15 Christmas-Inspired Ice Cream & Frozen Treats

The holiday season brings cozy sweaters and crackling fires, but who says you can’t enjoy frozen treats during Christmas? These festive ice creams and frozen desserts capture all the flavors we love about the holidays—from warming spices to peppermint candy—in delightfully chilly forms.

Whether you’re serving them at your holiday party or sneaking spoonfuls after decorating the tree, these recipes bring a refreshing twist to traditional seasonal flavors. Get ready to fill your freezer with festive delights that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Peppermint Bark Ice Cream

This luxurious ice cream tastes exactly like your favorite holiday candy in creamy form. The combination of cool peppermint and rich chocolate creates that perfect balance between refreshing and indulgent. Making it is surprisingly straightforward—you’ll crush candy canes and fold in chocolate chunks at just the right moment. The result is a stunning red-and-white swirled dessert with satisfying crunchy bits throughout. It’s become a Christmas Eve tradition in many households because it’s fancy enough for guests but easy enough to whip up.

Gingerbread Cookie Ice Cream

Imagine the warm spices of gingerbread cookies—cinnamon, ginger, molasses—transformed into a smooth, scoopable treat. This ice cream delivers all that nostalgic flavor without needing to turn on your oven. The molasses gives it a deep, complex sweetness while the spices create that unmistakable gingerbread taste. Many recipes include actual cookie pieces mixed in for added texture and authenticity. It pairs beautifully with apple pie or can stand alone as a comforting dessert that tastes like the holidays.

Eggnog Gelato

Rich, velvety, and unmistakably festive, this gelato captures eggnog’s signature flavor in a silkier, more refined form. The nutmeg and vanilla shine through beautifully, while the denser gelato texture makes every spoonful feel extra luxurious. It’s actually quite forgiving to make since gelato requires less air incorporation than traditional ice cream. The custard base ensures that creamy, coating-your-spoon consistency that makes gelato so irresistible. Serve it in small portions—a little goes a long way with this decadent treat.

Candy Cane Swirl Ice Cream

This classic holiday ice cream features bold peppermint ribbons winding through vanilla, creating a gorgeous marbled effect in your scoop. The vanilla base keeps things balanced so the peppermint doesn’t overwhelm your palate. Crushing the candy canes is half the fun, and kids especially love helping with this step. The texture combination of smooth ice cream and crunchy candy pieces makes each bite interesting. It’s the perfect topping for brownies or hot fudge sundaes throughout December.

Chocolate Frozen Custard

This frozen custard tastes like drinking the world’s best hot chocolate, but cold. The egg yolks create an incredibly rich, smooth texture that’s denser than regular ice cream. Deep cocoa flavor gets enhanced with a touch of vanilla and sometimes a hint of cinnamon or espresso. Making custard requires a bit more attention to temperature, but the result is absolutely worth it. Top it with whipped cream and mini marshmallows to complete the hot chocolate experience in frozen form.

Cranberry Orange Sorbet

Bright, tart, and refreshingly different from all the creamy options, this sorbet is like a palate cleanser that tastes like the holidays. The cranberry brings that signature tang while orange zest adds aromatic sweetness and complexity. It’s dairy-free, making it perfect for guests with dietary restrictions, and it’s surprisingly simple to prepare. The vibrant red color looks stunning served in clear glass bowls or alongside richer desserts. This is the treat you’ll crave when you want something festive but lighter.

Spiced Rum Raisin Ice Cream

This grown-up treat takes the classic rum raisin up several notches with warming holiday spices like cinnamon and clove. The raisins get plumped in actual rum, creating boozy little flavor bombs throughout the ice cream. The alcohol keeps the ice cream from freezing too hard, giving it a perfect scoopable texture straight from the freezer. It’s sophisticated enough for dinner parties but comforting enough for quiet nights by the fire. Just remember this one isn’t for the kids!

Salted Caramel Snowball Truffles

These bite-sized frozen treats combine salted caramel ice cream rolled in white chocolate and coconut or flaky sea salt for a snowball effect. They’re incredibly fun to make and even more fun to serve at holiday gatherings. The contrast between sweet caramel, salty finish, and creamy white chocolate is absolutely addictive. Rolling them takes a bit of time, but you can make a big batch and keep them frozen for weeks. They look impressively elegant despite being simple to execute.

White Chocolate Peppermint Frozen Yogurt

This lighter option doesn’t sacrifice flavor for fewer calories—the white chocolate adds creaminess while the peppermint keeps things bright and festive. Frozen yogurt’s tangy base actually complements the sweetness beautifully, preventing it from being cloying. It comes together quickly without needing an ice cream maker if you use the freeze-and-stir method. The pink swirls from crushed candy canes make it look as good as it tastes. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a festive treat that feels a bit less indulgent.

Gingerbread Latte Ice Cream

Coffee lovers will flip for this combination of espresso, gingerbread spices, and cream. It’s like your favorite holiday coffee drink transformed into ice cream form. The coffee flavor isn’t overwhelming—it works with the spices to create something complex and warming despite being frozen. Some versions include a ribbon of molasses or caramel running through for extra depth. Have a scoop for dessert or be rebellious and enjoy it for breakfast during the holidays.

Frozen Peppermint Cheesecake Bites

These no-bake beauties combine cheesecake’s tangy richness with cool peppermint in perfectly portioned bites. The crunchy cookie crust bottom provides textural contrast to the creamy filling. They’re ideal for parties since guests can grab one (or three) without needing plates or forks. Freezing them solid makes the cheesecake easier to cut into neat squares or fun shapes. They taste like a peppermint cheesecake but with the refreshing element of being served frozen.

Mulled Wine Sorbet

This sophisticated sorbet captures the essence of mulled wine with its blend of red wine, citrus, and warming spices. The alcohol content gives it a smooth, almost creamy texture despite being completely dairy-free. It’s an unexpected conversation starter at holiday dinners and pairs wonderfully with chocolate desserts. The deep burgundy color looks stunning served in champagne coupes or wine glasses. Making it is easier than you’d think—just simmer, cool, and churn.

Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Cinnamon-sugar lovers, this is your dream come true. The ice cream base has all those snickerdoodle flavors while edible cookie dough chunks are scattered throughout. Unlike gingerbread, snickerdoodles have a simpler, more buttery flavor profile that feels nostalgic and comforting. The cookie dough pieces stay soft and chewy even when frozen, creating perfect texture variation. It’s a crowd-pleaser that appeals to both kids and adults during holiday gatherings.

Fruitcake Ice Cream

Before you skip this one, hear us out—this ice cream version actually makes fruitcake delicious. Rum-soaked dried fruits and nuts folded into rich vanilla ice cream create something surprisingly elegant. The fruits stay tender and flavorful when frozen, not hard like in traditional fruitcake. It’s a fun way to honor a classic holiday tradition while actually creating something everyone will enjoy. Consider this your fruitcake redemption arc in dessert form.