Ice Cream Taco Recipe: How to Make Them at Home

Why Breyers Works in This Recipe

Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream brings a classic flavor that pairs naturally with chocolate, chopped peanuts, and colorful sprinkles, so it’s no surprise it's the go-to base for this recipe. Prefer a different flavor? Breyers Chocolate Ice Cream works just as well with the chocolate shell and chopped peanuts. Breyers Cookies & Cream folds crème-filled chocolate cookie pieces into the base, adding little bursts of cookie throughout. No matter which flavor you choose, each one makes it easy to create an ice cream taco that's a little different (and completely amazing) every time.

Tips for Success

A few simple techniques can help your ice cream tacos hold their shape and stay easy to serve.

• Dessert taco substitutes: Warm store-bought waffle cones until pliable and flatten into a taco shape, or brush small flour tortillas with melted butter, dust with cinnamon sugar, and bake at 375°F for 6–8 minutes until crisp. Either way, let cool before filling.
• Keep shells dry and handle them gently. Dessert taco shells are delicate to handle, so press ice cream in gently rather than packing it tight, and keep everything dry, since moisture is the most common cause of cracking.
• Stand shells upright while you work. An upside-down muffin tin or egg carton keeps taco shells propped up and steady while you fill and freeze them, so they don't tip over and spill before the ice cream sets.
• Pipe instead of spoon for a neater fill. Once the ice cream is soft enough to scoop, transfer it to a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off and pipe it into the shells. It fills more evenly than spooning and helps avoid air pockets.
• Warm the chocolate shell topping if necessary. If the topping has thickened in the bottle, place it in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes before using it. A thinner layer spreads more evenly over the ice cream without adding too much weight.
• Work in small batches to keep things cold. Ice cream softens fastest at the edges of the shell, especially in a warm kitchen. Scoop and fill just one or two tacos at a time, keeping the rest in the freezer until you're ready.
• Prepare them ahead for easy serving. Ice cream tacos can be assembled a day in advance and stored in an airtight freezer container with parchment paper between the layers. Serve them straight from the freezer for the best texture.
• Set up a toppings bar for kids. Put out bowls of sprinkles, chopped peanuts, and cookie crumbles and let everyone customize their ice cream taco before the shell topping sets.

Ice Cream Taco Variations

One of the best things about ice cream tacos is how easy they are to customize. A few simple swaps can completely change the flavor.

• Double Chocolate Crunch: Start with Breyers Chocolate Ice Cream, coat each taco with chocolate shell topping, and finish with mini chocolate chips and chopped roasted almonds for extra crunch. If chocolate desserts are your favorite, our Mexican Hot Fudge Sundaes and Sweet & Salty Brownie Ice Cream Sandwich are other delicious ways to enjoy rich chocolate flavors.
• Cookies & Cream Cookie Crumble: Fill the shells with Breyers Cookies & Cream then top the chocolate coating with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies. Press a few larger cookie pieces into the ice cream before freezing to add even more texture to every bite.
• Butter Pecan Caramel: Pair Breyers Butter Pecan with chopped toasted pecans and a light drizzle of caramel sauce. The buttery, nutty flavor works beautifully with the crisp shell, creating an ice cream taco that's just right for anyone who enjoys classic dessert combinations. For another pecan-inspired treat, take a look at our Butter Pecan Cookies recipe.
• Strawberries & Cream: Fill each shell with Breyers Natural Strawberry Ice Cream and finish with freeze-dried strawberries and white chocolate drizzle. The fruity flavor adds a fresh twist that's perfect for spring and summer gatherings.

Planning a full dessert spread? Our Margarita Ice Cream Pie recipe is another easy make-ahead treat that's perfect to share alongside your ice cream tacos.

Share Your Ice Cream Tacos

Once your ice cream tacos are filled, dipped, and decorated, they're ready to become the star of your next dessert spread. Share your creation with @Breyers and inspire someone else's next DIY treat.