Celebrate Summer Solstice & the longest day with homemade ice cream! Easy recipes, trends & tips for ice cream lovers this summer.
Whether you’re planning a garden party, BBQ, or sofa picnic, homemade ice cream & frozen treats are the perfect way to celebrate the Summer Solstice! 🌞
And in this article, we’ll share with you some ways you can truly embrace the longest day of the year with irresistible scoops & summer flavours.
In This Article, You’ll Find:
✅ What is the Summer Solstice — and why do we celebrate?
✅ Why it’s the perfect excuse for eating more ice cream
✅ Quick no-churn ideas & make-ahead frozen treats
✅ Trending flavours for Summer 2025
✅ Tips for creating an “ice cream moment” this Solstice
If you’d like to head straight to our Quick Summer Solstice Recipe, you can use the following link, or read along to find out more.
What is the Summer Solstice?
Summer Solstice marks the official first day of summer — and the longest stretch of daylight in the year.
In the UK and across most of the Northern Hemisphere, it usually falls on 21st June (this year — Saturday 21st June 2025).
It’s been celebrated for centuries — from ancient stone circles to modern summer festivals — as a joyful moment to soak up the sun, embrace seasonal abundance, and (in my view) treat yourself to a little more of what you love – ice cream!
And when the days are this long? There’s surely time for even more scoops. 🌞
If you’re reading this from the Southern Hemisphere (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa), 21st June is actually your Winter Solstice — the shortest day of the year! ✨
💡 Southern Hemisphere readers? Why not embrace your winter season with some cosy, spiced ice cream flavours — perfect for fireside scoops. 🍨✨
Celebrating at Stonehenge
One of the most iconic Summer Solstice celebrations takes place at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK. Thousands of people gather at this ancient stone circle each year to watch the sunrise on the longest day.
The stones are perfectly aligned with the rising sun at the Solstice, and the atmosphere is magical — a joyful mix of pagans, druids, spiritual seekers, and curious visitors, all coming together to welcome the height of summer with music, dancing, and communal cheer.
It’s a celebration of light, nature, and ancient traditions — and one of the most photogenic ways to embrace the Solstice spirit. 🌞✨
Why Ice Cream & Summer Solstice Are the Perfect Match
Think about it — it’s the warmest part of the year… the sunshine lasts until almost 10pm… friends & family are gathering outdoors… and what do we all want when the air is thick with summer warmth?
Ice cream, of course.
✅ It cools you down in the midday heat
✅ It turns a picnic or BBQ into something special
✅ It’s the ideal excuse for a little “me time” as the sun sets late in the evening
✅ You can prep it ahead — no last-minute faff required
So, whether you’re stocking the freezer with fruity lollies or scooping bowls of homemade indulgence, ice cream + Summer Solstice is a match made for the long sunshine-filled days!
Quick No-Churn Ice Cream Ideas
Need something fast for the longest day? No worries — here are a few of our easiest no-churn favourites you can whip up and enjoy for Solstice weekend:
- Peach Ice Cream & Lollipops — fresh, light, with vegan and boozy twists
- Naturally Sweet Sorbets For Summer – Healthy, Easy Dessert Ideas – light, fresh sorbet ideas
- Piña Colada Sorbet & Ice Cream — sunshine in a scoop
Solstice Sunset Ripple Ice Cream Recipe
If you’d like to add a little extra sunshine to your Summer Solstice table, our Solstice Sunset Ripple Ice Cream is the perfect choice — easy to whip up the night before and guaranteed to bring smiles to your celebrations.
With gorgeous ripples of summer fruit (and an optional splash of fizz!), it really does look like a sunset in a scoop.
(Prep time: 15 mins + 4–6 hrs freeze | No churn | Serves 6–8)
Ingredients:
- 300ml double cream
- 200g sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 150g raspberries or strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tbsp peach puree or tinned peach slices (blended)
- 1 tbsp Prosecco or sparkling wine (optional — for a grown-up twist)
- 1 tbsp icing sugar (if your berries are tart)
Method:
- In a small pan, gently heat the berries with icing sugar until soft and syrupy (about 5 mins). Mash lightly. Stir in the peach puree and Prosecco (if using), then cool.
- In a large bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks. Fold in the condensed milk and vanilla.
- Pour half of the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe tub. Swirl in half the berry ripple. Repeat with the remaining mixture and ripple.
- Use a skewer or knife to swirl gently for a sunset effect.
- Freeze for 4–6 hours or overnight. Scoop and serve!
Serving tip: Top with edible flowers, extra berries, or a splash of fizz for an extra celebratory touch. 🌸🍾
Nutritional Information
(Per Serving — based on 8 servings):
- Calories: ~230 kcal | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Carbohydrates: 18g | Sugars: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fibre: ~1g | Salt: <0.1g
Trending Ice Cream Flavours for Summer 2025
Feeling inspired to try something new? These are some of the trending flavours popping up on summer menus for 2025:
🍋 Lemon & Elderflower Ripple
🍓 Strawberry & Basil
🍑 Peach Prosecco Sorbet
🥥 Coconut & Lime
🍫 Chocolate Tahini Swirl
🌸 Rose & Pistachio
Why not add one of these to your Solstice celebrations and start a new summer tradition?
Create a Summer Solstice Ice Cream Moment
Here’s how to make ice cream the star of your longest day of the year plans:
✅ Set up a DIY ice cream bar at your BBQ
✅ Pack lollies & tubs for a summer picnic
✅ Plan a post-dinner sundae under the late-evening sky
✅ Try a “Solstice Sunset” scoop — your favourite flavour with a splash of Prosecco 🍾
However you celebrate, make it a day to remember — one creamy, dreamy scoop at a time.
The Final Scoop
The longest day, sunshine, smiles and scoops, all wrapped up in the magic of Summer Solstice!
Whether you’re planning a full-on garden party or simply savouring the evening sun with a bowl of homemade ice cream, let’s make the most of this beautiful day — and treat ourselves to the flavours of summer.
Happy Summer Solstice — and happy scooping! 🍦✨
We hope that you have enjoyed our article – Summer Solstice – Celebrate The Longest Day Of The Year With Ice Cream! – and that we have given you some inspiration and ideas for your Summer Solstice Celebrations. 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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What a delightful way to celebrate the Summer Solstice! I love the idea of homemade ice cream as the star of the day. The Solstice Sunset Ripple Ice Cream sounds absolutely heavenly—what a beautiful treat to share with friends and family during those long summer evenings! I’m definitely going to try the peach ice cream and lollipops too; they sound perfect for a garden party. Anyone else planning to try out these recipes? Let’s swap our favorite summer flavors!
Hi Jannette!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment — I’m so glad the article inspired you!
The Solstice Sunset Ripple really is such a fun one to make — I hope you love it! And yes, our peach ice cream and lollipops are perfect for these gorgeous summer days (and garden parties too!).
Definitely let us know how you get on — and I love your idea of swapping summer flavour favourites. Great to share ideas and bring everyone together! Nice one.
Looking forward to hearing what you create!
All the very best,
Cherie
What better way to celebrate the longest day of the year than with something just as timeless—ice cream! The summer solstice isn’t just about the science of Earth’s tilt or the official start of summer—it’s a moment to slow down and savor extra daylight with something sweet in hand. I love how this article tied together seasonal joy with a treat that’s universally loved.
Whether it’s soft serve at sunset, a classic cone during an evening walk, or a creative homemade flavor experiment with friends, ice cream feels like a nostalgic reward for surviving the year’s hottest months. And since the solstice gives us more time than usual, why not stretch the celebration from brunch to bonfire with a scoop (or three) along the way?
Last year, I celebrated the solstice with a backyard “Sundae Bar” for friends and neighbors. Everyone brought a topping, and we watched the sunset with sticky fingers and full hearts. It’s a tradition I think I’ll carry on—simple, sweet, and full of light.
Pairing ice cream with the longest day of the year is such a feel-good idea. It’s a playful reminder to appreciate small joys while the sun’s still shining. I think we could all use more rituals like this—low pressure, high fun, and perfect for making memories.
Few questions on the topic:
What’s your favorite summer flavor to enjoy on the solstice—are you a fruity sorbet fan or team chocolate overload?
Do you have any solstice traditions, or does ice cream sound like a good one to start?
Have you ever made your own ice cream to mark the occasion?
Hi Linda,
Thank you so much for your considered and thoughtful comment — I loved reading about your backyard Sundae Bar! What a brilliant, joy-filled way to celebrate the solstice — that extra daylight really does invite us to linger a little longer over our scoops, doesn’t it?
I think your DIY Sundae Bar is a brilliant way to celebrate the occasion! Nice one.
I always try to mark the solstice with something simple and sweet — last year we enjoyed bowls of homemade strawberry ripple while watching the sun go down, this year it was a delicious cherry ice cream that came out to be devoured!
I do love a fruity sorbet on a hot solstice evening, but I must confess, I’m also very partial to anything with chocolate and a bit of crunch — chocolate almond or Biscoff swirl are firm favourites.
As for traditions, ice cream has definitely become part of ours now! Everything I look at, I think – could I? lol.
I think you’re spot on — ice cream is universally loved and such an easy, happy way to savour the season and make those simple memories. Homemade ice cream for the solstice? Absolutely perfect in my books!
Thank you again for sharing — I hope this year’s celebration is just as magical (and maybe a little more delicious with even more scoops!).
Wishing you all the best,
Cherie