It’s July, the peak of summer and as perfect a time as any to indulge in ice cream and frozen treats. However, warm summer weather isn’t the only reason to break out the ice cream tub this month. In 1984, July was bestowed the honor of being named National Ice Cream Month, with the third Sunday of the month being designated National Ice Cream Day. 

This year, on July 21st, ice cream shops around the country will celebrate with discounts and unique flavors, but who says you can’t celebrate from the comfort of your own home? We’re all about empowering home cooks to embrace innovation, learn new things, and try new flavors, so we’ve compiled this list of National Ice Cream Day recipes that can be made right at home.

^{Complete your sundae bar by serving in decorative martini glasses.}

The Classics: Homemade Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Would it really be National Ice Cream Day without ice cream sundaes? Use prep bowls, serving utensils, ice cream scoops, and syrup dispensers to create your very own do-it-yourself sundae bar for big parties with lots of guests. Serve up an array of candies, nuts, sprinkles, spices, and syrups for guests to add as many toppings as their hearts desire. For the main event, easily make your own ice cream with Zoku’sindividual ice cream maker. For the overachievers out there, follow the recipe below to go the extra mile and make your own ice cream from scratch without an ice cream maker:

^{If you’re struggling to find something to shape your ice cream cone, a chinois pestle can work in a pinch.}

Go The Extra Mile: Homemade Ice Cream Cones

Have you ever wondered how an ice cream cone is made? National Ice Cream day is about appreciating every aspect of ice cream: the ice cream experts of today, the ice cream makers that came before them, and the way they’ve brought people and families together. 

To some, the cone is just as important as the ice cream itself. Invented in 1896 by Italo Marchioni, an Italian-born New York citizen, ice cream cones are an under-appreciated backbone of the ice cream industry. This National Ice Cream Day, remember Italo by crafting your very own ice cream cones from scratch:

^{Zoku makes ice pop molds in lots of fun shapes and sizes.}

Add a Fruity Twist: Homemade Ice Pops

While not technically ice cream, ice pops are a great summertime treat to add a fruity pop to your National Ice Cream Day. Sure, you could grab ice pops from virtually any grocery store, but where’s the fun in that? Making your own homemade ice pops is easy and super rewarding. Here’s our simple recipe for homemade ice pops with endless variations:

^{Once you’ve made your ice cream creations, put your flavors in various decorative bowls for an ice cream tasting.}

Get Creative: Ice Cream Flavor Variations

This National Ice Cream Day, we invite you to get creative, think outside the box, and try something brand new. Infuse tea leaves or cocktail infusions into your ice cream base to create unique flavors and blends. Otherwise, add creative candies, syrups and spices for a twist on traditional ice cream flavors. Jennifer and Jim, co-owners of Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill, love to add rosewater, toasted pistachios, and edible dried rose petals to their ice cream mix for a rosewater-pistachio blend. f

Get creating this National Ice Cream Day, post your ice cream inventions to Instagram, and tag @blackstonesboston. Who knows? Like Italo Marchioni, you might create a new and exciting flavor that’s celebrated 100 years from now.