After a day at the beach, an afternoon running through a sprinkler, or a backyard barbecue, we all like to take a break from the heat and cool off with a treat. Whether it’s ice cream or milkshakes, shaved ice, or iced coffee, we have plenty of delicious, easy homemade treats for the whole family. Here are a few of our favorites:
1. Roasted Cherry Coconut Milkshakes
Summertime means cherry season! If you get a pound or two from the farmers market, a farm stand, or on sale at the grocery store, then you must try this beautifully luscious dessert from our friend Monique of @peaches2peaches. Her recipe makes 3–4 milkshakes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. (450 g) fresh cherries
- 1 can (13.5 oz./400 mL) coconut milk
- 1½ tsp (22 mL) vanilla extract
- 6 cups (1.4 L) vanilla ice cream
Directions
- Rinse, slice in half, and remove the pits from the cherries. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast in a 400°F (200°C) oven for 15–20 minutes.
- Place cherries in the Deluxe Cooking Blender with 2 tbsp (30 mL) of water and puree. Refrigerate in a separate container until cold.
- Add the ice cream, vanilla extract, and coconut milk to the blender. Blend until smooth
- To serve, divide the cherry puree between 3 or 4 glasses. Pour the milkshake on top of the puree, dividing between the glasses equally.
2. Shaved Ice With Fruit (Korean Style)
Who knew you could make shaved ice with a blender! Our friend Jane @food.kids.love tried it out with her take on bingsu (or bingsoo). It’s a popular Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings like chopped fruit, condensed milk, or fruit syrup. It’s meant to be shared, so a serving size is for two. Her version puts a focus on toddler-friendly diced fruit, but she says feel free to change it up. Kiwi and pineapple are also great options. You can also add sweet red beans (called Patbingsu) or mochi pieces.
Ingredients
- A variety of small diced fruit. In the photos below, Jane used mango, peaches, strawberries, cherries, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and red grapes
- 4 cups (0.9 L) of ice
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) organic condensed milk. If you want it sweeter, add another ½ tbsp (7 mL).
Directions
- Place 2 cups (473 mL) of ice into the Deluxe Cooking Blender. Blend on Custom for 15 seconds on speed 1, until it’s the consistency of snow.
- Scoop into a big bowl, top with the fruit and drizzle on the condensed milk.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the remaining ice.
3. Nice Cream
Most nice cream recipes call for blended up frozen bananas to make a creamy, cold ice-cream-like dessert. It’s dairy-free and guilt-free, too. Add in cocoa powder and chocolate chips to make a chocolate version topped with crushed candies or cookies. Or blend it frozen strawberries to make it a strawberry nice cream. For a banana-free version that still manages to taste like a tropical vacation blend frozen mangos and peaches with a drizzle of honey and sprinkle of chia seeds as for a finishing touch.
4. Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bars
5. Fancy Milkshakes
Simple, classic milkshakes are delicious, but some occasions call for decadence! A Salted Caramel Pretzel Milkshake is a rich, caramel milkshake topped with more caramel, pretzels, and a bit of chocolate garnish and is just the thing for a backyard celebration on a hot summer night. Doesn’t sound like your thing? How about a Strawberry Sprinkled Donut Milkshake or a Mocha Chip Milkshake?
6. Iced Coffee Variations
Save time and money by making your own cold brew or iced coffee at home. For an added treat, substitute almond, cashew, or coconut milk for your usual creamer. Pour leftover coffee into ice cube trays and freeze—this way you can keep your iced coffee cold without watering it down.
7. Homemade Ice Cream
Don’t wait in long lines in the summer heat to get your ice cream fix. Instead, make it at home. Homemade ice cream is so tasty and more affordable than store-bought, and you can make it just the way your family likes it. Some of our favorites are blueberry, honey butter shortbread, and chai toffee chip. To help ice cream freeze more quickly with fewer ice crystals, use shallow, flat containers.
Did you try any of these? Leave us a comment and let us know what you thought!
So the area I live in gets really hot in the summers so this is a common thing for us. I am sure everyone from the hot region can relate to it as we really try hard to beat the heat.