Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with Sweet History and Homemade Treats

Do we eat it in a bowl or a cone? Everyone, young and old, is crazy about it! Many people even crave it late at night during moments of wakefulness. It helps relieve stress for many, and once you start, it’s hard to stop. This beloved summer treat is ice cream, enjoyed all over the globe. That’s really all you need to know.

And on National Ice Cream Day, which falls on July 20, stores offer all available flavors to celebrate! So here are some fun ways to enjoy this unmatched dessert.

Dubai – Lina Al Hourani

History of Ice Cream

According to historical discoveries, Arabs were among the first to freeze sweet beverages made from fruit and honey, known as sharbat, a concept that later spread to Europe. Arabs used snow to cool food and drinks, storing it in mountain caves, then using it to make frozen desserts with different flavors. Their techniques in refrigeration contributed significantly to the development of ice cream during the Middle Ages.

Thousands of years ago, the Persian Empire’s people would pour grape concentrate over snow in bowls and enjoy it as a summer delicacy. They stored snow underground in structures called “Yakhchal” to keep it from melting. Persians also climbed mountains near their summer capital to gather snow.

In China, during the Tang Dynasty (around 697 AD), people started freezing dairy products using salt and ice. However, the result wasn’t quite like the ice cream we know today.

Later, with the advent of frozen desserts and drinks, culinary experts pointed to Naples, Italy as the birthplace of modern ice cream. Credit often goes to Antonio Latini (born 1642), who created a milk-based sherbet.

In the United States, Quaker colonists were known for bringing their own ice cream recipes. They opened the first ice cream shops, including ones in New York and other colonial cities.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and announced that the third Sunday of July would be National Ice Cream Day.

How to Celebrate National Ice Cream Day

Enjoy this day by sharing ice cream with your friends and family! Try new flavors, or visit your favorite ice cream shop. Don’t forget to show your love on social media using the hashtag #NationalIceCreamDay. You can also try making easy recipes at home and prepare them a day in advance to surprise your kids.

Fun Ice Cream Facts (U.S.)

• Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson all enjoyed ice cream.

• 1813 – First Lady Dolley Madison served ice cream at the presidential inauguration.

• 1832 – African-American confectioner Augustus Jackson developed multiple recipes and a breakthrough ice cream manufacturing technique.

• 1843 – Nancy Johnson of Philadelphia received the first U.S. patent for a hand-cranked ice cream freezer.

• 1920 – Harry Burt launched the first ice cream trucks.

• Thomas Jefferson’s vanilla ice cream recipe is believed to be one of the oldest known from the U.S., and is preserved at the Library of Congress. It’s very complex, so instead, here are simpler recipes for the modern kitchen.

Homemade Rich and Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream (Philadelphia-style)

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1¾ cups heavy cream

• 1¼ cups whole milk

• ¾ cup sugar

• ⅛ tsp fine sea salt

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract or 1 whole vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Instructions:

1. Pour 1 cup of cream into a saucepan. Add sugar and salt. If using a vanilla bean, scrape the seeds into the pan and add the pod too.

2. Heat gently over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat.

3. Add remaining cream, milk, and vanilla extract (if using). Whisk to combine and chill thoroughly in the fridge.

4. When ready, remove the vanilla pod and whisk again. Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Serve immediately, or transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm.

Tip: You can skip the heating step and whisk everything together cold—it’s still delicious!

Easy Fruit Sorbet Recipe

Serves: 6–8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Freezing Time: 4.5 hours

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fruit purée (e.g., peach)

• ¼ cup sugar

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• ¼ tsp kosher salt

What fruits can I use?

Try strawberries, raspberries, mango (a favorite!), blueberries, or blackberries. For citrus, lime works well with mango or blackberries, and fresh orange juice pairs beautifully with berries.

Don’t have an ice cream maker?

No problem! This no-churn sorbet uses a simple sugar syrup. Just freeze the fruit beforehand and blend it in a food processor. It takes a bit longer to freeze, but the result is just as refreshing.

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, blend the fruit until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove solids. You should get about 4 cups of purée.

2. In a large bowl, mix the purée with sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Taste and adjust the lemon juice if needed. Chill for at least 2 hours.

3. When ready, churn in your ice cream maker for about 20 minutes. The mixture will be creamy but not fully set.

4. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.

Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe

Serve with chocolate sauce or salted caramel, or sandwich between two cookies for a fun twist!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Churning: 20 minutes + freezing time

Ingredients:

• Dairy: Equal parts half-and-half and heavy cream (can substitute whole milk for half-and-half)

• Sugar: White granulated

• Cocoa powder: Use your favorite unsweetened cocoa (Dutch-process or natural)

• Vanilla extract: Use high-quality vanilla for best results

Instructions:

1. Make the ice cream base.

2. In a blender, combine sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and half the cream. Blend on low speed until smooth.

3. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the rest of the cream.

4. Churn in an ice cream maker per manufacturer instructions.

5. The ice cream will be soft right after churning. Transfer to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze until firm.