Enjoying ice cream in the winter

Ice cream is a delicious treat that can be enjoyed all year round – yes, really! Even when the weather is cold or damp outside there is still a lot of pleasure to be had from a few scoops of your favourite flavour. All you need to do to enjoy ice cream in the winter – and to convince all your friends and family too – is know the best ways to serve and eat it.

Switch up the flavours you eat in the winter

Summery, refreshing tastes such as lemon or raspberry may not be quite so appealing at this time of year. So, if you want to get the most from ice cream in winter, try switching to more seasonal flavours instead. These are just a few that you could try this year:

• Rum n raisin. Warming and full of delicious dried fruit, this is a great flavour for those who are looking for something a bit celebratory from a winter ice cream treat.
• Christmas pudding or mince pie ice cream. It doesn’t get more festive than these two ice cream flavours at this time of year. Christmas pudding or mince pie ice cream can be made in lots of different ways but are usually rich with Christmas spices and dried fruit.
• It’s a classic festive drink that works incredibly well in a custardy ice cream, especially with the addition of some warming rum.
• Dark chocolate and gingerbread. Chocolate is obviously something we all love to indulge in at Christmas and gingerbread is also a traditional treat. Ginger is a spice that brings a lot of warmth while the dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants that are especially essential in winter.
• Brown sugar and cinnamon. Spicy, sweet and satisfying, this is a great ice cream flavour to enjoy when the weather outside is less than impressive and you want to feel a bit better about life.

Add your ice cream to something else

If the temperature of ice cream is what puts you off eating it in winter then try adding it to something hot and you’ll soon change your mind.

• A hot chocolate float. This is the season for hot chocolate and a scoop of your favourite ice cream can turn it into a delicious dessert with a much more complex set of flavours.
• Puddings and pies. The contrast of a hot pudding and cool ice cream can set off all sorts of taste explosions at dinnertime. From hot brownies to apple tart, Christmas pudding to a berry crumble, a scoop of ice cream can really bring a winter pudding to life.
• The affogato is a classic Italian dessert that combines ice cream with espresso poured over the top. Add in a shot of your favourite liqueur to make it extra special.

Even when the seasons change there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy your favourite ice cream. From upgrading your hot chocolate to adding another dimension to much loved winter puddings, there are lots of ways to continue to eat, and love, ice cream at this time of year.