Christmas Ice Cream Desserts to Sweeten Your Festivities

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 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!

Christmas is busy enough — the cooking, the hosting, the endless to-do list. So why not make desserts one thing you don’t need to stress about?

In this article, we’ll share:

✔️ 10 easy festive Christmas ice cream desserts
✔️ Step-by-step recipes for a Yule Log Ice Cream Cake and Candy Cane Crunch Sundae
✔️ Tips for prepping ahead so you can enjoy the celebrations stress-free

If you’d like to skip straight to the recipes, use the links below:

10 Fun and Festive Christmas Ice Cream Desserts

There are so many make-ahead festive desserts that we can prepare for the special day.

Below, we’ve listed a few holiday ice cream ideas;

1. Yule Log Ice Cream Cake: A frozen twist on the classic Christmas sponge roll.
2. Peppermint Bark Ice Cream Pie: A chocolatey base with a cool peppermint kick.
3. Gingerbread Sundae: Vanilla ice cream topped with warm gingerbread and caramel.
4. Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake Ice Cream: Tangy cranberry ribbons in creamy cheesecake ice cream.
5. Eggnog Ice Cream Affogato: Eggnog ice cream with a shot of hot espresso.
6. Festive Ice Cream Sandwiches: Holiday-shaped cookies filled with ice cream.
7. Spiced Apple Pie Ice Cream Parfait: Cinnamon ice cream layered with apple pie filling and crust.
8. Chestnut Praline Ice Cream Torte: Nutty, crunchy, and oh-so elegant.
9. Candy Cane Crunch Sundae: Vanilla ice cream with crushed candy canes and hot fudge.
10. Winter Wonderland Ice Cream Trifle: Layers of festive ice creams, cream, and fruit for a showstopper.

“Christmas is busy enough — so why not prep desserts in advance? These festive ice cream creations can be made ahead, saving you time while still delivering wow-factor on the big day.”

The All-Time Classic that is a Yule Log

The Yule Log has been a Christmas tradition for centuries, symbolising warmth and celebration. Once a real log burned for good fortune, today it lives on in the form of festive cakes and desserts.

This ice cream version is served straight from the freezer, giving you that perfect mix of soft sponge and creamy filling.

👉🏽 Pro Tips for Serving:

• Best served directly from the freezer for a firmer slice.
• Allow 2–3 minutes at room temperature before cutting for smoother slices.
• Store leftovers in the freezer and slice only what you need to keep it fresh.

“From ancient Nordic traditions to your Christmas table today, the Yule Log has always symbolised warmth, light, and celebration.”

Homemade Yule Log Ice Cream Cake Recipe

Here’s our recipe and step-by-step guide for you to recreate this festive classic

(Prep time (cake & filling): ~30 minutes | Baking time: 12–15 minutes | Cooling & rolling: ~45 minutes | Freezing time: 4 hours | Total time: ~5 hours 30 minutes – includes chilling/freezing)

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)

Method:

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!

Nutritional Information (per slice, based on 10 servings)

• Energy: ~410 kcal | Fat: ~25 g of which saturates: ~15 g | Carbohydrates: ~40 g of which sugars: ~28 g | Protein: ~6 g | Salt: ~0.3 g

👉🏽 These values are approximate, based on standard ingredients and portion sizes. Actual nutrition will vary depending on the specific ice cream, chocolate, and decorations used.

🎄 Pro Tip: Roll the sponge while it’s still warm (with baking parchment inside) to help it hold its shape and prevent cracks. Once cooled, it’ll be much easier to unroll, fill, and roll back up without breaking.

Things to note:

• Best served straight from the freezer for a firmer slice.
• Allow a few mins at room temp before slicing for smoother cuts.
• Store leftovers in the freezer and slice as needed.

Candy Cane Crunch Sundae Recipe

Next up is our recipe to make a Candy Cane Crunch Sundae – the kids, young and old will love getting involved!

(Prep Time: 👉🏽 10 minutes (quick assembly, no cooking required)

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 a Hot Fudge Sauce recipe)
• Whipped cream
• Cherry or Sprinkles for garnish

Method:

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.

Nutrition (per sundae, approx.):

• Energy: ~722 kcal | Fat: ~24 g of which saturates: ~14 g | Carbohydrates: ~119 g of which sugars: ~110 g | Protein: ~7 g

⚠️ Please note: These are estimated values based on standard UK averages for vanilla ice cream, fudge sauce, candy canes, and cream. Actual values may vary depending on the specific brands and portion sizes used.

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 article – Festive Homemade Gingerbread Ice Cream Recipe – which provides 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.

The Final Scoop

Christmas is all about indulgence, laughter, and a little sparkle — and these ice cream desserts deliver exactly that. From a classic Yule Log Ice Cream Cake to a fun Candy Cane Crunch Sundae, festive frozen treats are the perfect way to end your celebrations on a high note.

Best of all, most of these recipes can be prepared ahead, giving you more time to focus on family, friends, and the magic of the season. Whether you go for nostalgic favourites or try something new, there’s a festive ice cream dessert here to sweeten your celebrations.

So, scoop, swirl, and sprinkle your way into a Christmas that’s not just merry and bright, but creamy and delicious too. ✨🍨

We hope that you have enjoyed our article – Christmas Ice Cream Desserts to Sweeten Your Festivities – and that we’ve inspired you to try these fun and festive recipes at home. From the classic Yule Log Ice Cream Cake to the playful Candy Cane Crunch Sundae, these treats are designed to bring extra sparkle to your holiday table.

👉🏽 If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below and we’ll be more than happy to get back to you.

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

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