Frozen Dessert

Fresh and creamy all at once, this clever combination of rich ricotta ice cream and icy-cold watermelon chunks is a twist on the classic Creamsicle. Shaved bittersweet chocolate complements both flavors beautifully.

The deep caramel flavor in this ice cream will hypnotize you. And the optional garnish is actually a must; the combination of salty and sweet is too intriguing to pass up.

Few desserts scream summer as much as these ice-cold pops on a scorching day. Lime juice adds a tart, refreshing twist to this classic fruit treat on a stick.

Graham crackers make a fun garnish.

For a berry swirl, add some sweetened crushed raspberries during the last minute of churning. The swirl may become icy after the ice cream is frozen, so soften slightly before serving.

Cinnamon and a dash of cayenne give the sauce a south-of-the-border vibe.

Now's the perfect time for strawberries at their peak, and here is a way to celebrate all their fabulous flavor.

If you can't find white peaches and nectarines, this dessert would also be lovely made with the yellow varieties.

Though they're the kind of thing you tell yourself you're making for kids, the way these sweet and slightly salty cookies go a little chewy when they absorb the ice cream will definitely inspire mature palates as well. This recipe is also delightfully devoid of fuss; you simply make one big sandwich and then cut it into small pieces.

(Nieve de Aguacate) Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are excerpted from Zarela Martinez's book The Food and Life of Oaxaca. Martinez also shared some helpful cooking tips exclusively with Epicurious, which we've added at the bottom of the page. To read more about Martinez and Oaxacan cuisine, click here. The idea of making ice cream from avocados is not strange or outlandish to Oaxacans. In many Latin American countries, avocados are eaten as dessert. (Brazilians make them into a sweet mousse.) Nieve de Aguacate is one of the perennial favorites at Oaxaca City ice-cream stands. It is naturally creamier than the usual fruit-based nieves; but some acid is necessary to offset the blandness of the avocado. Fresh lime juice is the perfect complement.

This is really a fun dessert. Form this into a mold and serve it with a cookie on the side. If you don't have time to prepare the mango sorbet, Häagen-Dazs makes a good one, and believe me, your friends will have just as much fun. The good news is that you can make this ahead of time. I serve it with fresh raspberries and raspberry sauce.

The prototype for this wonderfully tangy sorbet was discovered in Hua Hin, Thailand, where we tasted a hibiscus sorbet made by chef David Bedinghaus at the Anantara Resort & Spa.

This recipe was inspired by an unforgettable blood-orange ice cream made by chef Greg Malouf of Mo Mo restaurant in Melbourne, Australia. We've used navel oranges, available all year long.

Cake and ice cream in one easy-to-prepare dessert — no baking required. You can make it up to two days before the celebration.

The all-American soda fountain classic gets a fabulous tropical makeover.

Even die-hard chocolate lovers won't miss the hot fudge in these sensational sundaes.

In July of 1864, the Confederate cavalry rode into Owings Mills, Maryland, where an ice cream factory's employees were loading a shipment bound for Baltimore. With rations low, the soldiers seized the ice cream and ate it straight out of the ten-gallon freezers for breakfast. Many of the mountaineers had never seen ice cream before. Some put it into their hats and ate it while riding, while others thought it too cold, so they put it in their canteens to melt.