Christmas Ice Cream Desserts to Sweeten Your Festivities

Last Updated on April 6, 2024 by Cherie

Indulge over the holidays with our Christmas Ice Cream Desserts, blending festive flavours for delicious celebrations.

Isn’t it crazy how time seems to speed up at this time of the year? So many things to get done and achieve before ‘the big day!’

You’ve got family and friends coming over and there’s a million to-do things in your head that you need to achieve and make sure are perfect on the day. Then there’s the meal, the turkey, the trimmings, cooking times, space in the oven, the this, the that… so many things to account for.

If there’s any way to lighten the load on the day, we want that right? We need it!

The wonderful thing with Ice Cream Desserts is that they can be prepared days, if not weeks in advance, taking one less stress out of the day and those final preparations.

In this article we’ll list several Ice Cream desserts that you could try out, all with a festive twist, all super delicious, and above all, all of them will be a showstopping, deliciously festive dessert that all the family will love.

We’ll feature a couple in this article and provide recipes and detailed step-by-step guides so that you can recreate these delicious Christmas Ice Cream Desserts in your own kitchen. If you prefer you can scroll straight to the recipes or read along to find out more.

Jump to Homemade Yule Log Ice Cream Cake Recipe
Jump to Candy Cane Crunch Sundae Recipe

Chillful Delights: 10 Christmas Ice Cream Desserts

1. Yule Log Ice Cream Cake: Roll up the festive spirit with a twist, combining the classic Yule log and the creamy deliciousness of ice cream.
2. Peppermint Bark Ice Cream Pie: A refreshing peppermint kick layered on a chocolate crust, capturing the essence of the season.
3. Gingerbread Sundae: Warm gingerbread crumbles paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with caramel or ginger-infused sauce.
4. Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Ice Cream: Tangy cranberry swirls dance in a rich cheesecake ice cream, creating a perfect harmony of flavours.
5. Eggnog Ice Cream Affogato: Luxurious eggnog ice cream drowned in a shot of hot espresso, a festive take on the classic Italian treat.
6. Festive Ice Cream Sandwiches: Press your favourite holiday-shaped cookies around a layer of ice cream for a fun and delicious dessert.
7. Spiced Apple Pie Ice Cream Parfait: Layers of spiced apple pie filling, cinnamon ice cream, and crumbled pie crust create a heavenly dessert.
8. Chestnut Praline Ice Cream Torte: A sophisticated treat featuring layers of chestnut praline ice cream and a crunchy, nutty crust.
9. Candy Cane Crunch Sundae: Crushed candy canes sprinkled atop a scoop of vanilla ice cream, crowned with hot fudge and whipped cream.
10. Winter Wonderland Ice Cream Trifle: Alternate layers of different festive ice cream flavors, whipped cream, and seasonal fruits for a stunning trifle presentation.

All of these are relatively easy to make and can all be prepared in advance and then frozen until ready to serve, taking away the stress of what showstopping dessert will grace your table on the day!

Let’s start with a Yule Log Ice Cream Cake.

The All-Time Classic that is a Yule Log

The Yule log has ancient roots and is associated with winter solstice celebrations. Originally, it was a Nordic tradition where a large log, often from a fruit-bearing tree, was chosen and ceremoniously burned in the hearth to symbolise the victory of light over darkness during the longest night of the year.

Over time, the Yule log became intertwined with Christmas celebrations in various cultures.

In medieval Europe, families would choose a large log, decorate it, and burn it in the fireplace. The ashes were believed to have protective and fertilising powers.

In the 19th century, with the advent of smaller hearths and urban living, the Yule log tradition transformed. Instead of burning an entire log, people began creating smaller, edible versions in the form of cakes or desserts.

Today, the Yule log, often in the shape of a rolled sponge cake, remains a popular Christmas dessert, symbolising both ancient traditions and festive indulgence.

Yule Log Ice Cream Cake, being a frozen dessert, is generally served directly from the freezer. It’s designed to be enjoyed while still frozen, providing a firmer texture that combines the creaminess of the ice cream with the cake. The frozen state enhances the Yule Log’s unique ice cream cake experience, and it’s usually sliced while frozen for serving.

Homemade Yule Log Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 200g self-raising flour
• 200g unsalted butter, softened
• 200g caster sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 25g cocoa powder

For the Filling:

• 500ml vanilla ice cream, softened
• 100g dark chocolate, melted

For Decoration:

• Icing sugar (for dusting)
• Christmas decorations (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Grease and line a Swiss roll tin with baking parchment.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a little flour with each egg. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Sift in the remaining flour and cocoa powder, then gently fold into the mixture until well combined.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and spread it out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the cake is springy to the touch.
6. While the cake is baking, lay out a sheet of baking parchment and dust it with icing sugar. Once the cake is done, turn it out onto the sugared parchment and carefully peel off the lining paper.
7. While the cake is still warm, carefully roll it up from the short end along with the sugared parchment. Leave it to cool completely.
8. Once the cake is cool, carefully unroll it and spread the softened vanilla ice cream evenly over the surface. Drizzle melted dark chocolate over the ice cream.
9. Roll the cake back up without the parchment paper. Wrap the cake in cling film and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
10. Before serving, dust the Yule Log Ice Cream Cake with icing sugar. Decorate with Christmas-themed decorations if desired.
11. Slice and serve your festive ice cream cake to delight your guests!

Things to note:

• Defrosting an ice cream cake can make the cake part a bit softer.
• To maintain a firmer texture, it’s recommended to serve the Yule Log Ice Cream Cake directly from the freezer when ready to enjoy.
• If you need to store any leftovers, it’s best to keep them in the freezer and only take out the slices you plan to serve immediately. This way, you can preserve the texture and prevent the cake from becoming too soggy

When frozen, the cake part of the Yule Log Ice Cream Cake would have a firmer and icier texture, typical of frozen desserts. The ice cream component will be solid, while the cake may become more solid and less soft compared to its non-frozen state. The texture will be influenced by the temperature of your freezer.

It’s common for ice cream cakes to firm up considerably in the freezer, so when serving, it’s advisable to allow a few minutes for the cake to soften slightly for easier slicing and a more enjoyable texture.

You can prepare this delicious dessert in advance and store it in the freezer. It only requires a few minutes at room temperature before you can serve.

Candy Cane Crunch Sundae Recipe

Moving on, here is our recipe and method to make a Candy Cane Crunch Sundae.

This is a recipe the kids will love, not only the eating but also the preparation. It’s always great fun getting the kids involved in the kitchen.

Again, this recipe in part, can be prepared in advance in readiness for the big day.

Ingredients:

• 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream (see our article for a recipe and instructions to prepare and create a delicious Vanilla Ice Cream)
• 100g crushed candy canes
• 75ml hot fudge sauce (see our article for a recipe and instructions to prepare and create a Hot Fudge Sauce recipe)
• Whipped cream
• Cherry or Sprinkles for garnish

Instructions:

1. Scoop vanilla ice cream into serving bowls.
2. Drizzle hot fudge sauce over the ice cream.
3. Sprinkle crushed candy canes generously on top.
4. Add a dollop of whipped cream.
5. Garnish with chosen toppings.
6. Serve immediately and enjoy the delicious blend of creamy vanilla, chocolatey fudge, and refreshing candy cane crunch!

Feel free to adjust the quantities based on your personal preferences.

Festive Ice Cream Sandwiches

How about some delicious festive Ice Cream Sandwiches? This is a recipe the kids will love to get involved with.

Click on the following link to see our article – Learn to Craft the Perfect Ice Cream Sandwiches – where you’ll find recipes and detailed instructions on how to craft your own Ice Cream Sandwiches.

You can also check out our Gingerbread article, providing you with all the information you need to create Gingerbread Cookies for your Ice Cream Sandwiches.

A fun activity for young and old and the end result? Delicious, Christmas Ice Cream Desserts to Sweeten Your Festivities.

We hope you have enjoyed our article and that we have inspired you to give some of the suggestions a go.

Click on the following link to check out a selection of other seasonal and festive ice cream flavours.

Please drop us a comment below if you have any questions and of course, we would love to hear from you if you do give any of our recipes a go.