These are unique and interesting ice cream flavors you can make with homemade or store-bought ice cream! Make these creative ideas with or without a churn. Just three easy steps get you to ice cream heaven.

Jump to:

• Ice Cream Flavours or Flavors
• Unique Ice Cream Flavors are Easy To Make
• Weird Ice Cream Flavors with Chocolate or Vanilla
• Ice Cream Flavors to Make At Home
• Fun Ice Cream Mix-Ins
• Vanilla-Based Ice Cream Flavors
• Chocolate Ice Cream Flavors
• 24 Creative Ice Cream Flavors You Can Make

Ice Cream Flavours or Flavors

It’s like walking into an ice cream shop and having all the most wonderful, fun ice cream flavors in front of you to choose from.

I know a lot of you are looking for the most creative ice cream flavors out there, and you’ve come to the right place. There are a lot of searches for the British spelling too: unique ice cream flavours!

However you spell flavor (or flavour) you’ve come to the right place for the best homemade ice cream.

AND, when I say homemade, I don’t mean slaving over the custard and a churn! You can use store-bought chocolate or vanilla ice cream to make these unusual ice cream flavors.

Unique Ice Cream Flavors are Easy To Make

If it’s cool ice cream you like, you’re in the right place. You’ll find interesting flavors like Ginger Pineapple and Buttered Baguette, Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip and Honey Date. Yum!

This is not just summer ice cream folks! These flavors are delicious all year long. You can eat Cinnamon Toast Ice Cream and Chocolate Orange with White Chocolate Chunks anytime!

I’ve created combos so good you’ll be eating fun ice cream all year long. (You’re welcome!)

You’ll find 24 unique, make-the-mouth-happy, and easy recipes here that use store-bought ice cream as the base.

Weird Ice Cream Flavors with Chocolate or Vanilla

These different ice cream flavors do have something in common. They each start with either chocolate or vanilla ice cream.

No making fancy bases and formulas here. I used just two simple flavors and grocery store ingredients to make everyone’s ice cream dreams come true.

Of course, you can make my Eggless Vanilla Ice Cream, or Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream recipe from scratch, then mix in the fun ingredients. Either way, the three easy steps to making these unique flavors are below.

Ice Cream Flavors to Make At Home

For all the different flavors of ice cream listed below, I started with chocolate or vanilla ice cream. I bought high-quality ice cream, softened it quickly in a mixer, then stirred in my mix-ins.

Using store-bought ice cream takes almost an entire day out of the process. It’s easy to make your own ice cream, but when making several ice cream varieties, I love just buying the chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

Certainly, try to make your own if you love homemade ice cream. My custardy, deep Chocolate Ice Cream, and Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream recipes are glorious with these mix-ins. If you do churn your own, see my favorite ice cream makers here.

Check the list below for all the ice cream flavor recipes and the steps to get you to the first bite.

Here are the 24 unique ice cream flavors you’ll find recipes for below:

• Red, White, and Blueberry Ice Cream
• Lemon Poppy Seed Ice Cream
• Cereal and Milk Ice Cream
• Coffee and Donuts Ice Cream
• Honey Pistachio Ice Cream
• Marzipan Maraschino Cherry Ice Cream
• Ginger Pineapple Ice Cream
• Lemon Thyme Ice Cream
• Honey Date Ice Cream
• Buttered Baguette Ice Cream
• Cinnamon Toast Ice Cream
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ice Cream
• Coffee Fudge Swirl Ice Cream
• Cherry Pistachio Ice Cream
• PB & J Swirl Ice Cream
• Brown Butter Pecan Ice Cream
• Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream
• Apple Pie A La Mode Ice Cream
• Chocolate Banana Split Ice Cream
• S’Mores Ice Cream
• Orange White-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
• Burnt Almond Fudge Ice Cream
• Malt Ball Ice Cream
• Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Fun Ice Cream Mix-Ins

All of these recipes rely on mix-ins to make them super special and cool. You’ll need a stand mixer or powerful hand mixer to make this happen.

The trick to mix-ins is to use a powerful mixer to beat the ice cream quickly so it doesn’t have time to melt. Feel free to chill the mixer bowl beforehand to help.

Mix-ins add serious personality to vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Don’t even try to resist these ice cream flavors!

I use a paddle attachment on my Kitchenaid to mix the ice cream. You want it just soft enough to blend in all the additions. It only takes a minute.

Vanilla-Based Ice Cream Flavors

Getting down to business. Here you have 18 ice cream varieties using homemade or store-bought vanilla ice cream.

1. Red, White and Blueberry Ice Cream

This ice cream is perfect for a July Fourth celebration, and it’s simply berry delicious other times too.

Mix 1 cup chopped strawberries, ¾ cup blueberries, and 1 cup mini marshmallows into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

2. Lemon Poppyseed Ice Cream

Like your favorite lemony muffin, this combo is citrusy and luscious.

Stir ½ cup store-bought lemon curd and 1 tbsp poppy seeds into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

3. Cereal and Milk Ice Cream

With inspiration from Momofuku Milk Bar (in NYC), I bring you your frozen dessert and cereal dreams all in one!

Crush 1¼ cups Fruit Loops cereal into small crumbs and stir into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

4. Coffee and Donuts Ice Cream

Your favorite morning combo now in a refreshing dessert!

Mix 1½ tbsp instant espresso powder with 2 tbsp heavy cream to dissolve. Stir into 1 qt vanilla ice cream with 1½ cups cut-up cake donuts.

5. Honey Pistachio Ice Cream

With Mediterranean flare, inspired by the sweet flavors of Greece, this combo is a sophisticated treat.

Stir ¾ cup finely chopped unsalted pistachios and ¼ cup honey into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

6. Marzipan Maraschino Cherry Ice Cream

Forget the cherry on top, I’ve created an entire scoop to be the star! With bits of almondy marzipan, it’s pretty in pink, with a cherry INSIDE!

Chop 1 cup maraschino cherries and cup 4 oz store-bought marzipan into small pieces. Stir into 1 qt vanilla ice cream with 3 tbsp maraschino cherry juice.

7. Ginger Pineapple Ice Cream

Bring tropical flavors into your desserts with this sweet combo!

Mix ¾ cup drained canned crushed pineapple and 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

8. Lemon Thyme Ice Cream

This zesty, aromatic combination is unlike any ice cream you’ve ever tasted!

Mix ½ cup store-bought lemon curd and 2½ teaspoon chopped thyme into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

9. Honey Date Ice Cream

This flavor is packed with sweetness from natural honey and trendy dates.

Soften ¾ cup pitted dates by heating for 30 seconds in a microwave with 1 tbsp water. Cool and chop. Stir into 1 qt vanilla ice cream with 3 tbsp honey.

10. Buttered Baguette Ice Cream

This ice cream is like nothing you’ve ever tasted! Buttery and salty. It’s my favorite, hands down. You get the toasty golden flavor of French bread and creamy butter with glorious ice cream.

Butter both sides of 12 little ¼-inch-thick baguette slices; bake at 350ºF until crisp and toasted. Cool, then crush into fine crumbs in food processor and stir into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

11. Cinnamon Toast Ice Cream

Comfort food turned dessert!

Make 3 pieces of buttered cinnamon sugar toast on white bread; cut into small pieces. Stir into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

12. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ice Cream

All that cinnamon-oatmeal deliciousness on a spoon!

Mix 1 cup crumbled oatmeal raisin cookies and ¾ tsp cinnamon into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

13. Coffee Fudge Swirl Ice Cream

Jazz up vanilla ice cream with some fudgy goodness and rich espresso.

Mix 1 ½ tbsp instant espresso powder with 2 tbsp heavy cream to dissolve. Swirl into 1 qt vanilla ice cream with ⅓ cup warm fudge sauce.

14. Cherry Pistachio Ice Cream

An old favorite with a new twist!

Mix 1 ½ cups chopped sweet cherries and ¾ cup chopped unsalted pistachios into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

15. PB&J Swirl Ice Cream

The great combo your kids love in sandwiches now in dessert!

Stir together ⅓ cup peanut butter, 2 tbsp sugar and ¼ cup milk until smooth. Mix ⅔ cup grape jelly into 1 qt vanilla ice cream and swirl in peanut butter sauce.

16. Brown Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Toasted pecans and a simple caramel are a dream in ice cream!

In a saucepan brown 5 tbsp salted butter to dark brown; cool. Mix into 1 qt vanilla ice cream with 1 cup chopped toasted pecans.

17. Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

Enjoy this classic dessert in a refreshing new way!

Stir 1 cup diced pound cake and 1 ¼ cups chopped strawberries into 1 qt vanilla ice cream.

18. Apple Pie a la Mode Ice Cream

This frozen twist on a favorite treat is easy to enjoy all year round!

Bake frozen pie shell until golden; cool and break into pieces. Saute 1 peeled and diced apple in 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp butter until soft, cool, and stir into 1 qt vanilla ice cream with half of the crust pieces.

Chocolate Ice Cream Flavors

To top things off, here are 6 types of chocolate ice cream that are aa snap to make and a joy to eat!

19. Chocolate Banana Split Ice Cream

All the good stuff from your favorite sundae happening in one scoop. Now just a drizzle of caramel and chocolate and you’re set!

Mix 1 cup chopped banana, ½ cup chopped toasted walnuts and ½ cup chopped maraschino cherries into 1 qt chocolate ice cream.

20. S’mores Ice Cream

Enjoy all the flavors from your favorite fireside treat in a bowl!

Stir 1 cup mini marshmallows and 1 cup crumbled graham crackers into 1 qt chocolate ice cream.

21. Orange White-Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

This ice cream is a chocolate lover’s dream filled with bursts of zesty citrus!

Mix 2 tablespoon finely grated orange zest and 4 oz chopped white chocolate into 1 qt chocolate ice cream.

22. Burnt Almond Fudge Ice Cream

Toasted almonds add a little sophistication to this chocolatey delight.

Deeply roast 1 cup almonds. Cool, coarsely chop, and stir into 1 qt chocolate ice cream. Swirl in ⅓ cup warm fudge sauce.

23. Malt Ball Ice Cream

Enjoy smooth ice cream with the flavors and crunch of a favorite candy!

Stir 1 ¼ cups coarsely chopped malted milk balls into 1 qt chocolate ice cream.

24. Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Chocolate heaven interspersed with sweet, crunchy Coconut!

Mix ⅓ cup toasted unsweetened coconut into 1 qt chocolate ice cream. While stirring, drizzle in 2 oz melted semi-sweet chocolate.

NOT TO MISS ice cream topper!

Don’t miss out on this fantastic topping for that freshly mixed ice cream. Caramel Glazed Cake Croutons are simply delicious!

Here are more ice cream treats you’ll love:

• Cream Puffs with Ice Cream
• Mini Ice Cream Pops
• Mango and Raspberry Ice Cream Cake

Cake recipes for any occasion

Recipes by Tara Bench & Hilary Merzbacher. Some photos by Con Poulos. Partial content originally published in LHJ July ’12.