Ahh, summer. The days are hot and the nights are… just as hot. There is something about summertime that makes ice cream one of the only acceptable desserts to eat, and with that, Torani has your back. There are many ways to elevate your ice cream treats using various Torani syrups and sauces to enhance flavors, textures and experiences.

Homemade Cookies and Cream Ice Cream

homemade cookies and ice cream

You might not have made ice cream at home because you don’t have an ice cream machine. But that’s okay – there is an easy and delicious way to make ice cream without a machine, and Torani will provide a delicious ribbon of flavor running throughout your creations.

One such classic ice cream to make with Torani is Cookies and Cream. Luscious vanilla ice cream dotted with crisp chocolate crumbles is enough to make the child in your life (or your inner child) jump up and down with glee.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbsp (1 oz) Torani Vanilla Syrup
  • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 15 (or so) cookies and cream sandwich cookies

Instructions:

In a chilled mixing bowl, whip the cream and Torani together with a hand mixer. After a bit of mixing, soft peaks will form. Add the condensed milk and gently fold in until it is all mixed together. Place the cookies into a large, plastic kitchen bag and crush using a mallet. Fold the crushed cookies into the mixture. Pour the mixture into a large container with a lid and freeze for six hours. After that, you’ll have a delicious container of homemade cookies and cream ice cream. Enjoy!

Homemade Banana Cream Ice Cream

homemade banana cream ice cream

A lighter, but no less enticing, ice cream you can make at home is Banana Cream ice cream - a creamy and sweet concoction accentuated by flavorful bananas and delectable yogurt.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ripe bananas, sliced and frozen
  • 1 cup vanilla yogurt
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1/8 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp (1 oz) Torani Crème de Banana Syrup

Instructions:

In a blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend until smooth, then place the mixture in a large container with a lid. Freeze overnight. The next day, you’ll have a wonderful amount of creamy banana goodness. Bon apetit!

Almond Roca® Ice Cream Pie

almond roca ice cream pie

Now, we know that some of you think that summer is incomplete without pie. We understand, and boy do we have a recipe for you! The nutty toffee notes of Almond Roca® candy, along with crumbled almond cookies and slivered almonds create a warm cake texture that melds perfectly with ice cream to become the ideal summer evening treat.

Ingredients:

  • For the first layer:
    • 1 package almond cookies
    • ½ cup slivered almonds
    • ½ cup butter or margarine
    • ¼ cup sugar
  • For the second layer:
    • ½ cup Torani Almond Roca® Syrup
    • ½ cup slivered almonds
    • ¼ cup (2 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips or pieces
    • ½ cup crushed butter toffee chips
  • 2 quarts of any flavor ice cream

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a nine-inch pie plate and begin assembling the first layer. Place the cookies, ½ cup of almonds, butter and sugar in a food processor and process until the texture resembles oatmeal. Reserve ¼ cup of the mixture and pat the rest into the bottom of the pie plate. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven, then cool.

For the second layer, place the remaining ½ cup of slivered almonds, the chocolate chips and toffee chips into the food processor and blend until the entire mixture is crumbly. Reserve ¼ cup of this mixture, and then take the rest of the mixture and mix it in a bowl with the Torani and ice cream. Place this mixture over the pie crust. Cover with the reserved portions of the two layers, then place into the freezer until it firms up. Then you have an awesome ice cream pie to enjoy on the perfect summer night.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

ice cream sundae bar

Of course, one more perfect marriage between Torani and ice cream is to create a simple, but extremely fun, Ice Cream Sundae bar. It’s a simple but effective way to make your summer barbecue even better!

On a long table, place several tubs of ice cream. We recommend using simple flavors, like a good vanilla, simply because a simpler flavor of ice cream carries all sorts of toppings better, rather than a flavor with several add-ins already that could be overpowered by the toppings. Have small bowls with your toppings, including crushed peanuts, toffee bits, chocolate chips, sprinkles and cherries. And, of course, Torani Sauces – Caramel, Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate and Salted Chocolate Caramel. All Torani sauces are rich deep flavors that will bring your sundae bar over the top!

Summer is the ideal time to let out your inner child while also pleasing the children around. We believe that adding flavor to your day will make this a summer to remember.