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Lions and penguins and bumblebees… oh my!
As if summertime wasn’t sweet enough, here are some creative ways to make store-bought, frozen treats even more fun. Turn a simple ice cream sandwich into a lickable lion. Transform an ice cream bar into a playful penguin. And make a classic ice cream cone look like a bite-sized bumblebee. All with a few edible accessories and your imagination. I could make an entire zoo if I had the time. (And a MUCH larger freezer.) Ohhhh the possibilities: owls, bears, cats, dogs, pandas, frogs, hippos, giraffes, monkeys…
They’d be perfect for animal-themed birthday parties or pool party desserts. Just make them ahead of time and keep them frozen until you’re ready to serve.
Bee Ice Cream Cones
Ingredients
- Chocolate-dipped ice cream cones
- 2 ounces melted chocolate chips
- Candy eyeballs
- Black licorice (ropes or wheels)
- Small Hershey’s Kisses
- Yellow Laffy Taffy
Directions
Prepare all of your accessories before removing ice cream cones from the freezer for assembly. Cut antennae from black licorice ropes or wheels. Soften yellow Laffy Taffy (one piece at a time) in the microwave for 5 – 10 seconds. Roll out thin and flat with a rolling pin. Cut into 1/4-inch strips. Tear off and roll tiny pieces of Laffy Taffy for the mouths. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe dish. Place your frozen ice cream cones in tall glasses to keep them upright while you decorate. Attach the Laffy Taffy stripes first, lightly pressing into the chocolate on the cone. If needed, you can use a little of the melted chocolate chips to secure the stripes in place. Poke holes in the chocolate coating with a knife or toothpick to insert the black licorice antennae. Add a dab of melted chocolate to the backs of the candy eyes and secure in place. Add another dab of melted chocolate to secure the mini Hershey’s Kiss for the stinger. Lightly press the Laffy Taffy mouth on the front. Refreeze your ice cream cone bees until you are ready to serve.
Lion Ice Cream Sandwich
Ingredients
- Round ice cream sandwiches
- Yellow candy melt wafers
- Black food color pen
- Yellow Mike & Ike candies
- Candy eyeballs
- Plain black M&M candy
- Lemon cookie wafer
Directions
Prepare all of your accessories before removing ice cream sandwiches from the freezer for assembly. Draw the “whisker” dots on the yellow candy melts with a black food color pen. Cut the yellow Mike & Ike candies to make the lion’s ears. Melt 2 ounces of candy melts in a microwave safe dish and attach the candy parts of the lion’s face to the lemon cookie wafer. Remove your ice cream sandwiches from the freezer and attach the cookie faces and candy ears with a little dab of candy melt. Refreeze your ice cream sandwich lions until you are ready to serve.
Penguin Ice Cream Bars
Ingredients
- Chocolate-dipped ice cream bars
- Candy eyeballs
- Orange slice candy
- Oreo cookie wafers
- White candy melts
Directions
Prepare all of your accessories before removing ice cream bars from the freezer for assembly. Gently cut your Oreo wafers with a knife to make the penguin wings. Using scissors, cut triangle beaks from the orange slice candy. Melt 6 ounces of white candy melts in a microwave safe dish. Pour into a small squeeze bottle (or piping bag with small tip.) Remove your ice cream bars from the freezer. Using the candy melt, pipe a large white oval for the penguin’s belly. Add dabs of the candy melt to the backs of the candy eyes and beaks, and secure them onto the ice cream bar to make the penguin’s face. Add a little more candy melt to the backs of the Oreo wings and secure them to the sides of the penguin’s belly. Refreeze your ice cream bar penguins until you are ready to serve.
