If ice cream is your go-to sweet treat, get ready to meet its rivals! The dessert world is full of creamy, dreamy treats that can hit the same spot, and maybe even outshine your favorite pint. Here are 10 desserts to add to your must-try list ASAP.
10. Old-Fashioned Cooked Custard Pie
Custard pie is comfort in a crust, loaded with the classic, silky-smooth eggy filling. When chilled, every slice feels cool and creamy, almost like spooning into a firmer version of custard-style ice cream. A sprinkle of nutmeg on top can add a cozy warmth that balances the sweetness.
9. Key Lime Pie (Chilled)
Imagine the zesty lime filling made from sweetened condensed milk and eggs, poured into graham-cracker crust and then chilled until set. There’s no doubt key lime pie is bright, silky, sweet-tart, and satisfying! The L.A. Times highlights how it stays creamy and refreshing when eaten straight from the fridge.
8. Panna Cotta with Berry Coulis
Panna cotta proves that elegance doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s basically cream, sugar, and a little gelatin. Stir them together and chill until the mixture sets into a silky, wobbly dessert. For the perfect mix of creamy and refreshing, don’t forget the drizzle of berry sauce. This treat looks like something from a fancy restaurant that could easily steal ice cream’s spotlight.
7. Boston Cream Pie (Chilled)
Don’t let the name fool you. Boston cream pie is really a cake (and a showstopper). Imagine two layers of soft, fluffy sponge cake with a thick layer of custard in between, and then topped with chocolate glaze. Serve it chilled, and you get that cool bite that feels almost like eating a fancy ice cream sandwich. Bonus: no melting mess.
6. Baked Alaska
This dazzler wraps ice cream in cake and a sweet meringue, then gets toasted just enough to turn the outside golden while the inside stays frozen. One bite and you’ll notice how it’s cold, soft, and frozen all at once. It’s quite theatrical and worth making for when you want to wow a crowd.
5. Cheesecake (Chilled or Frozen)
Cheesecake doesn’t come in a cone, but bite into that rich filling and you’ll see why it stands toe-to-toe with ice cream. The cream cheese base delivers the same creamy satisfaction but with a tangy depth. Served chilled, it’s luxurious. When frozen, it takes on an ice-cream-cake vibe that melts slowly on your tongue.
4. Banana Pudding
The classic banana pudding is iconic enough to rival ice cream. It’s pure comfort in a bowl, made with layers of vanilla wafers, sliced bananas, and silky pudding. The wafers soften as it chills, and every bite is kind of like ice cream with built-in cookies.
3. S’mores Icebox Cake
Now, this is ice cream’s chill cousin, featuring layers of graham crackers, toasted marshmallows, and chocolate fudge, all assembled and chilled. Over time, the crackers soften into a silky cake, delivering rich, fluffy, and gooey bites. It’s totally nostalgic and just as crowd-pleasing as a sundae.
2. Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt is the kind of treat you can eat on a hot afternoon without feeling weighed down. It has a lighter, tangier twist that keeps it refreshing. It’s just as scoopable as ice cream, but feels a little more “anytime.” Try popular fun shop flavors like cake batter, mango, or cookies and cream.
1. Frozen Custard
Frozen custard’s ultra-creamy texture comes from the egg yolks added to the milk-cream base. This makes it denser and silkier than regular ice cream. So yes, frozen custard feels extra indulgent on your tongue. The velvet-rich mouthfeel makes each spoonful like a mini celebration!