Come rain or shine, ice cream is always a good idea, but nothing beats eating ice cream during the summertime. With a deliciously creamy base, the possibilities of weird and wonderful flavour combinations are endless! Check out our coolest ice cream recipes.

Boozy

Booze plus ice cream equals happy adult-kids.

Frosé Raspberry Granita with Vanilla Ice Cream & Berries

Why drink Rosé when you can eat it? Add a refreshing element to your vanilla ice cream with this Frosé Raspberry Granita made with Rosé – the ideal poolside treat.
Recipe for Frosé Raspberry Granita with Vanilla Ice Cream & Berries

Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches

Treat guests to these Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches that are every kids’ dream treat. Because we’re all adults, enjoy it with a glass of Cap Classique.
Recipe for Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches 

Coffee Tequila Ice Cream with Smashed Malted Puffs

This is a showstopper of an ice cream that will have everyone begging you for the recipe! The coffee tequila takes it to a whole new indulgent level and amplifies the coffee flavour in the ice cream. As far as the smashed malted puffs go, well, everyone loves those!
Recipe for Coffee Tequila Ice Cream with Smashed Malted Puffs

Guinness & Peanut Butter Ice Cream Float

This ice cream float will take you back to your childhood, but remind you why it is great being an adult.
Recipe for Guinness & Peanut Butter Ice Cream Float

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Fruity

You can’t go wrong with fruity ice cream. Fresh and summery – yum!

Vanilla Bean and Berry Swirl Ice Cream

Mixed berries and a vanilla pod is all you need to make this delicious flavour combination.
Recipe for Vanilla Bean and Berry Swirl Ice Cream

No-churn LemonGold Ice Cream

A creamy ice cream that doesn’t require a fancy churner. A whole lot of lemon flavour and so easy to make!
Recipe for No-churn LemonGold Ice Cream

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Gourmet

Don’t expect these flavour combos at any ice cream shop, they’re in a class of their own.

4-Ingredient No-churn Avocado & Lime Ice Cream

Avocado and lime ice cream… this ain’t your everyday cone.
Recipe for 4-Ingredient No-churn Avocado & Lime Ice Cream

Salted Dark Chocolate, Pretzel and Caramel-Rippled Ice Cream

Pure decadence and happiness in a single (or double) scoop.
Recipe for Salted Dark Chocolate, Pretzel & Caramel-rippled Ice Cream

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Minty

Minty fresh with a little twist.

Gooseberry, Mint and Vanilla Ice Cream

Pro tip: serve this mint and vanilla ice cream with fresh gooseberries and Italian biscotti.
Recipe for Gooseberry, Mint and Vanilla Ice Cream

Matcha and Mint Ice Cream

Cool and refreshing, matcha green tea makes the perfect addition to homemade ice cream.
Recipe for Matcha and Mint Ice Cream

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Nutty

If you’re as crazy about nuts as we are, take a look at our nut guide for everything you need to know about nuts, then try these yummy recipes!

Swirly Toffee and Hazelnut Ice Cream

Take plain store-bought vanilla ice cream and completely transform it with a dynamic toffee and hazelnut duo.
Recipe for Swirly Toffee and Hazelnut Ice Cream 

Toasted Almond Boeber Ice Cream

Boeber, a Cape Malay sweetened milk drink, is made into a delicious ice cream flavour. Top with toasted almond flakes for nutty goodness.
Recipe for Toasted Almond Boeber Ice Cream

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Proudly SA Ice Cream Flavours

Some things will only ever make sense to South Africans, but it doesn’t take a local to drool over these ice cream flavours.

Tipsy Tart and Custard Ice Cream

Tipsy tart is a spiced Cape brandy pudding with all the stickiness and comfort of a malva pudding, but with an extra kick of heat from brandy.
Make this Tipsy Tart and Custard Ice Cream

Koeksister and Glacé Ginger Ice Cream

Ice cream made with South African flair – who could ever resist this indulgence?
Make this Koeksister and Glacé Ginger Ice Cream

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Add a Cookie

Add cookies to ice cream for extra crunch and total satisfaction.

Peanut Butter Cookie & Milk Stout Ice Cream Sandwiches

Beer in ice cream? Sounds good enough. This ice cream sandwich is bound to summon anyone’s inner cookie-monster. Made by chef Ash Valenzuela-Heeger.
Make these Peanut Butter Cookie & Milk Stout Ice Cream Sandwiches

White Chocolate Macadamia Biscuit & Olive Oil Ice Cream Sundaes

This ice cream is unbelievably creamy, with the neutral vanilla base really allowing the delicious olive oil flavour to come through in every bite. Add white choc macadamia nut biscuits and chocolate sauce, and you have a winner!
Make these White Chocolate Macadamia Biscuit & Olive Oil Ice Cream Sundaes

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Something Different…

Almost anything can make its way into ice cream. Be adventurous with the ingredients, you might just be pleasantly surprised.

Blue Cheese and Fig Ice Cream with Black Pepper Tuile

An interesting mix of sweet and savoury. Definitely not your everyday ice cream flavour, but well worth the try.
Make Blue Cheese and Fig Ice Cream with Black Pepper Tuile

Roasted Strawberry and Balsamic Ice Cream

Roasting strawberries concentrates and intensify their flavour, making a delicious ingredient for ice cream.
Make Roasted Strawberry and Balsamic Ice Cream

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Vegan Ice Cream Recipes

Who says you need dairy to make ice cream…?

Tropical Vegan Coconut, Mango and Lemon Ice Cream

A no-churn, creamy vegan ice cream that tastes like a tropical holiday.
Recipe for Tropical Vegan Coconut, Mango and Lemon Ice Cream

Vegan Vanilla Coconut Sorbet

A fresh vegan sorbet with a yummy, vegan tart. A real winning summer dessert that will become a firm favourite.
Recipe for Vegan Passion Fruit & Coconut Tart with Vanilla Coconut Sorbet

Suddenly craving ice cream? Get your fix at these ice cream parlours in Cape Town.

Gelato, one of Italy’s many food exports, is beloved all around the world — no surprises there, people love a frozen dessert! But what is the difference between gelato and ice cream? Many gelatarias outside of Italy claim to have the ‘best, most authentic product’, but if you don’t know what that is, how can you tell? Here’s the full scoop on gelato.

When I tasted gelato for the first time I loved it, which came as a surprise, because I don’t usually enjoy dairy-based ice cream – there’s something about the fatty layer it leaves in your mouth that I really don’t enjoy. So, I decided to do a little research and find out why it doesn’t have that fatty element if it’s still dairy-based. Turns out, there are some fundamental differences in the production and storage of this Italian frozen dessert that impact both the taste and mouthfeel of the final product.

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Gelato vs. Ice Cream

Find out the main differences when it comes to gelato vs. ice cream.

Image credit: Moro Gelato

Dairy & Fat Percentage

Both ice cream and gelato are dairy-based, but ice cream contains more cream than milk, whereas gelato contains more milk than cream – that’s why there is no fatty layer. For ice cream to be considered the real deal, it has to contain at least 10% fat content, but gelato only needs to contain between 5 and 7%. Ice cream also contains eggs, while gelato is eggless, which also affects the fat content and mouthfeel of the final product.

Churn Factor

Both frozen desserts need to be churned to make sure they are creamy, luscious and, most importantly, scoopable. The churning process helps to incorporate air into the dessert, which results in a dense or lighter result. Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, which means there is less air whipped into the dessert (around 25-30%); ice cream is churned at a faster speed and can contain up to 50% air.

Storage Temperature

Furthermore, both desserts have to be stored correctly to ensure they are served at the right consistency. They are both classified as frozen desserts, but ice cream is served at a colder temperature (-17℃), while gelato is served slightly warmer at -9℃. This means gelato is not entirely frozen when served, making it smooth, creamy and silky.

Looking for the best scoop in town? Get your fix at our favourite ice cream and gelato places in Cape Town. Follow us on Instagram for more food news and summer treats. 

What does your choice of ice cream say about you? Well, we did the research (read: ate a lot of ice cream) and we fancy ourselves experts now. Here’s all you need to know about your favourite ice cream flavour.

What’s Your Flavour?

Are you more of a pistachio person or are you team cookies and cream? Find out what your favourite ice cream flavour says about you.

Vanilla

Contrary to popular belief, being a vanilla fan doesn’t actually mean you are vanilla. It means you are a classic, simple and understated and a lover of good quality and minimalism. Not so boring now are you vanilla?

Chocolate

If you’re in love with the cocoa, chances are you’re a smooth operator who tends to be flirtatious and a real romantic.

Strawberry

You’re a kid at heart, always seeing the wonder and magic the world. We need more people like you around.

Mint choc chip

The minty choc-chip crowd is a fun, loveable one. If you’re a fan of this ice cream, chances are you’re kinda quirky, but still relatable and easy to get on with.

Coffee

You. Need. Caffeine. And. You. Need. It. In. Every. Form. Understandable, we won’t get in your way.

Peanut Butter

You’re laid back and easy going, but you can show signs of being a little nutty. But, like, in a good way.

Cookie Dough

For you, enough is never enough. You’re ambitious and always after something more.

Cookies and Cream

You’re loyal and steadfast and probably enjoy licking the spoon after baking. Although really, what’s not to like about cookies and cream?

Salted Caramel

You like sweet things, but you’re also kind of sophisticated. It’s not just a ton of burnt sugar you’re into, it’s a ton of burnt sugar with a sprinkling of sea salt. See, sophisticated?

Pistachio

Oh, you’re fancy and reckon peanut butter is for plebs.

Coconut

You’re wild and outgoing, you’re living your best life while constantly trying to convince people that coconut is delicious in all forms.

Lemon

You’re actually a really sweet person on the inside and long to break that perception. The more mouth-puckeringly sour the better. It’s your time to shine.

Rum and Raisin

You like your booze in all shapes and sizes. Also, you’re probably an old person.

Turmeric

You probably don’t eat things that once breathed and we respect that.

Black Sesame

Ooooh, you so fancy! Would you like some soy sauce with that?

Bubblegum

You are a child in adult’s clothing.

Tin Roof

You like the best of both worlds and don’t like to compromise. What is ice cream without nuts and chocolate sauce anyway? You’re not apologetic about it and we like that.

Can’t choose a flavour?

You’re a devil-may-care kind of person and won’t be confined to society’s notions. We like you, even if we can’t quite figure you out.

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Ice Cream, You Scream!

Make your own batch from scratch. Try and taste this Salted Dark Chocolate and Pretzel Ice Cream or Fried Banana and Caramel Ice Cream.

Want more? Find your favourite flavour.