School’s Out For Summer! Homemade Ice Cream Ideas For The Holidays

With schools breaking up and the long summer stretching ahead, it’s the perfect time to turn your kitchen into a cool, deliciously creative playground — one scoop at a time.

Whether you’re in the middle of a heatwave or just looking for something fun to do with the kids, these frosty family-friendly activities and DIY recipes will help beat the heat while making magical summer memories.

✅ In This Article, You’ll Find:

• Easy DIY ice lollies and frozen treats for kids of all ages
• Creative sundae and scoop-making fun
• Family-friendly ice cream games and challenges
• Tips to get kids involved safely and confidently in the kitchen
• Bonus: A printable challenge checklist you can stick to the fridge!

The Scoop on Summer Frozen Dessert Fun

There’s something truly nostalgic about kids making their own ice lollies or building towering sundaes — it’s creativity, snack time, and summer joy all rolled into one.

Whether you’ve got toddlers, tweens, or teenagers at home, ice cream activities are an easy win – cool, fun, and surprisingly hands-on.

And with the UK currently basking in rare July sunshine, what better way to cool off than with frozen fun you can make together?

💡 Did You Know? Homemade ice lollies melt slower than store-bought ones thanks to natural fruit fibres — which also means less mess!

So, aprons on and spoons at the ready — it’s time to scoop, swirl, and sprinkle your way through the school holidays!

🍓 1. Easy DIY Ice Lollies (For All Ages)

Before we get into the scoop-swirling and sundae building, let’s start with something super simple and super fun — homemade ice lollies!

They’re colourful, fuss-free, and perfect for younger kids to help make (and decorate!). Plus, you can batch them at the start of the week to keep little hands cool and happy every sunny afternoon.

What You’ll Need – Ice Lolly Essentials

Before you start swirling and freezing, here’s what to have on hand:

• Ice lolly moulds (silicone or plastic – any shape will do!)
• Reusable or wooden lolly sticks
• A blender or food processor (for smooth fruit purées)
• Measuring jug (makes pouring easier)
• Freezer space (clear a flat shelf before you begin)

💡 No moulds? No problem!
You can use small plastic cups, clean yoghurt pots, or even ice cube trays with cocktail sticks for mini lollies.

From ice cream makers to silicone moulds and mixing bowls, we’ve got you covered. 👉🏽 Check out our full guide: What Equipment Do You Need to Make Homemade Ice Cream?

🍌 Strawberry-Banana Swirl

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 1 banana
• 6–8 strawberries
• A spoonful of yoghurt or fruit juice

How to Make:

1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth.
2. Pour into lolly moulds.
3. Optional: layer in extra chopped fruit or sprinkles for colour and texture.
4. Freeze for at least 4 hours, then enjoy!

🥭 Tropical Pineapple-Mango Coolers

• Blend equal parts pineapple and mango with a squeeze of lime juice.
• Freeze in moulds or mini yoghurt pots with lolly sticks.

🫐 Mixed Berry Blast

• Use raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
• Add a dash of honey and a spoonful of Greek yoghurt.

How to Make:

1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth.
2. Pour into lolly moulds.
3. Optional: layer in extra chopped fruit or sprinkles for colour and texture.
4. Freeze for at least 4 hours, then enjoy!

💡 Did You Know? Freezing fruit purees into ice lollies is a great way to reduce food waste — it gives squishy berries or soft bananas a second life!

🍨 2. Scoop School – Sundae-Making at Home

Let kids unleash their inner ice cream designer by setting up a sundae station!

🥄 The Basics:

• Vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry ice cream (ideally homemade, but shop-bought works)
• Bowls, cones, or waffle cups

🍭 Toppings to Try:

• Mini marshmallows
• Crushed biscuits or cereal
• Chopped fruit
• Chocolate chips or buttons
• Sprinkles, sauces, and whipped cream

Encourage kids to invent their own themed scoops:

• “Unicorn Sundae” (rainbow sprinkles + mini meringues)
• “Dino Scoop” (green sauce + chocolate rocks)
• “Galaxy Swirl” (blueberry compote + edible glitter)

👉🏽 For more ideas on how to create your own Sundae Bar at home, head over to our article – Sundae Funday – Your Guide To Creating A DIY Ice Cream Bar At Home

🎨 3. Ice Cream Challenges for the Whole Family

🖼️ Ice Cream Art

Shape scoops into animals, emoji faces, or fun patterns. Use toppings for eyes, ears, and accessories. Let their imaginations run wild!

⏱️ Sundae Speed Build

Compete to see who can make the tallest or most colourful sundae in the quickest time?

🧊 Mystery Scoop Taste Test

Blindfold and guess the flavour! Add an unusual one (like mint or peanut butter) for giggles.

💡 Did You Know? Taste buds work differently when cold — which is why ice cream flavours often taste milder than expected until they melt slightly.

The Final Scoop

From rainbow sundaes to fruity lollies and speed-building contests, ice cream is the ultimate summer fun — no gadgets or fancy techniques needed. Just your freezer, a few tasty ingredients, and a sprinkle of creativity.

So, as the school holidays roll on, let every day be a new scoop adventure!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Schools Out! Ice Cream Fun for the Summer Holidays article. Share your creations, tag us, and most of all — have a deliciously fun time.

Happy scooping, and wishing you a brilliant summer holiday! 🌞🍨

If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below, and we will be happy to get back to you.

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