The best ice cream foods

Here’s our list of top ice cream desserts:

• Ice cream sandwich
• Knickerbocker Glory
• Arctic roll
• Ice cream cake
• Baked Alaska
• Ice cream float
• Bananas Foster

Now let’s find out more about them...

Ice cream sandwich

What is an ice cream sandwich?

An ice cream sandwich consists of a block or portion of ice cream placed between 2 baked goods (such as cookies) or wafers.

The ice cream sandwich can come ready-made, or can be assembled from the individual components before consuming. Though the dessert originated at the turn of the 20th century in New York and New Jersey, it gained global popularity in the eighties. Sometimes an ice cream sandwich might have the addition of chocolate or raspberry sauce, particularly if wafers or nougat wafers are used.

Best ice cream for an ice cream sandwich

Vanilla is the most traditional and popular flavour for an ice cream sandwich, and allows the flavours of the cookies to shine through whilst providing a creamy contrast.

Soft serve ice cream is often used in America, but a colder, firmer style will be less messy to eat.

Ice Cream Ingredients - Allergen alert!

The main ingredient in ice cream is Milk. Milk is one of the 14 major food allergens. Some ice cream is also made with Egg yolk.

Top tip

Try the Sicilian version of the ice cream sandwich - a soft brioche roll filled with creamy gelato known as “Brioche con Gelato”. You can find out the difference between ice cream and gelato here.

Allergen alert!

In addition to Milk (via ice cream), ice cream sandwiches will typically also contain a Cereal containing Gluten - such as wheat, in the cookies or wafers. Depending on the baked good, an ice cream sandwich may also contain Egg. These are all among the 14 major food allergens.

Knickerbocker Glory

What is a Knickerbocker Glory?

A Knickerbocker Glory, or knickerbocker glory, is a type of ice cream sundae dating back to the early 20th century and likely named after the pink and cream coloured Knickerbocker Hotel in Manhattan, New York.

The precise ingredients of a knickerbocker glory might vary, but it is typically made by layering ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and even fruit. It is served in a tall glass with a long spoon and topped with a cherry or a fan wafer.

Best ice cream for a Knickerbocker Glory

Smooth, soft serve vanilla ice cream has the perfect amount of nostalgia for this traditional dessert, but to make it even more indulgent try using 2 flavours - such as vanilla and chocolate or vanilla and strawberry so each makes for a distinct layer.

Top tip

Add a layer of meringue to your knickerbocker glory - it adds another layer of indulgence and a contrasting crunchy texture - for the ultimate statement sundae.

Allergen alert!

Depending on the recipe, a knickerbocker glory might include several layers that have allergen ingredients such as Nuts, dried fruit (Sulphur Dioxide) and meringue (Egg). This is in addition to the Milk from ice cream and whipped cream. If topped with a wafer it may also have Cereals containing Gluten.

Arctic roll

What is Arctic roll?

Arctic roll is a British dessert associated with the eighties and nineties, even though it was invented in the fifties by a Czech immigrant called Ernest Velden. It is a long, tubular sponge cake filled with a layer of raspberry sauce and then vanilla ice cream, and served in circular slices.

Best ice cream for Arctic roll

There are not many components to arctic roll, and so whilst it is most commonly known as a processed product, homemade ice vanilla ice cream made with eggs and fresh vanilla pods will provide a richer and better contrast to the light sponge casing.

Top tip

Always roll your sponge cake while it is warm - this will prevent cracking and give you a smooth, unbroken cylinder.

Allergen alert!

In addition to the Milk (and possibly Eggs) in the ice cream, the sponge cake used to make arctic roll will contain Milk via butter, Eggs, and Cereals containing Gluten via wheat flour.

Ice cream cake

What is Ice cream cake?

Ice cream cake is a type of cake in which ice cream is the main component or ingredient. It can be either a no-bake version made by putting ice cream and other ingredients such as chocolate sauce and marshmallows into a mould and freezing, or it can be made by shaping ice cream in a mould and assembling on top of a cake that has been baked in the oven and then frozen.

Dairy-free ice cream

Ice cream is usually made with cows milk, which in addition to being one of the 14 major food allergens, is a dairy product and not suitable for those following a vegan diet. There are many plant milks on the market which can be used to make dairy-free ice cream.

Many people think oat milk ice cream tastes the closest to cow milk ice cream and replicates the thick, creamy texture, though it should be noted oats are a Cereal containing Gluten and therefore a major allergen. Coconut milk is a non-allergen ingredient that can be used to make silky ice cream but some people find that the coconut flavour can overpower flavours such as vanilla commonly used for ice cream. You can see our guide to plent milks here.

Ice cream cakes can be garnished with toppings such as whipped cream, frosting or chocolate sauce, or left unadorned.

Ice cream cake should be kept in the freezer until just before serving so it doesn’t fall apart when trying to cut into slices. Though eaten world-wide, ice cream cake is especially popular in the US.

Best ice cream for Ice cream cake

Ice cream cake is a great dish in which to mix up flavours and experiment - mint choc chip, raspberry ripple, cookie dough or cookies and cream are all great choices for ice cream cake.

Top tip

Kitchens can often be the warmest place in the house, particularly if you’ve been cooking or baking - this can be an issue when trying to assemble an ice cream cake as you want it to stay firm and hold its shape so it can be sliced up.

Try and work in a cold kitchen for this, and put the cake back in the fridge or freezer intermittently.

Allergen alert!

In addition to the Milk and sometimes Eggs found in ice cream, the following allergens might be present in an ice cream cake depending on the flavour of ice cream used - Nuts, Peanuts, Eggs, Milk, Cereals containing Gluten, Soya, and Sesame. Always refer to the label to check which allergen ingredients are present in a product.

Baked Alaska

What is Baked Alaska?

Baked Alaska is a type of ice cream cake made by lining a pie dish or other oven-proof dish with slices of sponge cake, filling with ice cream and then topping with meringue before blasting briefly in a very hot oven to caramelise. Sometimes the meringue is caramelised with a small blow torch rather than being put in the oven, and in both cases should be served immediately.

Also known in various territories by the names omelette norvégienne, omelette surprise, or omelette sibérienne and Bombe Alaska, the Baked Alaska is rumoured to have originated in 1876 at the New York restaurant Delmonico’s to celebrate Alaska joining the United States (though some dispute the commemorative dish was actually called Alaska Florida).

Best ice cream for Baked Alaska

Because meringue is a major component of Baked Alaska and is itself very sweet, it’s recommended to have a more neutral or even tart ice cream, a light vanilla rather than a rich one for instance.

Top tip

Use fresh, room temperature egg whites for your meringue - this will ensure they are a fluffy meringue with plenty of volume.

Allergen alert!

Eggs are a main ingredient in meringue, one of the primary parts of a Baked Alaska, which also has sponge cake as a component - for which wheat flour is generally used. Wheat is a Cereal containing Gluten, which like Milk (used to make ice cream), is one of the 14 major food allergens.

Ice cream float

What is an ice cream float?

An ice cream float is a drink that is also sometimes considered a dessert. It is made by adding a scoop of (usually vanilla) ice cream to a glass of soda/carbonated drink - cola, lemonade, cream soda or root beer (known in the US as a root beer float). Its invention is credited to Robert M. Green of Philadelphia during the 1876 Franklin Institute's semicentennial celebration when he was forced to use ice cream instead of ice in the drinks he was serving.

Best ice cream for an ice cream float

The best ice cream for an ice cream soda depends on the flavour of soda (American word usage rather than English) used in the drink. If using something sweet like cola, vanilla will balance out the flavour, but if using something dryer or more medicinal like root beer, strawberry can add a burst of sweetness. Cream soda tastes good with a scoop of chocolate ice cream.

Top tip

Stick to the ratio of 25ml liquid to a standard ice cream one scoop for the perfect ice cream float.

Allergen alert!

Ice cream is made with Milk and sometimes Eggs, which are both among the 14 major food allergens.

Bananas Foster

What is Bananas Foster?

Bananas Foster is an American dessert made with bananas, vanilla ice cream and a boozy sauce.

The dish was invented at Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans during the fifties - during which time the city was a major entry point for imported bananas. It is often prepared a flambé tableside, and is made by cooking the bananas in a sauce of butter, rum, cinnamon, brown sugar and banana liqueur, and presented over ice cream.

Best ice cream for Bananas Foster

Vanilla ice cream is the best and traditional choice for Bananas Foster.

Top tip

Use ripe bananas that are still firm for Bananas Foster - they need to be able to hold their shape as they are cooked.

Allergen alert!

In addition to the Milk (and possibly Eggs) in vanilla ice cream, there is Milk (via butter) in the sauce used for Bananas Foster.