Summer's Best Frozen Treats

Photo: Michael Kraus; Styling: Roscoe Betsill

Cool down with our favorite recipes for smoothies, frozen pies, and other lip-smacking treats.

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S'more Shake

Photo: Christopher Baker

Broiling the marshmallows first gives this shake its authentic straight-from-the-campfire taste.

Recipe: S'more Shake (left)

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Brown Cow

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Brown Cow

Not a cola fan? Sub in a chilly bottle of root beer. And give it a splash of Kahlua if you want to really cut loose.

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Strawberry Macaron Ice-Cream Sandwich

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Strawberry Macaron Ice-Cream Sandwich

We didn’t think it could get better than those sturdy chocolate wafers. Or rounds of reliable ole’ chocolate chip. But then we paired our favorite ice creams with airy macaron cookies—a match made in sandwich heaven.

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Hawaiian Shave Ice

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Hawaiian Shave Ice

Vibrant homemade syrups (remember: strawberry + coconut + watermelon = Tiger’s Blood) splashed onto a mound of fluffy shave ice spells the sweetest relief under the sun.

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Strawberry-Tamarind Paleta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Strawberry-Tamarind Paleta

Tamarind paste and a hint of cinnamon add an alluring contrast to all that sweet strawberry flavor.

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Pistachio Macaron Ice-Cream Sandwich

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Pistachio Ice-Cream Sandwich

Macarons are delicate and finicky (and yes, presentation matters!), so invest in a piping bag with a round tip, and try to avoid making them in a humid environment.

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Pineapple-Jalapeño Paleta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Pineapple-Jalapeño Paleta

Steeping jalapenos in simple syrup is a surprising addition to these pineapple pops. But trust us, it works.

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Brownie Ice Cream Sundae Cake

Photo: Levi Brown; Recipe: Julia Rutland

This cake makes for the ultimate celebratory sweet, perfect for birthdays or just any day of the week.

Recipe: Brownie Ice Cream Sundae Cake

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Caribbean Bushwacker

Photo: Christopher Baker

Use refrigerated ingredients and freeze any liquor first so the milkshake doesn't melt in the blender before you pour into glasses.

Recipe: Caribbean Bushwacker (right)

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Mango Macaron Ice-Cream Sandwich

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Mango Ice-Cream Sandwich

Combining red and yellow food coloring forms the requisite tropical hue to partner with mango sorbet.

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Peachy Dream

Photo: Christopher Baker

The addition of almond extract and granola garnish makes this fruity shake extra dreamy.

Recipe: Peachy Dream (right)

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Mint-Chocolate Chip Shake

Photo: Christopher Baker

For a thicker texture best eaten with a spoon, reduce the amount of milk in recipes by half. For a thin shake you can drink with a straw, add liquid in small increments until it's sippable.

Recipe: Mint-Chocolate Chip Shake

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Cherry Cream Paleta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Cherry Cream Paleta

Frozen cherries add a pop of color to this Creamsicle-like concoction.

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Peanut Butter-Chocolate Shake

Photo: Christopher Baker

This shake (pictured in the middle) is your favorite candy in a cup. Play with the amount of chocolate sauce and peanut butter depending on your preference.

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Chocolate Shake

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Mango-Coconut Paleta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Mango-Coconut Paleta

Coconut flakes and chunks of mango give this toothsome, coconut milk-fueled paleta an enticing texture.

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The Best Ice Cream Sandwich Ever

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

Any chocolate chip cookie recipe will work, but we prefer this extra-chocolaty, extra-rich recipe. Try these ice-cream flavors with our cookies: vanilla, peppermint, chocolate, or butter pecan.

Recipe: The Best Ice Cream Sandwich Ever

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Pom-Berry Shake

Photo: Christopher Baker

Premium vanilla ice cream makes the best base for a creamy, tasty shake. Just scoop, blend, and enjoy.

Recipe: Pom-Berry Shake

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Avocado-Lime Paleta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Avocado-Lime Paleta

It’s not just for guac. Try lush avocado in place of traditional dairy, then give it some zing with a squeeze of lime.

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Butterscotch-Sea Salt Shake

Photo: Christopher Baker

Avoid "light" and inexpensive ice cream. It's often whipped with air, which means you'll need more scoops of ice cream—and your shakes will melt faster. The ice cream carton should feel heavy for its size.

Recipe: Butterscotch-Sea Salt Shake (left)

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Watermelon-Lemonade Paleta

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Recipe: Adam Dolge and Karen Rankin

Recipe: Watermelon-Lemonade Paleta

Who doesn’t love frozen lemonade? Especially when it’s paired with ripe summer watermelon—and presented on a stick!

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Key Lime Ice Cream Pie

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

Homemade key lime ice cream and a graham cracker pie crust combine to make a tangy and delicious frozen treat. Keep this pie in the freezer so you'll always have a cool treat waiting when an unexpected visitor drops in.

Recipe: Key Lime Ice Cream Pie

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Blood Orange Sorbet

Photographer: Jean Allsopp

Blood oranges are typically sweeter than their cousins, but can be more difficult to peel.

Recipe: Blood Orange Sorbet

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Strawberry Ice Cream Shortcakes

Photo: Levi Brown; Recipe: Julia Rutland

Make these with homemade sweet cakes, or use store-bought shortcakes for a shortcut that's still delicious.

Recipe: Strawberry Ice Cream Shortcakes

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Banana-Berry Smoothie

Photographer: Levi Brown

Keep a stash of frozen bananas handy—they’re great in smoothies because they add flavor and body.

Recipe: Banana-Berry Smoothie

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Piña Colada

Photographer: Dasha Wright

The secret to this lively drink is chopped fresh pineapple instead of canned.

Recipe: Piña Colada

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Triple Chocolate Slush

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

Although there's a bit of ice cream in this recipe, the ice makes it lighter and less rich than a typical milkshake. To keep the syrup visible on the sides of the glass, put the glass in the freezer up to 30 minutes before adding the syrup.

Recipe: Triple Chocolate Slush

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Caramel-Fleur de Sel Ice Cream

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

Fleur de sel, or "flower of salt," is sea salt hand-harvested on the Atlantic coast of France. Its delicate flavor makes it an ideal finishing salt. Look for it at specialty food shops.

Recipe: Caramel-Fleur de Sel Ice Cream

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Tropical Fruit Slush

Photographer: Lindsey Ellis-Beatty

A smaller blender works fine, but blend in batches to avoid a mess.

Recipe: Tropical Fruit Slush

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Blended Blue Hawaiian

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

This tiki drink is traditionally served on the rocks, but our version is blended to create a smooth, refreshing summer treat.

Recipe: Blended Blue Hawaiian

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Grilled Nectarines with Vanilla-Honey Sauce and Ice Cream

Photographer: Becky Luigart-Stayner

When choosing nectarines, firmness and smell are good indicators, and soft skin usually means a tastier fruit.

Recipe: Grilled Nectarines with Vanilla-Honey Sauce and Ice Cream

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Mango Smoothie

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

If you don't have fresh mango on hand, substitute one 16-ounce bag of frozen fruit.

Recipe: Mango Smoothie

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Pineapple-Berry Ice Pops

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

You can use paper cups and plastic spoons in place of pop molds. To make the spoons stand up straight, cover each cup with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, with the spoon handle inserted in the middle. If the pops don't easily come out of the cups or molds, run the bottoms quickly under cool water.

Recipe: Pineapple-Berry Ice Pops

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Minty Lime Frozen Mojito

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

Punchy lime and flavorful rum give this drink a Caribbean kick.

Recipe: Minty Lime Frozen Mojito

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Summer Sorbet Trio

Photographer: Tara Sgori

Letting the sorbet stand in the refrigerator gives it time to soften, but you can speed up the process by breaking it up and pulsing it in a food processor fitted with a metal blade.

Recipe: Summer Sorbet Trio

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Grown-Up Frozen Lemonade

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

Try another citrus in this recipe, such as fresh lime zest and juice, or even lime- or citrus-flavored vodka. (You may need to add a little extra sugar, because it isn't as naturally sweet as limoncello liqueur.)

Recipe: Grown-Up Frozen Lemonade

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Frozen Lime Pie

Photographer: Howard L. Puckett

Don't be tempted to substitute bottled lime juice—it simply doesn't compare to fresh.

Recipe: Frozen Lime Pie

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Summer Melon with Sherbet and Fresh Mint Syrup

Photographer: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Extra mint syrup can be used in your next pitcher of iced tea.

Recipe: Summer Melon with Sherbet and Fresh Mint Syrup

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Frozen White Chocolate

Photographer: Jennifer Davick

Crème de cacao is an extra-sweet liqueur flavored by the chocolate bean.

Recipe: Frozen White Chocolate

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42 Delicious Frozen Treats

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S'more Shake

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Brown Cow

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Strawberry Macaron Ice-Cream Sandwich

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Hawaiian Shave Ice

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Strawberry-Tamarind Paleta

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Pistachio Macaron Ice-Cream Sandwich

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Pineapple-Jalapeño Paleta

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Brownie Ice Cream Sundae Cake

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Caribbean Bushwacker

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Mango Macaron Ice-Cream Sandwich

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Peachy Dream

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Mint-Chocolate Chip Shake

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Cherry Cream Paleta

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Peanut Butter-Chocolate Shake

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Mango-Coconut Paleta

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The Best Ice Cream Sandwich Ever

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Pom-Berry Shake

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Avocado-Lime Paleta

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Butterscotch-Sea Salt Shake

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Watermelon-Lemonade Paleta

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Key Lime Ice Cream Pie

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Blood Orange Sorbet

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Strawberry Ice Cream Shortcakes

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Banana-Berry Smoothie

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Piña Colada

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Triple Chocolate Slush

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