The Genius Jacques Pépin Ice Cream Trick We Wish We’d Known About Sooner
- Jacques Pepin shares a genius ice cream trick using just three ingredients and simple knife skills to create a charming and elegant dessert perfect for summer.
The Genius Jacques Pépin Ice Cream Trick We Wish We'd Known About Sooner originally appeared on Parade .
If anyone can turn a pint of store-bought vanilla ice cream into a swoon-worthy dessert, it's Jacques Pépin. And in one of his recent "Budget Tuesday" Instagram posts (which are all brilliant, honestly), he does exactly that—pulling off a charming, elegant treat with just three ingredients and some simple knife skills.
His trick is budget-friendly, delightfully French and 100% Jacques Pépin. It's quick and clever and perfect for summer. It's not only perfect for making your backyard poolside snack feel like it came from a fancy restaurant, but it's also great for those moments when unexpected guests show up at your door, craving something sweet.
With just a jar of jam, some crunchy seeds or nuts, and a pint of ice cream, you're ready. No last-minute scramble or turning on the oven. No prep, really—just glorious, almost-instant, Jacques-level magic. Read on for everything you need to know.
Related: We Tried 9 Different Ice Cream Sandwiches and the Winner Won By a Landslide
Ingredients for Jacques Pépin's Easy Ice Cream Sundae
To make this delightfully simple and elegant sundae, all you need is a pint of vanilla ice cream, your favorite jam (Jacques uses peach, but strawberry, cherry or apricot are all great options) and something crunchy—pumpkin seeds, chopped pistachios or even granola would be fantastic here. A sprig of mint (or even some edible flowers, if you can find them) is an impressive and easy garnish for this sweet treat.
Fans of Pépin's are loving the trick. One said, "Simple is often most appealing! ❤️" Another offered a boozy twist: "Peach sauce = peach jam + bourbon." And perhaps the most relatable comment? "This would be a good way to prevent me from eating the entire pint of ice cream, which I invariably always do." Same girl.
Related: We Tried 35 Turkey Hill Ice Cream Flavors and the Winner Blew Us Away
The Smart Trick Jacques Pépin Uses to Make His Easy Ice Cream Sundae
In the video, Pépin starts with his genius ice cream trick. He starts taking a pint of ice cream out of the container (just slice through one side of the pint with a chef's knife). Next, slice it into four portions—cut down the center lengthwise, then across. Pépin slips each portion into a small plastic bag and shapes it into a ball.
He says he likes to portion his ice cream as soon as he buys it to keep it fresh. Instead of scooping into a freezer-burned pint, you can just pull out one (or more) servings of ice cream that are ready to go right into your bowl.
When it's time to serve, he pulls out one portion and lets it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes to soften slightly. Then he transfers it to a bowl, spoons some jam on top (he uses peach in his video), adds a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds for crunch and garnishes with a mint sprig.
Voilà—a dessert that looks straight off a restaurant menu, but comes together in minutes using things you have in your kitchen. With Pépin's clever prep trick and super simple recipe, dessert is always ready—and always a little bit elegant.
Related: This 5-Minute Jacques Pépin Recipe Is My New Favorite Way to Eat Asparagus
The Genius Jacques Pépin Ice Cream Trick We Wish We'd Known About Sooner first appeared on Parade on May 29, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
