Ice cream has been around since the 1600s, but it didn’t become industrially produced and popular outside of elite circles until the mid-1800s.[1]
Ice cream cones were popularized after appearing in 1904 at the World’s Fair in St. Louis.[2]
Today, ice cream is one of the most popular desserts, with around 96% of Americans reporting that they eat ice cream.[3]
The U.S. consumes the most ice cream, but it’s a popular treat worldwide. Many countries even have their own unique varieties, such as Italian gelato,[4] Japanese mochi,[5] and Turkish dondurma.[6]
No matter your favorite flavor or type of ice cream, we list the best words to describe ice cream below.
Refreshing
Creamy
Heavenly
Enticing
Mouthwatering
Cold
Indulgent
Sugary
Tasty
Luscious
Mellow
Fresh
Irresistible
Crunchy
Glacial
cold
Saccharine
Sour
appropriate for acidic flavors like lemon
Milky
Divine
Tempting
Edible
Tart
appropriate for sour flavors like lemon
Appealing
Choice
superior
Delectable
Rich
Homemade
Ambrosial
delicious
Dulcet
sweet and pleasant
Scrumptious
Delicious
Goopy
Velvety
smooth
Chunky
Numbing
very cold
Premium
high-quality
Frozen
Old-fashioned
Frigid
Ice-cold
Dulcified
sweetened
Fried
ice cream served with a crispy coating
Icy
Delicate
Plain
Candied
Nutty
appropriate for certain flavors like butter pecan and pistachio
Flavorful
Flavorsome
full of flavor
Fancy
Swirled
Satisfying
Silky
Chocolatey
Hard
Cool
Tasteful
flavorful
Sweet
Smooth
Treacly
overly sweet
Tangy
appropriate for sour, fruity flavors
Delightful
Appetizing
Chilled
Chilly
Yummy
Decadent
Aperitive
appetizing
Exquisite
well-made and delicious
Palatable
Cheap
Soft
Sweetened
Sticky
Frosty
Delish
Low-fat
Fruity
Gooey
Sugar-free
Scooped
Flavored
Soupy
partially melted
Speckled
ice cream that includes chocolate chips or candy pieces
Honeyed
sweet
Melting
Salty
appropriate for specialty flavors like salted caramel
Melted
Syrupy
thickly sweet
Tasteless
bland
Bitter
Ice cream is usually sweet, but some specialty flavors are bitter!
Recipe: Easy Ice Cream in a Bag
While you can easily grab a carton of ice cream from many grocery and convenience stores, it can be fun to try making your own ice cream at home, too!
The simplest ice cream recipes call for two plastic baggies, a few ingredients, and around 15 minutes of prep time.
Start by gathering the following ingredients:
- Ice (enough to fill about half of a large resealable plastic baggie)
- 1 cup of half-and-half
- 1/3 cup of kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract
You can also use any toppings you’d like, such as chocolate chips, fudge sauce, fruit, or bits of cookie dough.
Combine your half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla extract in one resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag, being sure to press out any excess air.
In a larger plastic baggie, place your ice and salt. Then, place your bag of ingredients inside the bag of ice.
Shake the bag for around seven to 10 minutes until the ice cream hardens. It’s best to wear gloves while shaking it, so your hands don’t get too cold!
Once the ice cream hardens, you’ll have a single serving ready to eat! Add or mix your toppings and scoop the ice cream into a bowl or cone.
If you prefer your ice cream harder, you can leave it in the freezer for a while before eating. If you prefer flavors other than vanilla, you can also mix in things like cocoa powder or espresso powder to create your own unique flavors!