Jasmine Shortbread Cookies

Scooped: Jasmine Tea and Rose Petal Sorbet

After my Thanksgiving excesses, I needed to atone. I also needed to shake my head clear of the pumpkin-spiced everything clouding my culinary imagination. This sorbet was as easy to make as a pitcher of iced tea, but much more refreshing.

Scooped: Lavender-Hyssop Ice Cream

Lavender is a surprisingly versatile dessert ingredient with a strong affinity to cream. It's a love-it-or-hate-it kind of herb, but the creaminess subdues its at-times overwhelming intensity. Hyssop has largely fallen out of Western culinary use, which is a shame given its long history dating back to ancient times. Fortunately it's increasingly common in gardens and at farmers' markets.

Scooped: Ginger Mint and Chocolate-Covered Espresso Bean Gelato

Gelato just might be the most misunderstood form of ice cream in our great, ice cream-lovin' nation. We know it's smooth, intense and delicious but what makes a gelato real gelato? Here are the three elements that differentiate real-deal gelato from the traditional American stuff, and a recipe for a caffeinated twist on mint 'n' chip.

Jeni Britton Bauer's Jasmine Green Tea Ice Cream

Jasmine-scented green tea infuses cream with the heady aroma of jasmine and the tannic, mouth gripping attributes of green tea. It is a very refreshing flavor for summer, and a makes a beautiful dessert all on its own in a pretty bowl, or as an accompaniment to a fresh apricot or cherry crisp.

Fruity No-Churn Ice Cream

This ice cream relies on the power of a stand mixer, rather than a proper ice cream machine, and can be made with any sort of freeze-dried fruit.

Cranberry and Lillet Rouge Sorbet

Serve this tart sorbet as a palate cleanser between courses, or as a light dessert with whipped cream and candied ginger.

Lemon Basil Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches

If you've made a mint chocolate chip ice cream before, this recipe follows the same basic procedure. But while mint leaves are usually steeped in the cream for upwards of an hour or two before getting strained out, basil benefits more from a short initial steeping before getting blended into the base. I forgo chocolate chips or drizzling melted chocolate for simply shaving chocolate directly into the ice cream as it's finishing the churn.

Lemon Ginger Blackberry Swirl Ice Cream

This ice cream pairs a bright, slightly spicy lemon-ginger base with a dark, sweet, and tart blackberry swirl.

Blackberry Pistachio Icebox Cake

I love icebox cakes in the summer, when the thought of turning on an oven is too much to bear. This cake veers a bit from tradition, adding blackberries, pistachios, and pomegranate molasses in between layers of tea biscuits and rose water-infused whipped cream. It's sweet and creamy like an icebox cake should be, but tart berries and nutty pistachios keep things interesting.

Chai Ice Cream

Masala chai in ice cream form, with strong notes of black pepper, ginger, and star anise.