MAIN INGREDIENTS
Turkish ice cream is believed to originate from the city of Maraş—hence the name—and what really sets it apart from other varieties is its resistance to melting and a particularly dense, chewy texture. These qualities are brought by adding two thickening agents to the basic milk and sugar mixture: Arab gum, also known as mastic resin, and salep—a type of flour made from the root of the early purple orchid.
In fact, in the Kahramanmaraş region, ice cream typically contains distinctly more salep than usual, which is why it is sometimes called kesme dondurma—from the Turkish kesmek, meaning to cut—which is the reason why this ice cream variety is usually eaten with a knife and fork.
MOST ICONIC Dondurma
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Clotted cream ice cream is a traditional British ice cream that’s associated with Cornwall, although it’s sold in supermarkets throughout the United Kingdom. This ice cream is made with Cornish whole milk, eggs, and clotted cream. The use of Cornish clotted cream gives the ice cream a unique flavor and a velvety consistency.
This decadent ice cream can be flavored with various additional ingredients such as vanilla, and it can be found in many bars and cafes across the region. It is also not uncustomary to add a dollop of clotted cream on top of the scoops of Cornish ice cream.
Frozen custard comes from the "Custard Capital of the World", Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it's sold more than anywhere else around the globe. It is a gourmet ice cream treat made with eggs, cream, and sugar, and it originated from Coney Island, New York, when it was a popular carnival treat.
As the popularity of frozen custard grew, it quickly spread to the Midwest. As there is far less air added than in other similar treats, the result is a thick and dense custard with tons of flavor. A lot of frozen custard fans believe it is better than ice cream since it is served before being refrozen and mantains a soft, yet heavy consistency, so it is a unique regional treat in which you can really feel the difference when talking about flavor.
MOST ICONIC Frozen custard
View morePistachio is one of the most popular flavors of Italian gelato. A mainstay in every gelateria, in its original form, this frozen treat combines pistachio paste with the classic base of milk, cream, eggs, and sugar. Occasionally, crushed and toasted pistachios can be added, but the basic texture should always remain dense and creamy.
Due to the high prices of pistachios and pistachio paste, many gelaterias nowadays opt for cheaper replacements, but the best pistachio is considered to be the grown in a small Sicilian town of Bronte.
MOST ICONIC Gelato al pistacchio
View moreLimber is a Puerto Rican frozen treat consisting of coconut milk, pineapple juice, and sweeteners such as sugar. There are numerous variations, so it can also be prepared with mangos or raspberries. This dessert is named after Charles A. Lindbergh, who was the first pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
When he flew to Puerto Rico, the locals offered him a frozen fruit juice, which he enjoyed, so the people named it Limber in his honor. Nowadays, Limber can be found at numerous roadside fruit stands and gas stations in Puerto Rico.
The authentic affogato combines two Italian classics: a shot of freshly brewed espresso and a scoop of vanilla or fior di latte gelato. Affogato translates as drowned, referring to the preparation process in which steaming espresso is generously poured over a scoop of gelato.
The popularity of affogato has resulted in numerous variations that may include anything from fortified wines, different gelato flavors, or the addition of almonds and crumbled biscotti. Whether served in cups or dessert glasses, affogato can be slowly sipped or eaten with a spoon, and is best enjoyed after a big meal.
As the name suggests, brownie sundae is a type of ice cream sundae with added brownies. Squares or pieces of rich, warm, and moist chocolate brownies are typically layered in a serving bowl with a few scoops of ice cream on top, and the whole thing is then finished with a drizzle of sweet sauces or syrups such as hot chocolate fudge, caramel sauce, or strawberry sauce.
Any ice cream flavor can be used for this dessert, and some of the most common flavors include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, caramel, coffee, and cheesecake. Whipped cream, nuts, diced fruit, sprinkles, and chocolate chips are just a few common additions to this sweet treat.
MOST ICONIC Brownie Sundae
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Kulfi is a traditional Indian ice cream made with slowly simmered whole milk. Although the long-simmering process results in a loss of volume, it makes up for it with a delicious, nutty, caramelized flavor. The ice cream is characterized by its unusual, conical shape, a result of using traditional, special molds with tight-fitting lids.
Kulfi is usually flavored with traditional Indian ingredients such as pistachio, rose water, and saffron, although some cooks prefer to flavor it with fruits such as berries. It is believed that kulfi was invented by the ancient inhabitants of the Himalayas during the Mughal Empire era.
VARIATIONS OF Kulfi
MOST ICONIC Kulfi
View moreA staple at every Italian gelateria, nocciola is a classic hazelnut gelato. It is prepared with a fragrant hazelnut paste that is combined with a base of milk, cream, eggs, and sugar to create a creamy treat that is characterized by its nutty flavor.
The best hazelnut gelato in Italy is produced from Piemonte hazelnuts, which are considered the finest variety for the confectionery industry. They provide the delicate, nutty flavor and the characteristic aroma. Nocciola or hazelnut gelato is often combined with chocolate to create bacio—another popular gelato flavor—but most gelaterias offer it on its own, as an essential addition to their offer.
MOST ICONIC Gelato alla nocciola
View moreGranita di mandorla is a variety of Sicilian granita—a frozen dessert that comes in a wide array of flavors. This almond-based version can be made from scratch, using ground almonds, or with the already-prepared almond paste. The latter will usually be smoother, while the one prepared with ground almonds will have a slightly coarser texture.
The ingredients are simply mixed with sugar and water, and the combination is then frozen. In Sicily, granita is often enjoyed for breakfast, and it is often served with Italian-style brioche (brioscia) on the side.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 95 Frozen Desserts in the World” list until January 15, 2025, 9,260 ratings were recorded, of which 6,620 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.