July is National Ice Cream Month, and The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit organization funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, is helping consumers make the most of it with a lineup of homemade recipes made with real dairy milk and cream. The organization aims to clarify the distinctions among various frozen dairy desserts, emphasizing that ice cream sets the standard with its requirement of at least 10 percent milk fat and quick churning for a light, fluffy texture.
Other frozen treats like gelato, frozen custard, frozen yogurt, and sherbet each offer unique characteristics—such as custard's rich egg yolks or frozen yogurt's tangy cultured milk—but all rely on real cream and milk for their signature richness. This makes them enduring summer staples. To celebrate, The Dairy Alliance is spotlighting two reader favorites: the Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream, which puts a homemade spin on the viral trend by layering dark chocolate ice cream with pistachio kadaifi cream and topping it with a chocolate shell and crushed pistachios, and the Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream, a no-churn option that blends real dairy cottage cheese with fresh strawberries for a creamy, high-protein treat.
"Making ice cream at home lets you control exactly what goes into it, and real dairy milk and cream gives you a texture that feels genuinely indulgent," said Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance. "Whether you're recreating a viral trend or keeping it simple with a no-churn recipe, real dairy is what takes it to the next level." Each recipe requires only pantry staples and a few hours of freezer time, making them accessible for both novice and experienced dessert makers. The full collection of frozen dairy recipes is available at thedairyalliance.com/dairy-recipes.
This initiative underscores the importance of real dairy in creating indulgent frozen desserts while supporting local dairy farmers. The Dairy Alliance works to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of real dairy milk and dairy foods, promoting sustainable dairy practices across the Southeast.
