For our family, summertime is filled with camping trips, bike rides and lazy afternoons at the pool. Well, the “lazy” part refers to me, as I lounge in the shade or beach myself in the shallow end of the kiddie pool, occasionally throwing the football to my kids. The boys, on the other hand, are in constant motion – running to the diving board (“Don’t run by the pool!”), doing flips off of the low board (“Oh my goodness, watch your head!”) and having enthusiastic water fights in the kiddie area (“Watch out for the little ones!”) Okay, maybe I’m not as relaxed as I like to think. Whatever outdoor activity we are doing, we are always ready to cool off with a frozen dessert. That’s where this Blueberry Swirl Ice Cream Pie comes into play.
When the first blueberries arrive at the market, my kids beg me to buy a boat load of them. We typically eat half of the fresh ones and freeze the other half for blueberry syrups and waffles in the wintertime. The simple blueberry compote is made with fresh fruit, though frozen berries could be used as well. The toasted flavor of the graham cracker and hazelnut crust pairs very well with the sweet fruit and creamy ice cream. It is easy to put together and a welcome treat after a long day in the sun.
If your family spends as much time playing outside as my family does in the summer, be sure to check out this fun contest from the people at the Blueberry Council. From June 27 to July 26, the Blueberry Council is inviting you to upload or tweet photos of yourselves (or your family and friends) doing something playful or adventurous fueled by the flavor of blueberries.
Each week, the Blueberry Council will select the two best entries and award $100 gift cards to the winners. At the end of the contest, the person with the most energetic and creative entry will receive a $2500 grand prize. Head to their Facebook page to find out how to enter.
The recipe:
The crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In the bowl of a food processor, combine graham crackers and chopped hazelnuts. Pulse until the graham crackers are fine crumbs. Add melted butter and pulse again until the mixture starts to hold together.
Coat a 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray. Press the graham cracker mixture on the bottom and up the sides of the dish. Bake until the crust is set and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
Blueberry compote:
In a medium saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, water and lemon juice.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the blueberries start to pop, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
The rest:
Gently spread 1 pint softened vanilla ice cream into the bottom of the crust. Spread half of the blueberry mixture over the ice cream. Place in the freezer until the blueberry mixture is set, about 30 minutes. Spread remaining ice cream over the blueberry layer.
Place dollops of the blueberry mixture on the ice cream and swirl with a large skewer. Place in the freezer and let set completely, at least 2 hours.
Remove the pie from the freezer and let sit at room temperature until slightly softened, about 10 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.
Other ice cream pie recipes:
Love & Olive Oil’s Mud Pie with Homemade Decaf Coffee Ice Cream
Barbara Bakes’ Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie
The Way the Cookie Crumbles’ Strawberry Chocolate Ice Cream Pie
Dessert for Two’s Blackberry Ice Cream Pie
Blueberry Swirl Ice Cream Pie with Hazelnut Crust
Ingredients
Crust:
- 8 graham crackers to equal about 1 1/2 cups crumbs
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Blueberry Compote:
- 1 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
The Rest:
- 2 pints vanilla ice cream softened
Instructions
- The crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine graham crackers and chopped hazelnuts. Pulse until the graham crackers are fine crumbs. Add melted butter and pulse again until the mixture starts to hold together.
- Coat a 9-inch pie dish with cooking spray. Press the graham cracker mixture on the bottom and up the sides of the dish. Bake until the crust is set and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
- Blueberry compote: In a medium saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the blueberries start to pop, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
- The rest: Gently spread 1 pint softened vanilla ice cream into the bottom of the crust. Spread half of the blueberry mixture over the ice cream. Place in the freezer until the blueberry mixture is set, about 30 minutes. Spread remaining ice cream over the blueberry layer. Place dollops of the blueberry mixture on the ice cream and swirl with a large skewer. Place in the freezer and let set completely, at least 2 hours.
- Remove the pie from the freezer and let sit at room temperature until slightly softened, about 10 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Blueberry Council. I use fresh and frozen blueberries in my cooking throughout the year and am happy to highlight them here.
Lora
Wow this is just gorgeous. A slice of summer heaven!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Lora. We will definitely be making this several times throughout the summer.
Maureen
This looks fantastic !! What a great pie — I could eat the whole thing and then lick the plate. Blueberries will always be my all-time favorite berry and I could happily replace a meal a day with a box of blueberries. heh
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Maureen. Blueberries are my favorite berries, too and we eat boxes and boxes of them each summer.
Maris(In Good Taste)
The hazelnuts in the crust must make this incredible! What a beautiful pie!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Maris. The hazelnuts really do add something special to the crust.
Ruth
I love the blueberry swirl – so delicious looking! And the hazelnut crust sounds like the perfect match.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Ruth. The swirl was fun to do. My kids had lots of fun helping me with that part.
Jessica @ How Sweet
This is dreamy. What a fabulous dessert!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Jessica. Have a great weekend.
Patti
Good Morning Dara, I’m having a blueberry overload linky party going on! I’d love for you to add your Blueberry Swirls Ice Cream Pie! Hope to see you there!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I’ll definitely check it out.
Pretend Chef
This is an incredibly beautiful dessert. Perfect after a long day of play outside. Yummy!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you. This was a wonderful treat to come home to after an afternoon at the pool.
Belunda @zomppa
Your summer sounds wonderful. Bkueberries really are the perfect little wonders!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Indeed they are! Thanks, Belinda.
Blog is the New Black
This looks wonderful!
Kim - Liv Life
The title of this post alone is enough to turn heads… but then when we see that gorgeous photo up top it’s enough to make your mouth water. What a perfect summer treat!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you for your kind comment, Kim. This became an instant favorite for my family.
anja
oooh dara, that looks sooo adorable. lately i see a lot of swirls on blogs and the web. and my BF did a bread with a pumpernickel swirl recently. looks like a new trend… anyway, that sounds like you and your family are enjoying the sommer to the fullest. anja
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
If swirling is a new trend, count me in. Thanks, Anja.
Heidi @ Food Doodles
That pie looks delicious! I love the crust. We have hazelnut trees in our yard so I’m always looking for ways to use them. And we looooove blueberries π
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Hazelnuts in your yard? Lucky you! I hope you have a chance to try this.
Lisa {smart food and fit}
I just bought some fresh blueberries, I’m thinking this would be a great way to use them! Your photo’s are beautiful!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, LIsa. Give it a try – I hope you enjoy it.
[email protected]
This is right up my alley! I love blueberry swirl anything- and I love the addition of hazelnuts to the crust. Bookmarking to make soon!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Lindsey. The blueberries and hazelnuts really do work well together.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
This is right up my alley! I would devour this pie.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Lauren, devour is the right word. That is what happened at my house.
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
What a lovely pie and it sounds so good right now in this heat!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you! I hope you are keeping cool.
Melissa @ Dash of East
This looks beautiful and delicious! Makes me want to run out and get some blueberries right now. What a perfect summertime dessert!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Melissa. I hope you have a chance to give it a try.
KalynsKitchen
I am drooling. (And I’m trying to diet this week, so that’s not necessarily a good thing. But I will stay strong.)
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker
This sounds irresistibly fresh and summery π beautiful photos too (as normal!)
Jess
This looks absolutely decadent! I recently found out that it’s both National Ice Cream Month and National Blueberry Month, so this really is the perfect recipe for right now. I might not be able to resist making it before the month is over!
Lauren from Lauren's Latest
Your photos keep getting better and better, Dara! And this looks like an amazing dessert for summer! Can’t get enough of those blueberries.
The Food Hunter
This looks delicious and so easy to make. Perfect for a picnic. I can’t wait to try it.
Kathy - Panini Happy
This looks fantastic, Dara! A simple set of ingredients combined to make something extraordinary. I especially love the ring of blueberries along the edge. π
claudia lamascolo/aka pegasuslegend
Very delicious looking pie I love the swirl effect great job my family would love this for sure!
Julie M.
What a beautiful pie Dara! I agree, sitting by the pool with a troop of boys is never a very relaxing event. :)~
Lisa @ Tarte du Jour
Looks refreshing and delicious… great summer dessert! We were just in Maine where the blueberries are amazing!
Suzanne
Mmmm, love this pie, absolutely delicious looking. A must try for out family, thanks π
Julie
Oh MY this looks divine! thanks so much for sharing!
Asiya @ Chocolate & Chillies
This is so pretty..love the swirl!
marla
Dara, these photos blow me away! Wow, this ice cream pie sounds amazing with that hazelnut crust…..but the composition and vibrancy of your photos are awesome in this post. I am the same “relaxed” way at the pool π
Kulsum at JourneyKitchen
Hazelnut in crust, blueberries with ice cream – all in a pie is exactly how I dream of food. LOVE this recipe Dara!
Laurie @SimplyScratch
Dara this looks delicious!!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
SO very pretty and summery!
The Newlywed Chefs
O…M…G… This recipe looks simply perfect. We’ll have to try it soon!
Robyn | Add a Pinch
Gorgeous recipe, Dara! I bet it tastes heavenly!!!
DessertForTwo
Oh heavens, thanks so much for linking to my blackberry ice cream pie!
Your blueberry pie looks heavenly π
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
I love the addition of the blueberries for decoration. I’ve done a blueberry tart ice cream for hubs many years – he’s a big fan but never thought to dress it up like that.
Lynn
I love blueberries and this looks so good! It would be a great way to use some of the blueberries that I have in my garden right now.
Angie
This looks so good, I love blueberries!
Aggie
That has my name written all over it!!
HeatherChristo
Dara- this is so pretty! and very creative. nice job!
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks!
Gorgeous! And yum! Love how you used the whole blueberries as a border decoration, too.
Jamie
At first I thought this was cheesecake and it was so pretty that even though I don’t like cheesecake I just had to get a closer look. Now that I know it is ice cream I am ready for a plateful! Fabulous!
Jennifer (Savor)
I want to know how many slices you had? I would have eaten most of it!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I managed to limit myself to two. Luckily, my family was there to pick up the slack.
Barbara | Creative Culinary
I just made a mint chocolate chip pie a couple of weeks ago. Homemade crust and sauce but prepared ice cream. I had never done that before…nope, thought not really a recipe if I didn’t make the ice cream too.
I was wrong. The crust, the topping…all of it elevated simple ice cream to something special so it will be done again and this is a great candidate. Love me some blueberries!
Michelle
I made this tonight, because I had a bad day. Delicious and so simple. I left out the hazelnuts though and still yummy!
Shelby
Gorgeous pie! I love anything and all things blueberry.
Elle
Hazelnut crust? Oh, yes please! This looks fantastic, and with ice cream? Perfect for summer.
Skylar
The hazelnut in the crust, that’s something I never would have thought of (and plan to use now). It looks so good for summer
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels
Oh my word this pie looks incredible!! I love blueberries but combined with ice cream makes it even better. π YUM!
Tracey
Your pie is stunning Dara!! I am obsessed with all things blueberry so I know I’d love it.
Jennifer B.
This looks wonderful! I’m going to make it tomorrow. I have a bunch of blueberries that I thought would turn into muffins, but this sounds much better. As a fellow Canuck, I crave wild blueberries from northern Ontario!
Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom}
Oh my goodness…that looks fabulous! I’m loving ice cream pies this summer. It is a great way to dress up ice cream and entertain.
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen
Oh my gosh!! This pie looks incredible!!! I love anything with blueberries. π
shelly (cookies and cups)
This sounds perfect! That crust with the blueberries and ice cream ~ yum!
Tiffany
This is a perfect picture and sounds so good that I am ready to try it! This perfect for the summer!
Kim Beaulieu
I was just cruising through the Tasty Kitchen site and stumbled on this. It looks so good. Not sure how I missed this. This looks so good. I am not enjoying our hot Canuck weather, although the rain has been a nice break.
best chocolate recipes
When I saw this recipe on your blog, I couldn’t get it out of my mind! I made it the next day and it was delicious!! My kids loved it. thanks for sharing π
trina @ best salad recipes
I love blueberries! These look incredible β my mouth literally just watered. Have to make them, diet be darned! π
Mrs. Jen B
That is just the prettiest thing I’ve seen all day! Thank you for brightening things up for me. π It’s going to be hard, though, sitting through the rest of the work day without a big piece of that pie in front of me.
MoCookbooksEtc
I can’t wait to try this recipe! The photo is gorgeous!
Dominika
Hi,
I will definitely going to make it as soon as possible. This cake looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing the recipe π
Anna
Made this gorgeous cake last night and it looks and tastes just as good as I expected! I love how simple it was too. Thanks for a great recipe!
Dara
I’m so glad to hear that, Anna! It’s one of our favorite summertime desserts.