What Are Ice cubes and How Can I Use Them?

If ice cubes have turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use them with confidence and how to choose them, cook them, store them, what to substitute, and 171 recipes to try them in.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Food group: Ice cubes are a member of the Beverages US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

冰块

British (UK) term

Ice cubes

en français

glaçons

en español

cubos de hielo

How much do ice cubes weigh?

Related

Beverages

Recipes using ice cubes

There are 171 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Graveyard Treat

Beneath a layer of ghostly whipped topping lies a chilling graveyard of cookie-crumb earth, with layers of creamy, eerie cheese filling and a tombstone of cookies marking the final resting place of your diet. Serve this spine-chilling dessert at your Halloween party, if you dare, and watch as your guests unearth the delicious secrets hidden within!

Creamy Iced Coffee

Blender iced coffee whipped with chopped ice and powdered sugar into a frothy, frappuccino-style drink. Three ingredients, no espresso machine, ready in 5 minutes.

Mama D’s Very Berry Margaritas

This frozen margarita is a berrilicious treat. Sweet, cool, refreshing and goes down smooth. Great for unwinding on a hot day or any festive occasion.

Green Irish Drink

Made of crushed fresh green grapes and pineapple juice, enjoy this Irish green drink.

DIY Frozen Mochaccino

Who doesn't like coffee?! Love the aroma roasting flavor from the coffee beans, and you can enjoy it hot or cold. There are so many ways to make delicious coffee, such as this frozen mochaccino. Easy and tastes amazingly refreshing. Instead of starbucks, start to make your own. Not only help you save money, you will also fall in love with it!

Mango Milk Shake

Indian mango milkshake (mango lassi-style) blended with canned mango pulp, whole milk, sugar, and ice. Thick, creamy, and tropical in 5 minutes flat.

Easy Fruit Smoothie

Easy fruit smoothie blends pineapple, strawberries, and ice into a frosty, dairy-free 5-minute breakfast. Three ingredients, vegan, fat-free, and naturally sweet without added sugar.

Peameal Bacon - Canadian Pickled Pork Bacon - Back bacon

This is an easy to make version of real homemade Canadian Bacon. Also known as peameal bacon in Canada. Works wonderfully for peameal on a bun.

Fourth of July Flag Cheesecake

This recipe is decorated like the American flag and delivers lots of servings to feed a crowd. Perfect for flag day or the 4th of July.

Almond-Snow Fruit Boats

Beat the summer heat with this delicious fruit dish that is bound to cool you off.

Avocado Aperitif

Cool, green, and refreshing, this avocado aperitif blends ripe avocado with cucumber, fresh parsley, and lemon juice over crushed ice. A silky, savory sip to kick off any meal. Ready in 15 minutes.

Fruit Moos

Fruit Moos is a 3-ingredient frozen treat blended from fresh fruit, vanilla ice cream, and ice cubes. Kid-friendly and ready after just one hour in the freezer.

Margaritas De Toronja (Grapefruit Margaritas)

Grapefruit Margaritas blend tequila, triple sec, and fresh grapefruit juice with cracked ice - a brighter, slightly bitter twist on the classic that serves 8 in 10 minutes.

Peanut Butter Banana Milk Shake

Peanut butter banana milkshake with rolled oats blended in for extra body and protein. A filling, creamy shake with honey and vanilla, no ice cream needed.

Breakfast Shake

A quick and healthy fruit breakfast smoothie recipe that's ready in under 5 minutes.

Little Johnny's Rocker

Creamy frozen peach drink blended with peach ice cream, coconut cream, and soda water, served in a chilled glass with fresh mint. A tropical non-alcoholic treat.

Jane's Cucumber Pickle

Bread-and-butter cucumber pickles with garlic, turmeric, and mustard seed in a sweet vinegar brine. Salt-and-ice draws moisture out for crisp slices that hold up through canning and long pantry storage.

Sangria Blanco

White sangria built on dry white wine, cinnamon simple syrup, sparkling water, and citrus and apple slices for a chilled summer pitcher that pours light and crisp.

Apricot Fruit Flip

Blended smoothie with apricot nectar, banana, powdered milk, honey, and lemon zest for a creamy, protein-rich breakfast drink.

Southern Sunshine

Southern Sunshine is a citrusy cocktail punch made with Southern Comfort, fresh orange juice, lemon juice, and bubbly lemon-lime soda. Bright, boozy, and built for a crowd.

Fabric Softener Smoothie

Fabric Softener Smoothie is a fun Halloween drink for kids made with milk, vanilla ice cream, crushed ice, and blue food coloring to look like liquid detergent.

Beaurita

A spicy twist on the classic margarita, the Beaurita blends vodka and tequila with fresh lime juice and a fiery hit of hot pepper sauce, served in a salt-rimmed glass with a jalapeño garnish.

Champagne Cocktail

A fizzy, citrus-bright champagne punch made with orange juice and limeade concentrates, two bottles of bubbly, and sparkling water over crushed ice. Serves 36 and comes together in 10 minutes flat.

Ramona's Sloe Gin Fizz

A refreshing beverage. But remember sloe gin as the name states works slow.

Peppy Dill Wedges

Peppy dill wedges are spicy cucumber pickles with dill seed, crushed red pepper, and apple cider vinegar, quick-processed for canning. A crunchy, no-sugar pickle with heat.

Light & Fruity Fruit Pie

No-bake fruity Jello pie with whipped topping and your choice of fruit in a graham cracker crust. Light, fluffy, and ready in 30 minutes with no oven needed.

Iced Coffee Cream

Iced coffee cream with spiced coffee, brown sugar, vanilla ice cream, and whipping cream. Flavored with cinnamon and mixed spice, topped with cocoa powder and grated chocolate.

New Year's Party Lemonade

Extremely fresh tasting and refreshing, really very nice for a party!

Chocolate Mint Oreo Drink

A boozy blended milkshake with vanilla ice cream, crushed Oreos, creme de menthe, and creme de cacao. Five minutes, one blender, and the best adult milkshake you'll ever make.

Peach Ambrosia

Peach ambrosia dessert made with fresh peaches, vanilla shake mix, unflavored gelatin, and coconut. A light, creamy, low-fat treat that sets up in an hour.

Fruity Tofu Cooler

Fruity tofu smoothie blended with white grape juice, silken tofu, and fresh strawberries. A creamy vegan protein boost ready in 10 minutes. Swap in banana, mango, or peach.

Eerie Witch's Brew

Halloween witch's brew punch with cranberry juice, candied ginger, floating grape eyeballs, orange peel worms, and dry ice for a smoking cauldron effect. A spooky crowd-pleaser.

Frosty Pina Coladas

Blended pina coladas made with cream of coconut, crushed pineapple, light rum, and milk, blitzed with ice until thick and frosty. A tropical cocktail in 15 minutes.

Iced Cafe Au Lait

Iced cafe au lait blended with freshly brewed cold coffee, milk, crushed ice, and optional sugar until frothy. A simple French-style iced coffee drink ready in 10 minutes.

Pink Dream

Pink Dream cocktail: a creamy blended dessert drink with white creme de cacao, vodka, raspberry sherbet, and vanilla ice cream. A pink milkshake with a kick, ready in 5 minutes.

Chocoberry Splash

A fizzy chocolate strawberry milkshake float made with milk, chocolate syrup, frozen strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and club soda. Ready in 10 minutes with fun fruit swap variations.

Phaalse Ka Sharbat (Blackberry Downpour)

Phaalse Ka Sharbat is a traditional Indian blackberry summer drink with mashed soaked berries, sugar, and a pinch of salt over crushed ice. Refreshing North Indian sherbet for hot days.

The Joe Joe Juice...

It's not the Ron Ron Juice but the Joe Joe Juice. 2 Cups of Ice 2 Probiotic Mango Flavored Yogurts (layogurt) Half a can of Arizona Half Iced Tea & Mango Juice Cup of Grey Goose Vodka oh dizzle.

Jello Skating Pond Recipe

Jello skating pond dessert: blue jello set in a clear pie plate, topped with whipped cream snow banks, gummy bear skaters, and a wafer roll log. A winter craft dessert kids can build themselves.

Tropical Fruit Daiquiris

Fresh tropical fruit daiquiris blended with light rum, lime juice, and your choice of passion fruit, mango, papaya, or guava. Ready in 15 minutes, serves 6. Your new go-to party cocktail.

Gelatin-Salad Supreme

Cinnamon red hots melt into this ruby gelatin salad layered with crushed pineapple and cherries, then crowned with a cooked, creamy dressing. A retro, sweet-tart molded salad for holiday tables.

Ravishing Ramona

Ravishing Ramona is a 2-ingredient tropical cocktail: coconut rum and pineapple juice poured over ice. A breezy, no-blender highball that tastes like a beach vacation in one tall glass.

Garnishes for Drinks

Drink garnish guide covering frosted glasses, sugar and salt rims, plus garnish ideas for fruit, vegetable and coffee drinks. Old-school bartender finishing touches that turn ordinary drinks into something proper.

Claret Cup

Classic claret cup punch made with red wine, brandy, curacao, frozen lemonade, and grapefruit soda. A refreshing, citrusy wine cocktail for summer parties and gatherings.

Mock Orange Julius (with Coconut Milk)

Mock Orange Julius blended with coconut milk for tropical creaminess. Frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, and a touch of sugar whip into a frothy citrus shake in 5 minutes flat.

Banshee

Banshee cocktail with creme de banana, creme de cacao, and sweet cream shaken over crushed ice. A creamy, dessert-style drink ready in two minutes.

Watermelon Punch

Watermelon punch combines fresh watermelon balls and juice with brandy, simple syrup, and lemon-lime soda, served in a hollowed-out watermelon shell. A showstopping summer party drink for backyard crowds.

Lemony Light Vineyard Cheesecakes

No-bake individual lemon cheesecakes with reduced-fat cream cheese, low-fat yogurt, and halved seedless grapes. Set with gelatin and blended smooth in minutes. Light, tangy, and refreshing.

Caribbean Fruit Shake

Caribbean fruit shake blending banana, pineapple juice, and orange juice with ice into a creamy, dairy-free tropical drink. Add grenadine for a gorgeous pink color.

Orange Julius Type Drink

Before the summer's over, impress your friends by making them an orange julius that they won't forget!

All 171 recipes