Scoop Up National Ice Cream Month With Our Tips

Ice cream fans (also known as everyone), beat the summer heat at home with tasty ice cream recipes using real, delicious dairy milk!

July is National Ice Cream Month, and we have nutritious and easy recipes incorporating real dairy milk to help you celebrate. With Americans consuming more ice cream than any other country in the world, it’s fitting to dedicate a month to this decadent dairy dessert! We’re here to provide easy tips for everyone to enjoy America’s favorite dessert during Ice Cream Month and on National Ice Cream Day on July 21, whether you pick up your favorite ice cream flavor from the grocery store or make a new combination at home with real milk. Scoop up these and celebrate National Ice Cream Month with us!

Milk is a star ingredient in ice cream. Milk’s natural electrolytes, carbohydrates, and high-quality protein make it more effective at improving hydration status and keeping you hydrated longer than water and sports drinks. Milk’s high-quality protein content is affordable and versatile. Milk is a nutritional bargain, providing electrolytes, carbohydrates, and complete, high-performance protein at approximately 25 cents per 8-ounce glass. If you are lactose intolerant, try lactose-free milk. Lactose-free milk is real milk, just without lactose. As we strive to meet protein goals and seek healthier alternatives for our favorite desserts, we’re here to offer recipes and solutions.

Making your own ice cream at home is a fun activity for the whole family that can be made with an ice cream maker or using no-churn methods. The Dairy Alliance’s tasty ice cream recipes include Homemade Peach Ice Cream, Blackberry Dark Chocolate Ice Cream, Almond Joy Ice Cream, and No-Churn Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream. You can find more ice cream and frozen yogurt options here.

Enjoy these delicious treats in a bowl, on a cone, or as part of an ice cream sandwich. To make an ice cream sandwich, first choose your preferred ice cream sandwich material, like cooled waffles, cookies, or graham crackers, and what to coat the outer ice cream in, like nuts or chocolate pieces. Add a scoop of ice cream to one side of the sandwich and then cover with the second side. Firmly press to evenly distribute the ice cream. Roll the sandwich in the desired topping and enjoy!

For those looking for healthier alternatives to sugary candy and sprinkles, consider topping your ice cream with naturally sweet fruit. Try a tropical fruit topping made with mango, kiwi, papaya, and lemon juice. Instead of chocolate sauce, drizzle on a homemade blackberry syrup or indulge in seasonal summer fruit like sliced peaches, melons, or cherries. Coating in butter and grilling the peaches causes fruits' natural sugars to caramelize and intensify the flavor, creating a delicious, low-calorie, topping. Or you can bake apples with cinnamon and brown sugar for an easy apple pie-like treat. Add nutrient-rich fruits and nuts, such as crunchy peanuts, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds, which help increase protein and fiber for a more nutritious dessert.

How are you celebrating National Ice Cream Month? With ice cream cones, ice cream sandwiches, milkshakes, yogurt popsicles, frozen yogurt, and more frozen options made with dairy foods, there are many ways to honor the holiday.