It’s hot outside! Cool down with some yummy frozen treats. But what kind of sweet treat should you pick; ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt or custard, sherbet or sorbet? There are so many choices, and honestly I’m not sure that there is really one that’s better than the other. Whatever you choose you can’t go wrong. If you’d like to cool down with a yummy frozen treat just follow the three steps below!

Step 1: Decide on the type of frozen deliciousness you want to indulge in.

First thing you’ll need to decide is what kind of treat you want. Below are the definitions of the sweet treats.

Ice Cream: Ice cream is a sweet flavored frozen food containing cream and butterfat. I would define more as a heavenly treat that goes great with cake, brownies, pie, etc. Seriously the flavor combinations are endless!

Gelato: A soft rich ice cream containing little or no air. It’s originally from Italy. My definition of gelato is a treat that is even better than ice cream, if that’s possible, and the food item I would happily eat every day of my life if I could.

Sherbet: A frozen dessert made from fruit or fruit juices. Perfect for those who love fruit!

Frozen Yogurt: A frozen dessert made with yogurt and sometimes other dairy products. It can be slightly to much more tart than ice cream, and it is lower in fat.

Frozen Custard: A cold dessert similar to ice cream, but made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar. I’ve heard that it’s better than ice cream, but I’ve never had it so I can’t say that’s true!

Step 2: Pick a flavor.

Next you’ll have to decide on the flavor you want. There are a lot of different choices out there. I won’t list them all, but I will say that you can’t go wrong with your choice. Let your mood decide the flavor for you. Are you feeling fruity? Or more chocolaty? The choice is yours.

Step 3: Top it off.

This is the best part! You’ve picked the type of frozen treat you want, you’ve found a flavor, now you get to choose the toppings. The toppings can take an “eh” dessert to a “yummm” dessert! Below are some suggestions on how to top your frozen treat!

For fruity flavors:

• Various cut up fruit such as bananas, strawberries, blackberries, basically any berry, pineapple and kiwi.
• Gummy bears and other sweet candy that goes well with fruit
• Cheesecake bites
• Graham cracker crumbs
• Granola
• Nuts
• Sprinkles
• Whipped cream

For the other flavors:

• Candy bar pieces for example, Skor, Heath, Kit Kat, Snickers, and Twix etc.
• Chocolate, strawberry, or caramel sauce, hot or cold
• Chocolate chips
• Nuts
• Sprinkles
• Whipped Cream

Remember these are just suggestions! Don’t let me stifle your topping creativity. There are no rules when it comes to toppings. If you really wanted you could even top your ice cream with even more ice cream!

Still not convinced that you need a frozen treat? Here are my top 5 reasons why you should be eating something cold and sweet right now!

1. 1) It’s the summer which means it’s hot outside and eating something cool might help you stay cool.
2. 2) Ice cream and the other treats listed go well with just about anything. You can enjoy ice cream as a snack, or with a burger, or on top of pie, brownies, and cake.
3. 3) There’s a flavor for everyone! There are so many flavors out there that I would be willing to bet you could ask for something ridiculous like pickle and someone probably makes it.
4. 4) It’s an affordable treat. You can buy a carton of ice cream for around $3.00 and it’ll last for a while, unless you eat it in one sitting. If you don’t want to buy ice cream you can always make your own!
5. 5) Finally, ice cream and frozen treats make everything better! If you’ve had a bad day at work, or need a little pick me up, grab a spoon and dig in, you’ll feel better!

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go get some ice cream right now! What’s your favorite way to eat ice cream? Do you have a favorite flavor? Leave a comment below!