Not Your Grandma’s Vanilla: 11 Ice Cream Recipes With a Twist

Vanilla’s cool and all, but sometimes you just want something a little more fun—like dessert with personality. These scoops bring unexpected flavors, playful mix-ins, and a little extra magic to your bowl. Think childhood favorites reimagined or combos you didn’t know you needed. It’s ice cream, but with a twist that makes it anything but ordinary.

Homemade Custard With Fresh Blackberries

Blackberry sorbet with vanilla ice cream — Homemade Custard With Fresh Blackberries. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Cool down this summer with a creamy homemade blackberry ice cream recipe made with one of the season’s greatest berries.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Custard With Fresh Blackberries

Brownie Batter Ice Cream

A glass bowl filled with scoops of chocolate ice cream topped with chocolate chips, placed on a white patterned cloth beside a metal spoon. — Brownie Batter Ice Cream. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

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Sweet, fresh cream and a brownie mix are combined to make a decadent and delicious homemade Brownie Batter Ice Cream. Perfect for summer!
Get the Recipe: Brownie Batter Ice Cream

Fresh Custard Based Peach Ice Cream

A bowl of homemade peach ice cream. — Fresh Custard Based Peach Ice Cream. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This homemade peach ice cream recipe is a blissfully cold, creamy delight featuring one of the best flavors summer has to offer.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Custard Based Peach Ice Cream

No-Churn Tin Roof Recipe

A glass bowl filled with creamy ice cream swirled with chocolate, set on a red and white checkered cloth, with a spoon in the bowl and an ice cream container in the background. — No-Churn Tin Roof Recipe. Photo credit: State of Dinner.

This is a super simple no-churn Tin Roof ice cream recipe! Creamy vanilla ice cream is swirled with a rich fudge ripple & chocolate-covered peanuts.
Get the Recipe: No-Churn Tin Roof Recipe

Homemade Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream Custard

Scoops of strawberry ice cream in a bowl. — Homemade Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream Custard. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

This homemade custard-based strawberry ice cream recipe has a creamy texture that store-bought strawberry ice cream dreams of.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream Custard

No Churn Caramel Sea Salt Ice Cream

A metal ice cream scoop rests in a rectangular metal container filled with creamy vanilla ice cream swirled with caramel sauce. Some ice cream has been scooped out. — No Churn Caramel Sea Salt Ice Cream. Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

Easy no churn ice cream is salty-sweet, and has ribbons of caramel. You don’t need an ice cream maker to indulge in this ice cream treat.
Get the Recipe: No Churn Caramel Sea Salt Ice Cream

Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream

A glass bowl with three scoops of ice cream topped with crushed peppermint candy, placed on a blue surface next to three spoons and a candy cane. — Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream. Photo credit: Easy Southern Desserts.

Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream made with a creamy custard base, peppermint extract, and crushed peppermint candy for a refreshing and festive treat.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Peppermint Ice Cream

Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream

A white bowl filled with scoops of ice cream, featuring chunks of cookies and a sandwich cookie on top. More sandwich cookies and a spoon are visible in the background on a brown fabric surface. — Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream. Photo credit: Mom Loves Baking.

Combine everyone’s favorite oatmeal creme pie snack with the other sought-after treat, and you get this cool, creamy, and delectable treat.
Get the Recipe: Oatmeal Creme Pie Ice Cream

A metal ice cream scoop holds bright blue cookies and cream ice cream with chunks of chocolate sandwich cookies, surrounded by more ice cream and broken cookies in a metal tray. — Cookie Monster Ice Cream. Photo credit: Savor the Best.

Cookie Monster ice cream is a rich, creamy vanilla ice cream that is loaded with crisp cookies and colored bright blue.
Get the Recipe: Cookie Monster Ice Cream

Masters Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich

A stack of three cookies sits on a white plate next to a 2018 Masters Tournament cup filled with a yellow beverage, reminiscent of classic peach desserts. Part of a Masters badge is visible in the corner. — Masters Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Learn the kitchen tested secrets for making the famous Masters Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich served at Augusta National’s tournament week.
Get the Recipe: Masters Georgia Peach Ice Cream Sandwich

Spicy Blackberry and Whiskey Gelato

Two scoops of vanilla ice cream with chocolate swirls and nuts sit on top of round crackers, placed on small glass containers, against a light background. — Spicy Blackberry and Whiskey Gelato. Photo credit: Josie and Nina.

With a little heat thanks to spicy, sweet pecans, this Blackberry Whiskey Gelato is a perfect ending to a great meal and features Crofter’s Organics.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Blackberry and Whiskey Gelato

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