National Ice Cream Month celebrates the best of summer desserts, from cups to cones. And nothing makes ice cream even more delectable than chocolate. Premium vanilla bean ice cream is the perfect backdrop for Delysia Chocolatier’s chocolate indulgences. If you need even more reasons to splurge on ice cream and chocolate than a whole month dedicated to the treat, here are some simple and delicious ways to elevate your ice cream’s status.

Mix-ins:
Taking the concept popularized by Cold Stone Creamery, Marble Slab, and Austin’s own Amy’s Ice Cream, crush up some of our peanut butter or mocha bark and mix in with your favorite ice cream. To up the creaminess factor, add in some real whipped cream as you’re mixing. For a spicy kick, use our pecan-cayenne or ghost pepper bark for some heat with your treat.

Homemade Magic Shell:
Remember Magic Shell? Chances are, you haven’t had it since you were a kid. Recreate your childhood memories with this easy-to-make, two-ingredient topping.

Melt 1-1/2 cups of chocolate pieces (we recommend crushing one of our molded chocolate cowboy boots) and 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil. Let sit to room temperature, pour over your favorite ice cream, and watch the magic happen.

Ice Cream Sandwiches:
The best kind of sandwich is the one that comes at the end of the meal. Start with homemade chocolate chip cookies from the Delysia blog. Spread ice cream between two cookies, roll into crushed chocolate chips, and enjoy. Huffington Post has some delicious ice cream sandwich combinations that are sure to cool you off.

Banana Split:
Have some fruit with your ice cream! All you need is a whole banana but it’s easy to have fun with it. The messier the better.

Now it’s your turn: what are you favorite ways to enjoy ice cream? Do you like to dress it up or enjoy it in its simplest cup-or-cone form? Let us know in the comments!