Host an Unforgettable Ice Cream Social + 25 Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
Looking for the sweetest way to celebrate summer? Hosting an ice cream social is a fun, easygoing way to gather friends and family for a day of cool treats and good vibes.
In this post, you’ll find everything you need to throw the ultimate summer ice cream party—including 25 irresistible homemade ice cream recipes, a curated playlist of 20 feel-good songs to keep the energy up, and creative decor ideas to set the scene.
Let’s scoop into the details and make your summer celebration one to remember!
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25 Can’t Miss Recipes for the Ice Cream Social
- Up first is this creamy, no churn strawberry ice cream recipe by Chenée Today. Strawberry is a classic recipe you will want to offer your guests!
Image via Chenée Today - For the kids (and kids at heart!) you will want to include this funfetti ice cream by Ginger Snap’s Baking Affairs. It even has funfetti cake mix in it so you know it’s a winner! If you’re weary about putting in raw cake mix, just bake the mix in the oven at 350 degrees F for 6 minutes and allowing it to cool before adding it into the ice cream.
Image via Ginger Snap’s Baking Affairs - I want to throw an ice cream social for the sole reason to make this delicious peanut butter ice cream by Chocolate Moosey!
Image via Chocolate Moosey - Up next is my FAV ice cream flavor: espresso! Little Nonni has a creamy and oh-so-delicious espresso ice cream the grown-ups at the ice cream social will appreciate!
Image via Little Nonni - The Sage Apron has an aaaahmazing cherry ice cream you will want to serve your guests at the ice cream social. Cherries are in season in the summer and are the perfect add-in for a summer ice cream social party.
Image via The Sage Apron - A delicious, but often forgotten, ice cream flavor is pistachio ice cream. Scoops & Savor has an unforgettable pistachio ice cream recipe your guests will absolutely love!
Image via Scoops & Savor - A rich, salty ice cream flavor you don’t want to miss is Pumpkin ‘N Spice’s no churn salted caramel ice cream with chunks of chocolate.
Image via Pumpkin ‘N Spice - My kids’ favorite ice cream: chocolate marshmallow! This chocolate marshmallow ice cream by The Short Order Cook is both chewy and creamy.
Image via The Short Order Cook - Made with sweetened condensed milk, this banana chocolate chip ice cream by Moms Who Save is super creamy and has the perfect flavor combo!
Image via Moms Who Save - The 21+ crowd will love this stout chocolate pretzel ice cream recipe by Champagne Tastes! The crunchy pretzels mixed with chocolate and just a touch of bitter hops is truly amazing.
Image via Champagne Tastes - Full of sweet in-season blackberries, this no churn blackberry and chocolate chunk ice cream by The Forked Spoon is flavorful and screams summer!
Image via The Forked Spoon - Crunchy and creamy, you’ll love this satisfying Snicker’s ice cream recipe by Grits & Pinecones!
Image via Grits & Pinecones - If you haven’t had black forest ice cream, you are missing out! I Heart Eating shares their black forest ice cream recipe with brownie bits and fresh cherries – truly a party for your tastebuds.
Image via I Heart Eating - With fresh juicy peaches and brown sugar, you’ll love this peaches and cream ice cream by Chisel & Fork!
Image via Chisel & Fork - How fun is this unicorn ice cream by Craving Ice Cream?! While we know it would be a popular choice among the kids, I’m sure many adults will be drawn in by the colors and crowd-favorite vanilla flavor.
Image via Craving Ice Cream - This peanut butter ice cream with honey roasted peanuts by Grits and Gouda is creamy, crunchy, and no-churn, making for a simple and delicious recipe.
Image via Grits and Gouda - Growing up I LOVED circus animal cookies and The Salty Marshmallow has a colorful strawberry circus animal cookie ice cream recipe kids are sure to want seconds.
Image via The Salty Marshmallow - This next ice cream recipe reminds me of my days of working at Dairy Queen in high school – strawberry cheesecake chunk ice cream by Little Spice Jar. It was a popular Blizzard flavor for sure!
Image via Little Spice Jar - Made in a Pinch has another favorite choice among ice cream connoisseurs – butter pecan ice cream. This one uses salted butter and roasted pecans for a can’t-beat flavor!
Image via Made in a Pinch - This one is packed full of flavor and texture for an extra delicious bite – banana pudding cheesecake ice cream by Mommy Evolution.
Image via Mommy Evolution - A favorite ice cream flavor of mine growing up was mint chocolate chip and Small Town Woman has the perfect mint chocolate chip ice cream to bring you back to childhood.
Image via Small Town Woman - Who doesn’t love a classic cookies and cream ice cream? Make sure to check out Barefoot in the Pines’ cookies and cream that is PACKED with cookies for the ultimate bite.
Image via Barefoot in the Pines - Certainly a gourmet ice cream, your ice cream social guests will love to see this Ferrero Rocher ice cream by The Fresh Cooky!
Image via The Fresh Cooky - You can’t have an ice cream social and not include vanilla, that would just be weird! Technically a gelato, you’ll love the flavor of this vanilla gelato by The Recipe Nest.
Image via The Recipe Nest - Another necessary and certainly popular ice cream to serve at an ice cream social is chocolate ice cream! Chew Out Loud has a highly rated chocolate ice cream recipe for an automatic win at the party.
Image via Chew Out Loud
Toppings to Include at the Ice Cream Social
Of course you will want to offer sprinkles of all colors and shapes! Guests can get creative and make beautifully colored ice cream which is totally part of the fun.
You can add all of the toppings into mini sugar bowls, complete with spoons:
You’ll also want to include some fresh fruit for topping:
- cherries
- banana slices
- strawberries
- raspberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- peaches
And you’ll want to include syrups:
- hot fudge
- strawberry syrup
- pineapple syrup
- chocolate syrup
- caramel syrup
- hard shell
And nuts (check for severe nut allergies of your guests just to be extra careful):
- peanuts
- pistachios
- pecans
And don’t forget the candy:
- peanut butter cups
- gummy worms
- Nerds
- Butterfinger
- Crunch bars
- chocolate chips
- Oreos
- Heath bars
- mini M&Ms
Here are some extra-special items to think about including:
- edible glitter spray!
- powdered espresso
- chopped buttercream cookies
- cookie dough pieces
- confetti chips
Ice Cream Social Party Decorations
It’s so fun to have a custom ice cream bowl to really set the scene. Bee Bee Room has a cute ice cream tub label that just needs to be printed and stuck onto some ice cream bowls!
Speaking of ice cream tubs, make sure to get some of those too!
You know am a big fan of Stesha Party! Here is a beautifully designed ice cream banner that would be perfect above the ice cream social bar!
Look how cute these ice cream pom pom decorations are by Paperwhite Designs!
Zoey Christina has the perfect balloons for an ice cream social – these sprinkle balloons!
This is such a fun centerpiece by Tacky Nut Party Store! I would place this on the table with all of the ice cream options and toppings to help fill space and set the vibe.
Birch Lane by Jennifer has the cutest farmhouse style ice cream social decor! I especially love the “I’ll stop the world and melt for you” sign!
For a more modern approach to the ice cream social decor, check out 1801 and Co’s acrylic ice cream bar sign.
Ice Cream Social Playlist
To set the vibe, consider making an ice cream social party playlist! You’ll want to include sweet songs about candy, summer, and even 50s diner nostalgia.
Here are some ideas to get your brain flowing:
- I Want Candy – Aaron Carter
- Sugar, Sugar – The Archies
- Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard
- Tutti Frutti – Little Richard
- The Candy Man – Sammy Davis Jr.
- Lollipop – Chordettes
- Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows – Lesley Gore
- A Spoonful of Sugar – Julie Andrews
- Cherry Pie – Warrant
- Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch – The Temptations
- Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
- How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
- Honey – Mariah Carey
- American Pie – Don McLean
- Honey, Honey – Abba
- Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles
- Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
- Candy – Mandy Moore
- Sugar – Maroon 5
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