If there’s any dessert being made with lemon, you can be sure I’ll be the first one in the kitchen ready to take a bite and that’s doubly true for lemon cake.
It doesn’t matter what kind it is.
Lemon blueberry cake, lemon raspberry cake, lemon cake with lemon curd frosting, lemon cake with lemon buttercream frosting, or basically anything with lemon and cake in the name.
I think you get my point.
Of course, that probably applies to you as well, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.
But what about ice cream?
Have you ever paired it with lemon cake before?
For the longest time, I never even considered it myself until I tried it once with some homemade blueberry ice cream and I mean, wow.
Wow.
So naturally, being the foodies that we are we began wondering what kind of ice cream goes with lemon cake and after doing a bit of research ourselves, we think we’ve come up with an extensive, not to mention delicious, list of options for you to choose from.
Enjoy!
Fruit-Based Ice Cream or Gelato
Ice cream or gelato in this group will pair best with lemon cakes that are mixed with other kinds of fruits like blueberries or raspberries but given the bold flavor of lemon, almost any fruit ice cream works well regardless of the cake you make.
Banana Ice Cream
Proper Ice Cream Banana Two-Pound Cake and Cream
This ice cream from Proper Ice Cream in Florida is loaded with bananas and pound cake chunks. The rich tropical flavor of banana will enhance lemon’s vibrant citrus flavor.
Blackberry Ice Cream
Crank & Boom Craft Blackberry & Buttermilk Ice Cream
Featuring homemade blackberry jam and fresh buttermilk, this ice cream from Crank & Boon will add another layer of richness to your dessert.
Blueberry Ice Cream
While not strictly a blueberry ice cream, this lower calorie option from Halo Top is still loaded with the blueberry pie chunks and real pie filling.
Cherry Ice Cream
Tillamook Original Premium Oregon Dark Cherry Ice Cream
Chock full of locally grown Oregon dark cherries, this ice cream from Tillamook is not made with vanilla ice cream but cherry as well. It’s a double dose of fresh picked cherry goodness that will make your lemon cake pop!
Coconut Ice Cream
Talenti Caribbean Coconut Gelato
Featuring young, fresh coconut, Talenti’s Caribbean Coconut Gelato will make a deliciously sweet and tropical addition to your homemade dessert.
Guava Ice Cream
The guava fruit is native to Central and South America. This fleshy, rich and juicy tropical fruit has been spun into a creamy delight in Frutero’s ice cream.
Huckleberry Ice Cream
Tillamook Original Premium Mountain Huckleberry Ice Cream
Wild huckleberries are spun with a luscious vanilla ice cream in this Tillamook creation. Berries and lemons naturally go together so this would make a delightful pairing option.
Mango Ice Cream
Even though mangoes originated in Asia, today this delectable stone fruit is grown across the globe. Frutero blends a creamy vanilla with mango to deliver you a tropical fruit delicacy.
Marionberry Ice Cream
Tillamook Original Premium Marionberry Pie Ice Cream
Featuring locally harvested marionberries, Tillamook blends vanilla ice cream with pie chunks to create a unique creation reflecting its Pacific Northwest roots.
Passion Fruit Ice Cream
Frutero Passion Fruit Ice Cream
As one of the leaders in tropical fruit ice cream, Frutero created an ice cream featuring passion fruit. Native to Brazil, passion fruit ice cream will complement the zest of any lemon cake.
Peach Ice Cream
Tillamook Original Premium Peaches And Cream Ice Cream
Peach lovers will flip with this triple threat from Tillamook. Peach ice cream, real peach chunks and a decadent peach swirl are blended together in this heavenly creation.
Raspberry Gelato
Talenti Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Gelato
If you’re baking a raspberry-lemon cake, this black raspberry gelato from Talenti should be on your “must try” list to serve with your dessert.
| Fruit-Based Ice Cream or Gelato | Reason |
|---|---|
| Banana | Enhances the tropical flavor of lemon |
| Blackberry | Adds another layer of richness to the dessert |
| Blueberry | Complements lemon with a sweet and tangy flavor |
| Cherry | Enhances the fresh picked cherry flavor that makes lemon cake pop |
| Coconut | Makes a deliciously sweet and tropical addition |
| Guava | The rich, juicy tropical fruit complements lemon |
| Huckleberry | Berries and lemons naturally go together |
| Mango | The creamy vanilla with mango creates a tropical fruit delicacy |
| Marionberry | Complements lemon with a unique creation reflecting Pacific Northwest roots |
| Passion Fruit | Complements the zest of any lemon cake |
| Peach | Enhances the flavor of lemon with real peach chunks and a decadent peach swirl |
| Raspberry Gelato | Complements the raspberry-lemon cake with the black raspberry gelato |
Spice-Based Ice Cream or Gelato
While there are many spices that pair well with lemon cake, finding commercial ice creams that contain them isn’t that easy. If you’d like to try things like cinnamon or ginger, considering making your own ice cream at home instead.
Mint Gelato
Talenti Mediterranean Mint Gelato
Lemon and mint are two strong flavors that pair well together so it only makes sense you’d want to check out this smooth Mediterranean mint gelato from Talenti.
Vanilla Gelato
Talenti Tahitian Vanilla Bean Gelato
Vanilla is a spice that pairs well with almost anything and that’s doubly true for lemon cake. Once again, we’ve got a luscious gelato from Talenti – its Tahitian Vanilla Bean Gelato.
| Spice-Based Ice Cream or Gelato | Reason |
|---|---|
| Mint | Lemon and mint are two strong flavors that pair well together |
| Vanilla | Vanilla is a spice that pairs well with almost anything, especially lemon cake |
Nut-Based Ice Cream or Gelato
The buttery texture and earthy richness of nuts make them a perfect option to pair with the lemon’s bright and zesty flavor.
With nut-based ice creams, they’re easily some of the most popular types around so if you don’t like any of the options we’ve got below, you can’t go wrong with your favorite either.
Almond Ice Cream
Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Vanilla Swiss Almond
While this flavor from the legendary Haagen-Dazs featured chocolate covered almonds, the blend of smooth vanilla complements them and delivers an unmistakable almond flavor with every bite.
Hazelnut Ice Cream
Tillamook Ice Cream Oregon Hazelnut & Salted Caramel
Hazelnut ice cream and real Oregon hazelnuts will make your lemon cake shine with this yummy ice cream from Tillamook.
Pecan Ice Cream
Breyers slow roasts its pecans in butter and blends them with vanilla ice cream. Chunks of real pecans will add a satisfying crunch and complement the richness of any lemon cake.
Pistachio Ice Cream
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Pistachio Pistachio
Fans of Ben & Jerry’s know that when it comes to loading their ice cream with ingredients, they don’t hold back. Each spoonful of this ice cream features pistachio chunks and when paired with a creamy lemon cake, it’s a match made in heaven.
| Nut-Based Ice Cream or Gelato | Reason |
|---|---|
| Almond | The buttery texture and earthy richness of almonds complement the lemon’s bright and zesty flavor |
| Hazelnut | Hazelnut ice cream and real hazelnuts will make lemon cake shine with richness |
| Pecan | Chunks of real pecans add a satisfying crunch and complement the richness of any lemon cake |
| Pistachio | Pistachio chunks paired with creamy lemon cake creates a match made in heaven. |