Our 9 Favorite Types of Ice Cream

Get your ice cream cones ready because here is a list of our favorite types of ice cream which will get your taste buds salivating. Ice cream is a sweet, creamy frozen treat that has been delighting young and old throughout the centuries. Today, we can find a world of flavors to choose from as well as a variety of different kinds of ice cream to satisfy every taste.

Ice cream around the world can come in many forms. I discovered rolled ice cream when travelling to Thailand and it was divine! You can also find these desserts in Malaysia, Cambodia and the Phillipines.

From Kulfi in India to Japanese mochi where dollops of ice cream are wrapped in sweet and sticky rice dough and to Turkey’s dondurma which is thick and chewy, you would not be disappointed when trying each type of ice cream from around the world.

There are many varieties of ice cream and other mixed frozen treats so below are the most common types of ice cream that the whole family will enjoy.

Hard Ice Cream

Probably the most popular and well loved ice cream is hard ice cream. US Standards state that there are a wide variety of ingredients allowed in ice cream but all ice cream must have a minimum of 10% milk fat, at least 20% milk solids and air. One of the differences between hard ice cream and soft serve is the freezing process where hard ice cream undergoes a hardening process that freezes more of the water in the mix. Want to make your own hard ice cream? Check out our best recipes here.

Non-Dairy Cream

This includes a growing section of ice cream varieties that are produced entirely without dairy. Many are made in the legendary style of ice cream, using either soy or other non-dairy milk and cream choices; others are created using mixed fruit, such as bananas. Check out our lactose free recipe here.

Frozen Custard

Frozen custard is related to ice cream, just with a few fundamental differences:

• Egg yolk is added to the base. According to the USDA it must include at lease 1.4% egg yolk. The yolk provides the frozen custard a strong, full flavor.

• Another essential characteristic is the direction it is churned. Even churning keeps it from holding too much air which gives it a thick, creamy finish.

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt has never been an ice cream at all but rather like ice cream’s cousin. You normally see frozen yogurt sitting proudly right next to the ice creams. Simply placed, frozen yogurt substitutes the milk or cream for a yogurt mix that’s been churned similar to regular ice cream. Like ice cream, it has a mixture of flavors to delight the taste buds.

French Ice Cream

While normal hard ice cream is not regularly made including egg, French ice cream includes egg yolk. This is why “French vanilla” ice cream is continuously a little extra yellow than natural vanilla. French ice cream has some similarities with frozen custard has a feeling more like hard ice cream.

Philadelphia Style Ice Cream

Here is a kind of hard ice cream produced using milk or cream, sugar, and whatever flavorings you desire. What is distinctly missing from the mixture is the egg. All you have to do is is mix everything together, churn and then freeze. This ice cream is surprisingly smooth and heroes the creamy textures.

Gelato

Our Italian favorite – Gelato! In case you were wondering “gelato” means “ice cream” in Italian. It is closely related to ice cream but does have some notable exceptions:

• It does have a custard like base but also contains less milk fat and less air churned into it during freezing. This makes the texture more denser.

• Gelato is also served at slightly warmer temperatures so this ice cream is softer than hard ice cream and looks more glossy.

No-Churn Ice Cream

As the name suggests this type of ice cream is made without churning. Mixed cream is often used. While those ice creams are easy to make and very delicious, the taste is usually a little more complex than regular hard ice cream.

Soft Serve Ice Cream

Soft serve ice cream is a crowd favorite regularly bought from ice cream stores, boardwalk vendors and ice cream vans. It’s related to hard ice cream in its design, but it’s directed at the lower warmth and churned more regularly, yielding a softer, lighter taste.

Everyone loves ice cream and being able to make homemade ice cream makes it that little bit more special. Be sure to check out our latest recipes and best ice cream maker reviews so you can start enjoying this delicious creamy treat at home! Also check out this great five minute ice cream recipe!

How to Make Ice Cream In Five Minutes:

1. Prep Time: 5 minutes
2. Ice Cream Maker Time: About 25–30 minutes
3. Servings (1/2 cup): 12
4. Makes: 1 1/2 quarts

Ingredients:

• 4 cups almond milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

At first clean everything, you need for making ice cream. Make sure that your ice cream maker is fully cleaned.

1. Whisk the almond milk with the vanilla and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Microwave for 40 seconds and then stir.
2. Place the mixture in the ice cream maker and process it for 20 minutes or until thick.
3. Serve right away or freeze for later use.

Ice cream cones at the ready! Your ice cream is ready!