DIY Drumstick Ice Cream: A homemade version of a chocolate dipped ice cream cone sprinkled with nuts. Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Naturally Sweetened Versions.
What were your favorite things about being a child?
I loved the care-free summers I spent playing outdoors at my grandparent’s house. Those days were filled with hours of building forts and visiting imaginary places with my cousins. And then coming in to have a huge family dinner that usually consisted of a Slow Cooker BBQ Pork and Papa’s Baked Beans.
And of course ice cream.
Once in a blue moon, I was allowed to walk to a Lawson’s, a local convenience store, with several of my cousins.
Boy did we kids get excited when Papa would pull out his billfold and give us each a dollar. We were rich–well, back in the day we were junk food rich!
We would rush down to Lawson’s (usually accompanied by a parent who was on the hunt for their famous chip dip) and debate between those wax candies that were filled with sugary syrup, interesting flavors of gum, or a treat from the frozen department.
I typically opted for ice cream, drumstick ice cream to be exact. Hello, chocolate!!!
Homemade Drumstick Ice Cream Cones
Years later when I met my husband, I quickly found out that drumstick ice cream cones were one of his all time favorite childhood treats as well. It was destiny! And we may or may not have been guilty in consuming our fair share of these cones while we were dating.
Fast forward 15 years, and I don’t think I have purchased or consumed a drumstcone more than once or twice during that time frame.
What happened?!! I think once I had children, I started to notice ingredients in products more. Once I was diagnosed with severe digestive issues, I REALLY started to pay attention to the additives to many store bought favorites.
Sad. Depressing. Disgusting.
BUT–do you know how easy making drumsticks at home happens to be?
How to Make Homemade Drumstick Ice Cream Cones
Let me tell you homemade chocolate dipped ice cones are simple!
You have to exercise a bit of patience, but with a few simple ingredients they can be yours! And there is NOTHING sad, depressing, or disgusting about these!
Step One: Start with ice cream cones.
Use sugar cones if you can and you can purchase organic , generic, or gluten free. Whatever floats your boat.
Step Two: Choose Your Ice Cream
Here is where I am particular. Skip all ice creams with carrageenan, corn syrup, food coloring, caramel color, etc. Your stomach will thank you.
- Make homemade ice cream
- Purchase an all natural vanilla or chocolate made with just cream, milk, vanilla, and sugar
- Of course you can get dairy-free options at any store or make No-Churn Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream from Flippin Delicious or Coconut Chocolate Chip Vegan Ice Cream from Beaming Baker.
Hint: if you think you get sick from ice cream it just may be the kind you are eating–anything with carrageenan makes me feel beyond ill these days!
Step Three: Prepare your Ice cream Cones
- Place a chocolate chip in bottom of each cone (just in case their are any holes in your cone).
- Stuff your ice cream cone with either chocolate or vanilla ice cream and using your hand (you can wash it later) shape the top scoop to make a perfect dome around the cone. Trust me using your hand works SO much better than an ice cream scoop.
- Place the prepared ice cream cones on a wax paper lined sheet tray and place in the freezer for 30-60 minutes or until frozen solid.
Step Four: Prepare your Ice Cream Cone Toppings
- Crush up some peanuts or almonds, or skip nuts altogether. Sometimes I am a rebel and use these all natural sprinkles.
- Melt some chocolate. Either cut up a chocolate bar or use chocolate chips. Again, use dairy-free chocolate if needed.
- Another great option for these drumsticks is to use Homemade Strawberry Magic Shell from Go Dairy Free, in place of the chocolate for a strawberry version of this treat.
Step Five: Dip the Ice Cream Cones in Chocolate
- Pull the ice cream cones out from freezer and dip into melted chocolate.
- Sprinkle chopped peanuts over chocolate.
- Put cone immediately back into freezer and wait until chocolate is set.
- Test your patience. It should only take 10 minutes to set back up, but it can be a hard 10 minutes to wait.
How to Melt Chocolate
For dipping ice cream in chocolate, you can choose one of several different methods for preparing the chocolate. My favorite way to melt chocolate is slowly in the slow cooker, BUT in a pinch, the microwave is my default method to melt chocolate.
Regardless of what method you use to melt chocolate, remember 2 things:
- Do not get water in your chocolate—this will cause the chocolate to seize up.
- Break up your chocolate of choice into small pieces for more uniform melting. Chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, or even a leftover candy bar can be used.
Melting Chocolate in the Microwave:
Heat chocolate in a microwave safe bowl on medium high for about 1 minute to start with. Remove from the microwave and stir. Repeat heating at intervals of 20 seconds, stirring in between, until the chocolate is completely melted and has a smooth consistency.
Melting Chocolate in a Double Boiler:
Place chocolate in a heat safe bowl that fits over a stock pan. In that stock pan, bring about an inch of water to a simmer, over medium heat. Set the bowl over the pot, making sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir chocolate occasionally as it softens. Once chocolate is just about melted, remove bowl from heat, continuing to stir until all the chocolate melts.
Melting Chocolate in the Slow Cooker:
Place chocolate in heat safe glass jar. Place jar in slow cooker and then carefully pour water into slow cooker until the water line reaches halfway up the jars. Be cautious not to get any water into the jar of chocolate. Turn slow cooker on high, do NOT put lid on the slow cooker, and in about 30 minutes your chocolate will be perfectly melted (no need to stir while chocolate melts). Check on chocolate after 20 minutes, as all slow cookers vary in temperature.
More Delicious Summer Treats
- Watermelon Granita with Mint Lime Sugar
- Grilled Mixed Berry Crisp
- Healthy Cookies and Cream Parfait
- Pina Colada Smoothie
- Mini Frozen Fruit Tarts
Homemade Ice Cream Cones Dipped In Chocolate
DIY Drumstick Ice Cream Cones
Ingredients
- 6 ice cream cones
- 48 ounces vanilla or chocolate ice cream
- 16 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
Instructions
- Place a chocolate chip or morsel into the bottom of each cone.
- Stuff each ice cream cone with 8 ounces of ice cream, finishing with a perfect half sphere on top of each cone (use your hands, if needed.) Freeze on cookie sheet that has been lined with wax paper, until solid, about an hour.
- Melt chocolate and dip the ice cream into the melted ice cream up to the cone. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
- Place back on lined sheet and freeze for another 10-20 minutes.
Constance Smith | Cosmopolitan Cornbread says
Oh my goodness, yes! These are fantastic!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Constance 🙂
Kimberlie Robert says
I used to eat drumsticks too. I loved them, but I’ve forgot about them. Thanks for reminding me. Nice post!
Kristen Chidsey says
They are definitely a treat worth remembering!
Liz says
Homemade is always better!!! Your drumsticks look fabulous!!!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Liz. Homemade is always best!
Nicole @ Crazed Mom says
omg! The perfect summertime treat! These look FABULOUS!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Nicole! 🙂
Hezzi-D says
My husband loves Drumsticks. We will have to buy peanuts though because I do not like them and we never have them in the house!
Kristen Chidsey says
I am trying not to judge for you NOT having peanuts in the house. LOL. You can make these without the peanuts too.
Laura Dembowski says
Great minds think alike 🙂 I agree that the easiest way to mound the ice cream is to use your hands. You could always lick them instead of washing them 😉
Kristen Chidsey says
Now, licking your hands is being truly smart 😉
Carlee says
Drumsticks are the best! I love the idea of making your own. It would be a fun family project and a great way to anticipate a fun treat. What a great idea!
Kristen Chidsey says
Carlee, that is such a great idea to make these as a family project!
Monica says
Where we live the store bought nutty buddies are a the traditional dessert after a crab feast. We are hosting one in a few weeks. I’m going to try my hand at these….won’t that be a treat?
Kristen Chidsey says
That would be AMAZING Monica. From the crab feast to dessert–your guest are going to be some lucky people!
Cindy says
Your Drumsticks are way cooler than any store bought ones! Oh and tell me who these people are that don’t have peanuts and chocolate in their house. Hmmm! If they are not allergic then there is no good excuse! lol
Kristen Chidsey says
Totally agree with you Cindy. Food allergies are the ONLY reason you should not have these in your house!
Catherine says
Such wonderful memories…this officially marks the start of summer! Drumsticks were always a favorite in our house…love this homemade treat. xo, Catherine
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Catherine! It is a great way to enjoy summer!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
These look fantastic and totally bring me back to my childhood! My kids love these too. Great post Kristen!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Lauren 🙂
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Love these for summer! What a fun project to do with kids too!
Kristen Chidsey says
A great project with kids too!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Great for summer! Such a lovely ice cream.
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Megan.
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
GIVE ME ALL THE CHOCOLATE! <3 These look so lovely, Kristen!
Kristen Chidsey says
🙂 Thanks Lauren!
Lane and Holly (With Two Spoons) says
These bring me back to childhood! So delicious!
Kristen Chidsey says
Such a childhood flavor!
Allie | Baking a Moment says
Oh, this takes me back! We used to buy drumsticks at our local convenience store too. This version sounds incredible and now I’ve got a major craving!
Kristen Chidsey says
Sorry for the craving–but you must make this!!
Julie says
I can’t wait to give these a try!
Kristen Chidsey says
You will LOVE them Julie!!
Colleen says
Yum! Love this DIY version! Happy Foodie FriDIY!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Colleen!
Taryn says
Thank you!!!! I have a child with a nut allergy who looks longingly at store bought drumsticks. I can just leave off the nuts now.
Kristen Chidsey says
I love when children (or adults) are able to enjoy treats without worry!! I am so glad you found this recipe.
Stephanie says
Ice cream drumsticks were my absolute favorite growing up so I was worried these wouldn’t be as good. I should never had worried. I loved your DIY version SO MUCH!!!
Kristen Chidsey says
YAY!!! I am so glad you enjoyed so much!