Notting Hill Carnival Recipes – Frozen Treats & Rum Coolers For The Bank Holiday

Celebrate Notting Hill Carnival at home with frozen treats, tropical sorbets & rum coolers — perfect Bank Holiday recipes for summer vibes!

Few weekends capture the colour, music, and flavour of summer quite like the August Bank Holiday. It’s the UK’s last bank holiday before Christmas, the sun is (hopefully!) still lingering, and in London, the streets of Notting Hill are alive with Carnival — Europe’s biggest celebration of Caribbean culture.

But if you can’t make it to the Carnival parade, why not bring the Carnival spirit home instead?

From tropical fruit sorbets to rum-laced sundaes (yes, it’s still Rum Month!), our recipes are bold, refreshing, and guaranteed to turn your garden, picnic, or sofa into your very own mini-Carnival. 🎉

✅ In This Article, You’ll Find:

• Tropical fruit bombs that taste like sunshine
• Sorbets and ice creams with a carnival kick 🌶️
• A rum-infused sundae bar for grown-ups 🍹
• Frozen mocktails for kids & drivers
• Picnic tips to keep everything cool (literally!)

🌞 Tropical Fruit Bombs – Sunshine on a Stick

Carnival is all about colour, energy, and flavour that bursts the moment it hits your tongue — and nothing delivers that better than tropical fruit. Juicy mangoes, tangy pineapples, sweet guava, and fragrant passionfruit are the ultimate sunshine ingredients, made for freezing, swirling, and snacking in the heat. Think of them as nature’s confetti — bright, bold, and impossible not to smile at.

🍧 DIY Idea: Blend mango + lime juice + a splash of coconut water, freeze in ice lolly moulds, and roll in toasted coconut for a street-food-style snack.

👉🏽 Switch it up with pineapple-ginger sorbet for a spicy-sweet twist that’ll wake up your taste buds.

🌿 Guava-Mint Pops: Blitz ripe guava with a squeeze of lime and a handful of fresh mint, then freeze into ice pops. Refreshing, cooling, and perfect for dancing in the sun.

🥥 Passionfruit-Coconut Swirl: Stir tangy passionfruit pulp through creamy coconut milk before freezing — tropical marbling at its finest.

💡 Pro Tip: Freeze leftover fruit purées in ice cube trays. Not only do they make great bite-size treats, but you can also drop them into cocktails, mocktails, or sparkling water for an instant Carnival upgrade.

🔥 Sorbets With a Kick

Notting Hill Carnival isn’t shy — it’s big, bold, and full of spice. Your desserts should bring the same energy. Sorbets and granitas are already refreshing, but with the right dash of heat or zing, they transform into something unforgettable. Think of them as frozen fireworks for your taste buds.

Here are three must-try ideas that pack a punch:

✨ Mango-Chilli Sorbet – The natural sweetness of ripe mango gets lifted with a flicker of chilli heat. It’s tropical, fiery, and guaranteed to get guests talking.

✨ Pineapple-Rum & Pepper Sorbet – Zesty pineapple blended with dark rum and a crack of black pepper. Bold, boozy, and strictly for adults.

✨ Coconut-Lime Granita – A cooling, palate-cleansing treat. The creamy coconut base and sharp lime juice balance perfectly for a Carnival-ready refresher.

And don’t be afraid to experiment — jerk spices, a splash of ginger beer, or even cardamom pods can elevate a standard sorbet into a carnival-worthy showstopper.

💡 Pro Tip: Always taste as you go when adding spice or alcohol. Flavours intensify once frozen, so a gentle kick in the mix will hit harder in the final scoop. Start small, then build up the heat!

Serving Ideas to Wow Your Guests

• Hollowed Fruit Bowls – Serve sorbets inside halved pineapples, coconuts, or papayas for instant Caribbean flair.
• Grilled Fruit Skewers – Pair scoops with skewers of lightly charred mango or pineapple for a smoky-sweet combo.
• Layered Sorbet Shots – Freeze thin layers of different flavoured sorbets (like mango + lime + coconut) into small glasses for a rainbow-striped party dessert.

🍹 Rum-Infused Sundae Bar (Adults Only!)

Carnival isn’t Carnival without a little rum — and August is still Rum Month, after all! Why not set up a DIY sundae bar where grown-ups can mix, match, and drizzle their way to dessert bliss?

Start with a base of classic ice creams (vanilla, coconut, ginger, or even chocolate), then pile on Caribbean-inspired toppings for a boozy twist:

• 🥃 Dark Rum Caramel – A silky drizzle with a kick.
• 🍇 Rum-Soaked Raisins – Plump, sweet, and full of flavour.
• 🍍 Tropical Fruit Salsa – Mango, pineapple & lime for a refreshing contrast.
• 🍪 Spiced Biscuit Crumble – Think ginger snaps or cinnamon biscuits crushed on top.

💡 Pro Tip: Pre-portion a little rum into minibottles or shot glasses so guests can “DIY pour” over their sundae. It keeps things fun, measured, and unmistakably Carnival!

👉🏽 To make it even more festive, serve everything in colourful paper cups or reusable jars with cocktail umbrellas — it’s a sundae bar and a street-party all in one!

🥤 Frozen Mocktails for Everyone

Carnival is all about inclusivity — the streets are for everyone, and so are the flavours. Not drinking? No problem. These frozen mocktails are colourful, refreshing, and every bit as exciting as their boozy cousins. Think of them as party-in-a-glass coolers that kids, drivers, and grown-ups alike can enjoy.

✨ Virgin Piña Colada Slushie – Creamy coconut milk and juicy pineapple blitzed with ice until frosty and smooth. Tropical vibes without the rum hangover.

✨ Tropical Cooler Cubes – Freeze watermelon, lime juice, and soda water into jewel-toned ice cubes, then top with sparkling water. They fizz, melt, and infuse your drink with fruity freshness.

✨ Sorrel Iced Tea Granita – A Caribbean classic reimagined. Hibiscus-based, ruby-red, tart, and naturally caffeine-free. Scrape with a fork for icy, carnival-ready flakes.

💡 Pro Tip: Serve your mocktails in colourful paper cups with cocktail umbrellas or striped straws. Presentation is half the fun — and it keeps the non-drinkers feeling just as festive as everyone else.

👧 Family-Friendly Bonus: Kids will love being part of the process — from pouring mixtures into ice trays to scraping granita or choosing their favourite toppings. Turn mocktail-making into an activity and you’ll keep them entertained and hydrated through the celebrations.

🧺 Picnic & Party Tips

Carnival isn’t just about the flavours — it’s about sharing them, whether you’re dancing at the parade, lounging in the park, or throwing a back-garden party. And with the August Bank Holiday being the UK’s last big summer break before Christmas, it’s the perfect excuse to pack up your Carnival Coolers and make the most of those golden hours of sunshine.

🥤 Freeze small bottles of water to use as DIY ice packs. They’ll keep your treats cold and turn into refreshing drinks once they thaw.

🍧 Insulated bags + gel packs are your best friends. Line the inside with frozen packs, tuck in your sorbets and lollies, and you’ve got hours of chill on the go.

🍦 Pre-portion ice cream into paper cups, cover tightly with foil, and stash them in the cooler. No juggling tubs and scoops when everyone just wants to dive in.

🧻 Bring plenty of napkins (or even wet wipes). Carnival desserts are joyfully messy — sticky fingers and drippy cones are part of the fun.

💡 Pro Tip: Pop colourful sprinkles, mini marshmallows, or crushed cookies into little tubs with lids. They’ll stay crisp in your picnic bag, and when you open them up, you’ve got instant toppings for an on-the-go sundae bar! 🎉

🔥 Bank Holiday BBQ Vibes: Carnival Coolers also make the perfect sweet ending after jerk chicken, spicy wings, or grilled corn hot off the barbecue. Keep the Caribbean spirit flowing from grill to cooler and finish your feast with a frosty scoop.

Related Reads You Might Love

• 🥃 Rum ’n’ Raisin Ice Cream – A Boozy Delight – Silky vanilla with plump rum‑soaked raisins — a proper Caribbean classic.
• 🥭 Mango & Chilli Sorbet – Naturally Vegan & Dairy‑Free – Sweet mango with a gentle chilli kick for carnival heat in every scoop.
• 🥥 Homemade Coconut Ice Cream – Creamy, tropical and ultra‑scoopable — a summer freezer staple.
• 🧺 Picnic‑Perfect Ice Cream: How to Pack Frozen Treats for Outdoor Adventures – Keep scoops cold and mess‑free on the move with smart packing tips.
• 🍹 10 Best Rum Dessert Recipes – Cocktail‑Inspired Sorbets & Ice Creams – From mojito sorbet to piña colada ice cream — Rum Month’s greatest hits.

The Final Whistle (or Steel Drum!)

The August Bank Holiday is more than just a long weekend — it’s the UK’s last big taste of summer, and Notting Hill Carnival is its beating heart. If you can’t be there in person, you can still capture the spirit at home with frozen treats that are as bold, colourful, and joyful as the parade itself.

From mango pops that taste like sunshine, to fiery sorbets that pack a carnival punch, and rum-laced sundaes that nod to the Caribbean, these Carnival Coolers bring the festival straight to your kitchen. Add in family-friendly mocktails and picnic-ready tips, and you’ve got everything you need for a celebration that lasts all weekend.

✨ “Close your eyes as you take that first scoop and you might just hear the steel drums, feel the bass of the sound systems, and see the dancers in sequins and feathers — Carnival on a spoon.”

So — what will you scoop, sip, or swirl first? 🍦🍹✨ Drop us a comment below and let’s make this Bank Holiday a Carnival to remember!

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our article – Notting Hill Carnival Recipes: Frozen Treats & Rum Coolers for the Bank Holiday – and that it’s inspired you to shake up your weekend with a little Carnival flair. Whether you’re blending mango sorbets, setting up a rum-infused sundae bar, or keeping it family-friendly with mocktails, these recipes bring sunshine and steel drums straight to your table. 🎶🍹🍧

If you have any questions, flavour ideas, or Carnival creations of your own, drop us a comment below – we’d love to hear from you (and maybe feature your twist in a future article!).

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