. Remove from heat.
Add lime zest, juice, and mint leaves. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes.
Strain, stir in rum, then chill until cold.
Churn in an ice cream maker or freeze in a shallow tray, stirring every 30 mins until set.

Serving tip: Serve in chilled martini glasses with a sprig of fresh mint.

Alcohol-free swap: Replace rum with 50ml white grape juice plus ½ tsp rum extract.

👉🏽 For a tropical twist, try our dairy-free coconut mojito sorbet — it blends coconut cream with fresh mint and lime for a creamy yet refreshing spin.

2️⃣ Piña Colada Ice Cream

Flavour notes: Creamy coconut meets sweet pineapple, rounded out by golden rum.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

400ml coconut milk (full-fat)
200ml double cream
200g crushed pineapple (drained)
100g caster sugar
75ml golden rum

Method:

Blend coconut milk, cream, pineapple, sugar, and rum until smooth.
Chill for 4 hours, then churn in an ice cream maker.
Freeze until scoopable.

Serving tip: Garnish with toasted coconut flakes for crunch.

Alcohol-free swap: Skip the rum and add 75ml extra pineapple juice with a dash of vanilla.

👉🏽 If you can’t decide between creamy or icy, our article – piña colada sorbet and ice cream recipes – gives you both textures that you can choose from.

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3️⃣ Strawberry Rum Daiquiri Granita

Flavour notes: Sweet strawberries balanced with lime and a rum backbone.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

500g fresh strawberries, hulled
100g sugar
Juice of 2 limes
100ml white rum

Method:

Blend strawberries, sugar, lime juice, and rum until smooth.
Pour into a shallow tray and freeze, scraping with a fork every 30 mins until flaky.

Serving tip: Top with sliced strawberries and lime zest.

Alcohol-free swap: Omit rum and add 2 tsp balsamic vinegar for depth.

👉🏽 Prefer your daiquiri frozen and fruity? Our strawberry daiquiri sorbet delivers all the cocktail charm without the shaker.

4️⃣ Dark & Stormy Sorbet

Flavour notes: Spicy ginger beer, lime, and dark rum depth.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

400ml ginger beer
Juice of 2 limes
100g caster sugar
100ml dark rum

Method:

Combine ginger beer, lime juice, and sugar until dissolved.
Add rum, chill, then churn or freeze with stirring.

Serving tip: Freeze ginger beer first for light effervescence.

Alcohol-free swap: Use ginger beer only — still packs a punch.

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5️⃣ Banana Rum Foster Ice Cream

Flavour notes: Caramelised banana, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum swirl.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

2 ripe bananas, sliced
50g butter
100g brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
500ml vanilla ice cream base
75ml dark rum

Method:

Sauté bananas with butter, sugar, and cinnamon until caramelised.
Stir in rum, cool completely.
Swirl into churned vanilla base, freeze until firm.

Serving tip: Drizzle with hot caramel sauce.

Alcohol-free swap: Use banana extract in caramel sauce instead of rum.

6️⃣ Rum Punch Sorbet

Flavour notes: Orange, pineapple, grenadine, rum.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

250ml orange juice
250ml pineapple juice
100g caster sugar
50ml grenadine
75ml golden rum

Method:

Mix all ingredients until sugar dissolves.
Chill, then churn or freeze in shallow tray with regular stirring.

Serving tip: Layer colours for a sunset effect.

Alcohol-free swap: Replace rum with tropical fruit juice blend.

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7️⃣ Spiced Rum & Chocolate Ice Cream

Flavour notes: Dark chocolate with warming spice and rum.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

300ml double cream
200ml whole milk
150g dark chocolate (70%), chopped
100g caster sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
75ml spiced rum

Method:

Heat cream, milk, and sugar until steaming.
Remove from heat, add chocolate, stir until melted.
Cool, stir in spices and rum, chill, churn, then freeze.

Serving tip: Sprinkle with cocoa nibs.

Alcohol-free swap: Use cinnamon and nutmeg only.

8️⃣ Mango Mojito Sorbet

Flavour notes: Sweet mango with mint, lime, and rum.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

500g mango flesh
Juice of 2 limes
100g sugar
10 mint leaves
75ml white rum

Method:

Blend mango, lime juice, sugar, mint, and rum until smooth.
Chill, churn, or freeze with stirring.

Serving tip: Serve in hollowed mango halves.

Alcohol-free swap: Blend with sparkling water instead of rum.

9️⃣ Rum-Soaked Raisin Ice Cream (Classic)

Flavour notes: Vanilla with juicy, rum-plumped raisins.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

100g raisins
100ml dark rum
500ml vanilla ice cream base

Method:

Soak raisins in rum overnight.
Drain (reserving rum), stir raisins and 2 tbsp rum into churned vanilla base.
Freeze until scoopable.

Serving tip: Perfect with a shot of espresso over the top.

Alcohol-free swap: Soak raisins in apple juice.

👉🏽 For a nostalgic classic, our decadent rum ’n’ raisin ice cream combines silky vanilla ice cream with plump, rum-soaked raisins.

🔟 Coconut Rum & Lime Granita

Flavour notes: Tangy lime with mellow coconut and rum.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

300ml coconut water
Juice of 3 limes
100g sugar
75ml white rum

Method:

Stir coconut water, lime juice, sugar, and rum until sugar dissolves.
Freeze in a shallow dish, scraping every 30 mins until flaky.

Serving tip: Ideal palate cleanser between BBQ courses.

Alcohol-free swap: Use lime juice + coconut water only.

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Hosting Tips for a Rum-Themed Frozen Dessert Bar

Turn your summer gathering into a Caribbean-inspired celebration with a rum-themed frozen dessert bar — complete with cocktail-flavoured scoops, tropical toppings, and a splash of island flair that will have guests coming back for seconds (and thirds).

Presentation matters: Serve in cocktail glasses for an instant party vibe.
Label clearly: Make small “Contains Alcohol” tags to avoid mix-ups.
Pair with snacks: Coconut macaroons, tropical fruit skewers, or salty plantain chips work a treat.
Mix and match: One of the joys of homemade is freedom — swap in different fruits, rum varieties, or even spices to create a signature blend that suits your guests (and your own cravings).
Alternative diets: Many recipes here are easy to adapt — use dairy-free milk for vegan versions, sugar substitutes for a lower-sugar treat, or leave out the rum entirely for family-friendly scoops without losing the fun.

The Final Scoop

Rum-infused frozen desserts are the perfect way to toast summer without heating up the kitchen. Whether you go full cocktail mode or keep it family-friendly, these icy treats promise to keep spirits high (pun absolutely intended).

Whether you make one recipe or try all ten, these frozen treats are a delicious way to toast both Rum Month and International Rum Day. So raise your spoon, dig in, and let the tropical vibes roll!

We hope that you have enjoyed our article – 10 Best Rum Dessert Recipes – Cocktail-Inspired Sorbets & Ice Creams for Summer – and that we’ve inspired you to shake up your freezer with a little boozy flair. Whether you’re making them for a sunny garden party, a tropical-themed gathering, or just to treat yourself, these rum-infused delights are sure to bring the holiday vibes home.

If you have any questions, tips to share, or you’ve put your own spin on one of these recipes, drop us a comment below — we’d love to hear from you (and maybe even feature your creation!).

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