What’s not to love about ice cream? Long licks of ice-cold, sweet vanilla on a hot day. Biting into a crunchy cone filled with creamy dairy goodness – or long slurps of chocolatey thick shakes, loaded with indulgent toppings and so thick they almost hurt your cheeks. Ice cream is a remarkable ingredient when it comes to spreading joy and happiness, no matter the occasion. There is something timeless about ice cream that it doesn’t matter if your customers are 8 or 80 years old, everyone enjoys the simple pleasure of digging into a delicious scoop – or two!
Here are 5 retro-inspired ice cream ideas that can be dressed up or down, and will undoubtedly bring a bit of dairy goodness and dining joy to any venue.
Banoffee pie banana split
A fun twist on the classic banana split that brings along with it the best bits of the banoffee pie. Think all the traditional elements of a banana split recipe – sliced bananas, ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream – plus all the best bits of a banoffee pie. Start by placing a can of condensed milk in a large pot. Cover with water, ensuring the can is completely submerged – remember, the water will evaporate, so make sure plenty is covering the top. Simmer for 2 – 3 hours, depending on the desired colour. Assemble the dish by layering crumbled sweet biscuits at the bottom of a sundae dish, adding a few scoops of vanilla ice cream, sliced bananas, chopped peanuts, chocolate topping and a generous drizzle of the caramelised condensed milk, aka – dulce de leche.
Christmas pudding ice cream
This recipe is so simple any venue can add a little Christmas cheer with just three ingredients: brandy, Christmas pudding and vanilla ice cream. It’s also a great one to use up any leftover Christmas puddings. Simply crumble the Christmas pudding into a bowl, add some brandy, then stir through vanilla ice cream. Return to the freezer before scooping into bowls with fresh custard. There’s also heaps of room to play here. Why not spruce this up into an adults-only version and turn this into a chocolate and coffee Christmas affogato? Scoop a spoon of Christmas pudding ice cream into a glass with a shot of coffee and Baileys! Garnish with grated chocolate and corinthians.
Strawberry bombe alaska
Another retro classic that shines with a heart of strawberry ice cream – and one that will leave your punters coming back for more – is the classic dessert, bombe Alaska. This simple yet elegant dessert is made by encasing rich, buttery cake and strawberry ice cream in a sweet blanket of toasted French meringue. You might also want to include a layer of thick lemon curd on top of the cake to bring out the zing of the strawberries, along with some macerated strawberries to garnish. This dish also allows for a bit of creativity and theatre. Try using different nozzles in your piping bag to create beautiful patterns – and if you’re feeling really adventurous, perhaps a little flambe at the table!
Neapolitan sundae
Often the hardest decision when it comes to ice cream is choosing which flavour. Enter Neapolitan! A little bit of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla in every bite. With Yarde Farm ice cream available in three flavours of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry it’s easy to put this one together. Take it up a notch with some next-level garnishes – think macerated strawberries, a drizzle of honey, rich chocolate ganache or rich pieces of gooey, chocolate brownie. For an extra indulgence, top it off with homemade honeycomb and a dollop of whipped mascarpone cream.
Loaded OTT thick shakes
Thick shakes were a revolution thanks to the electric blenders that appeared around the 1940s and 50s, but it wasn’t that long ago when ice cream creators took things to the next level. Think red velvet cake strawberry surprise, where layers of soft red velvet cake rest in mountains of cream, strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries and strawberry ice cream on top of a strawberry shake. Or a choc-chip cookie surprise, with stacked chocolate chip biscuits, caramel-filled chocolates, white chocolate pieces and dark chocolate chunks, piled high in whipped cream on top of a super thick chocolate shake!
Yarde Farm ice cream is more than just a nostalgic treat – it’s perfect for a wide range of uses across all foodservice operations. Available in convenient 10 litre tubs across three flavours – vanilla (2L 108204, 4L 59006, 5L 127911, 10L 59003), chocolate (59004) and strawberry (59005) – Yarde Farm ice creams are made with 10% milk fat, delivering a rich, creamy texture. The protein content contributes to a smooth texture and indulgent mouthfeel, with just the right amount of bite.
Palm-oil-free, vegetarian, Halal and gluten-free, Yarde Farm ice cream makes it easy to cater to a variety of dietary requirements. Whether as a base for pimped shakes, a garnish for desserts or the star of these delicious retro classic recipes, bring joy to your customers, one scoop at a time.
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