Baking desserts at home can turn into a wonderful family activity! Most of the time those desserts are best to eat right out of the oven while they’re warm! But on these hot summer days, you might want a frozen treat to cool you down instead! Since you’ll pay a bundle more for one simple treat at the grocery store, we suggest taking the time to create your own frozen treats this summer! Below, we’ve listed recipes for all kinds of taste preferences. So gather your ingredients on a budget, then enjoy making your favorite homemade frozen treats to enjoy in the sun, on the beach, or by a pool!

Nana’s Homemade Banana Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS:

• Whole milk (roughly ½ gallon)
• One 12-ounce can of evaporated milk
• 3 eggs
• 3 1/3 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring
• 5 large RIPE mashed bananas
• Large bagged ice
• Ice cream salt
• ICE CREAM FREEZER

DIRECTIONS:

• Mix evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. 
• Beat well with hand mixer. 
• Add mashed bananas and mix well. 
• Pour into freezer can. (Most are marked with a fill line…so add whole milk to that point.)
• Freeze according to manufacturer’s directions; making sure outer container stays filled with rice alternated with ice cream salt.

Frozen Yogurt Bars

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup fresh ripe strawberries
• 2 1/2 cups plain, vanilla or Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon raw sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey or agave

DIRECTIONS:

• Rinse and remove the stems from the blueberries and strawberries.
• Leave the blueberries whole, but cut the strawberries in half.
• Place the fruit into the food processor.
• Add sugar and agave.
• Pulse until the fruit mixture is loose but still has noticeable bits of fruit.
• Spoon the mixture into a bowl and add yogurt.
• Gently swirl the ingredients together, giving the popsicles a swirled look.
• Spoon the yogurt and fruit mixture into the popsicle molds, filling to top.
• Place the lid on and push the popsicle sticks into the slots.
• Freeze overnight.
• Remove the popsicles just before serving and run warm water along the sides to loosen them from the mold.
• Serve.

The Recipe for “Disney Inspired” Dole Whip Popsicles

INGREDIENTS:

• One 20-oz can crushed pineapple
• One 8-oz tub Truwhip (the natural version) or Cool Whip, thawed
• Juice from 1 lime
• 2 Tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS:

• Blend together crushed pineapple, Cool Whip, lime juice, and sugar.
• Pour mixture into popsicle molds and freeze.

Related: How to Host an Outdoor Movie Night on a Budget!

A Fond Childhood Memory – Snow Cones!

DIRECTIONS:

• Purchase an ice shaver.
• Shave the ice into snow cone cups…or any cup. 
• Top it with a blue raspberry snow cone syrup, or juice!

Frozen Banana…Amusement Park Memories!

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 firm, ripe bananas, peeled and cut in half
• 6 popsicle sticks
• 8 ounces chopped dark or semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Toppings: toasted hazelnuts, pecans or peanuts, sprinkles, coconut flakes, etc.

DIRECTIONS:

• Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• Cut each banana in half.
• Insert a popsicle stick into the cut-end, and push the stick halfway in.
• Place all the bananas on the waxed paper and freeze for 1 hour.
• Add chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl with vegetable oil.
• Melt the chocolate and vegetable oil in the microwave. DO NOT burn the chocolate. Check on it every 30 seconds and stir.
• Put the dipping decorations (nuts, sprinkles) on flat plates.
• Remove bananas from the freezer.
• Take one banana at a time and dip it in the chocolate, coating it completely. 
• Roll or sprinkle the dipped bananas with toppings and put them back on the waxed paper.
• Put the bananas back in the freezer and freeze for 1 hour.
• Serve

Related: Everything You Need to Stock up on in August

Ice Cream Float…An Old-Fashioned Favorite

INGREDIENTS – Simple is often the best recipe! 

• Breyers vanilla or strawberry ice cream (use natural ingredients)
• Ginger Ale, Root Beer, or Coca-Cola

DIRECTIONS:

• Scoop ice cream into a glass, or a cute ice cream dish that can be purchased here.  
• Slowly pour soda over the ice cream until it can bubble no more! 
• An extra surprise is the crunchy ice crystals that will form over the ice cream. (This is why you use the ice cream with real ingredients!)
• Add a spoon and a straw to get every drop!