Easy Holiday Desserts: How to Dress Up Ordinary Vanilla Ice Cream for the Holidays

Are you hopeless in the kitchen and stressing out about the holidays? Fear not! I present to you three fool-proof ways to dress up ordinary vanilla ice cream, giving it unforgettable holiday flair. Your guests and family will be impressed, and you can spend the day relaxing, instead of working up a sweat in the kitchen.

Cinnamon ice cream:
This is a tried-and-true classic and couldn't be simpler! Just get a carton of vanilla ice cream, and stir in ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon for every ½ cup serving. If you're doing this beforehand, place your ice cream back in the freezer to firm up before serving. To make it really special you can serve this alongside a slice of pumpkin bread, gingerbread, or poundcake, which can be purchased at the grocery store. Cinnamon ice cream is also wonderful all by itself, with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or a dollop of whipped cream on top if you desire.

Pie Filling Toppings:
Canned, pre-made pie fillings make excellent ice cream toppings! Just buy a can (or jar) of your favorite cherry, apple, or peach pie filling, warm it up, and spoon it over a bowl of ice cream. You could also buy a package of shortbread cookies and stick one into each bowl. This method makes a lovely presentation, and transforms your ordinary vanilla ice cream into a festive treat!

Peppermint ice cream:
You know all those candy canes lying around that never seem to get eaten? Place them in a plastic bag and crush them up with a rolling pin. If this method doesn't work, smashing the canes in a mortar, (or taking them out back with a hammer) might work better for you. Crush them up as small as you can, because big pieces will be too difficult to eat once incorporated into the ice cream. Mix the bits into the ice cream, and then place it back into the freezer so it can firm up before serving. Peppermint ice cream is great on its own, but sandwiching it in between two holiday sugar cookies makes a festive ice cream sandwich that everyone will enjoy.