Homemade Cherry Pie Ice Cream: The Ultimate No-Bake Summer Dessert
Sometimes, the summer sun simply makes the thought of turning on the oven unbearable. When the heat is relentless, and you crave a comforting classic, what’s a pie lover to do? The answer is simple and delightfully refreshing: enjoy your pie in ice cream form! This Cherry Pie Ice Cream offers all the nostalgic flavors of a classic cherry pie, but in a cool, creamy, and utterly irresistible scoop. Made with a luscious homemade cherry pie filling, it’s the perfect no-bake dessert to beat the heat.
This summer has been a testament to unpredictable weather in Pennsylvania. While friends on the west coast grapple with severe drought, here on the east, it feels like the rain simply won’t cease. We’ve seen an endless cycle of thunderstorms, flash floods, and even tornado warnings. It’s hard not to wish for a way to distribute the weather more evenly, bringing relief to dry regions and a much-needed break of sunshine to us.
This persistent rainy weather has impacted everything, from cancelling my usual evening walks in the park to making photography a nightmare (I almost exclusively shoot with natural light, after all!). More importantly, when the air is thick with humidity and the skies are grey, the last thing anyone wants to do is preheat an oven for a traditional baked good. This is precisely when the magic of a no-bake dessert truly shines.
The Inspiration: A Bounty of Fresh Cherries
Speaking of rain, it didn’t deter me from one of my favorite summer traditions: picking cherries a few weeks ago, even if it meant doing so under a drizzle. I came home with a glorious bounty, enough to inspire a flurry of cherry-themed creations. After delighting in a hearty cherry crumble pie for Father’s Day, crafting an adorable mini cherry pie, and enjoying some flaky cherry turnovers, I still had just enough of those beautiful cherries left. It’s amazing how quickly four pounds of cherries disappear when you’re deep into baking, especially since a single regular pie can easily call for five cups!
With the remaining cherries and the sweltering weather, a new idea began to blossom. I yearned for a way to savor the vibrant taste of cherry pie without the heat and effort of baking. That’s when inspiration struck: why not combine my homemade cherry pie filling with a rich, creamy vanilla ice cream? The result? Cherry pie served on a cone (or in a bowl), completely oven-free. Now that, to me, is the epitome of a perfect summer dessert.
