Looking for desserts that start with I? This alphabet foods guide rounds up familiar favourites, traditional puddings, international sweets and a few lesser-known treats worth adding to your dessert list.

Some are easy supermarket buys, such as ice cream, iced buns and iced doughnuts. Others, like imarti, île flottante and irish apple cake, are brilliant if you fancy trying something a little different. I have also added money-saving tips throughout, because a good pudding does not need to cost a fortune.

Desserts That Start With I: Quick List

If you just need ideas quickly, here are some of the best-known desserts beginning with I.

Popular Desserts Beginning With I

Ice Cream

Ice cream is probably the first dessert most people think of when searching for foods that start with I. It is made by freezing a sweetened mixture of milk, cream, sugar and flavourings while churning it to create a smooth texture.

Classic flavours include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint choc chip and rum and raisin. You can keep it simple with a scoop in a cone or turn it into a budget-friendly dessert by serving it with tinned peaches, crumbled biscuits, stewed apples or leftover cake.

Money-saving tip: own-brand vanilla ice cream is one of the easiest desserts to dress up. Add a spoonful of jam, crushed reduced biscuits or a drizzle of golden syrup and it feels much more special.

Ice Cream Cake

Ice cream cake is a frozen dessert made with layers of ice cream, sponge, biscuit crumbs or sauce. It is popular for birthdays because it looks impressive but can be made ahead.

For a simple version, line a loaf tin with cling film, add softened ice cream in layers with crushed cookies, then freeze until solid. Slice straight from the freezer and leave it for a few minutes before serving.

Ice Cream Sandwich

An ice cream sandwich is made by placing ice cream between biscuits, wafers, cookies or slices of cake. It is a fun dessert for children, but grown-ups rarely turn one down either.

Try chocolate digestives with vanilla ice cream, ginger nuts with caramel ice cream, or shortbread with raspberry ripple. Wrap them individually and keep them in the freezer for a quick sweet treat.

Ice Cream Sundae

An ice cream sundae is a layered dessert usually made with scoops of ice cream, sauce, whipped cream and toppings. It is a handy way to use up small amounts of sweets, broken biscuits, sprinkles, chopped fruit or chocolate sauce.

Budget sundae ideas include:

• Banana, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce
• Tinned pears, caramel sauce and crushed digestives
• Strawberry jam, ice cream and shortbread crumbs
• Leftover brownie pieces with vanilla ice cream

Ice Lolly

Ice lollies are frozen treats made from fruit juice, squash, yoghurt, purée or flavoured water. They are cheap to make at home and a good way to use fruit that is slightly past its best but still safe to eat.

Blend berries with yoghurt, pour into lolly moulds and freeze. Or mix orange juice with chopped fruit for a refreshing pudding. If you do not have moulds, small yoghurt pots and wooden sticks work well.

Italian Ice

Italian ice is a dairy-free frozen dessert made with fruit, sugar and water. It is smoother than a basic granita but lighter than ice cream. Lemon, cherry, mango and raspberry are common flavours.

It is a good option if you want a refreshing dessert without cream. At home, you can make a simple version by freezing sweetened fruit purée and stirring it every so often with a fork as it freezes.

Italian Gelato

Gelato is Italy’s famous frozen dessert. Compared with many ice creams, it is often served slightly softer and has a dense, smooth texture. Popular flavours include pistachio, hazelnut, chocolate, stracciatella, coffee and lemon.

If you are buying gelato as a treat, serve smaller scoops with fruit or wafers to make a tub stretch further. Strong flavours such as pistachio or dark chocolate feel satisfying even in modest portions.

Icebox Cake

Icebox cake is a no-bake dessert made by layering biscuits or wafers with cream, custard or mousse, then chilling it until the layers soften into a cake-like texture. It is called an icebox cake because it was traditionally chilled in an icebox before modern fridges were common.

A simple chocolate version can be made with chocolate biscuits, whipped cream and grated chocolate. Leave it overnight in the fridge for the best texture. It is ideal for entertaining because most of the work is done in advance.

Icebox Pie

Icebox pie is another chilled dessert, usually made with a crumb base and a creamy filling. Lemon icebox pie is especially popular, with a tangy citrus filling and biscuit crust.

To keep costs down, use own-brand digestives for the base and look for reduced lemons or limes. A little zest goes a long way in adding flavour.

British Bakery Treats That Start With I

Iced Bun

An iced bun is a soft, sweet bread roll topped with a layer of icing. You will find them in supermarkets, bakeries and school lunchboxes across the UK. Some are plain, while others are split and filled with cream or jam.

They are inexpensive to buy, but they are also useful in no-waste desserts. Slightly stale iced buns can be sliced and used in a bread and butter pudding, or served toasted with a little butter.

Iced Finger

An iced finger is similar to an iced bun but often longer and finger-shaped. In the UK, cream-filled iced fingers are a bakery favourite, particularly when filled with whipped cream and jam.

If you spot reduced iced fingers near the end of the day, they can be frozen. Defrost and refresh them carefully, then fill with cream just before serving if they are plain.

Iced Doughnut

Iced doughnuts are ring or filled doughnuts topped with icing. They come in many colours and flavours, from pink strawberry-style icing to chocolate glaze.

For a quick dessert, slice iced doughnuts in half and serve with a scoop of ice cream. It is not an everyday pudding, but it is a fun way to turn a reduced bakery item into something that feels like a treat.

Iced Gems

Iced gems are tiny biscuits topped with hard icing. They are more of a biscuit than a plated dessert, but they definitely belong in a list of sweet foods that start with I.

Use them to decorate cupcakes, trifles, sundaes or birthday puddings. Because they are small and colourful, a handful goes a long way.

Iced Sponge Cake

Iced sponge cake is a simple sponge topped with glacé icing or buttercream. It is easy to make at home and can be cut into squares for packed lunches, bake sales or freezer-friendly portions.

A basic sponge is also a good way to use up eggs close to their use-by date, as long as they have been stored correctly and are still safe to eat.

International Desserts That Start With I

Île Flottante

Île flottante, often listed under I despite the accent, is a French dessert meaning floating island. It is made with light poached meringue floating on crème anglaise, a thin vanilla custard. It is often finished with caramel or toasted nuts.

It looks elegant, but the ingredients are simple: eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla. It is a good example of a dessert that feels fancy without relying on expensive ingredients.

Imarti

Imarti is a bright orange Indian sweet made from a urad dal batter that is piped into flower-like spirals, fried, then soaked in sugar syrup. It is sometimes confused with jalebi, but imarti is usually thicker and has a slightly different texture.

It is rich, sticky and best enjoyed in small portions. You may find it in Indian sweet shops, especially around festivals and celebrations.

Injeolmi

Injeolmi is a Korean rice cake made from glutinous rice, often coated in roasted soybean powder. It has a chewy texture and a nutty, lightly sweet flavour.

It is not sugary in the same way as many Western desserts, which makes it a lovely option if you prefer something more subtle. It is often served with tea.

Irmik Helvasi

Irmik helvasi is a Turkish semolina dessert made by toasting semolina in butter, then adding syrup made from sugar and water or milk. It can include pine nuts, cinnamon or ice cream.

Semolina is usually affordable and stores well, so this is a useful cupboard dessert. It is warming, comforting and easy to portion.

Islak Kek

Islak kek is a Turkish wet chocolate cake. The sponge is soaked with a cocoa sauce, giving it a moist, fudgy texture. It is often cut into squares and served with tea or coffee.

If you enjoy chocolate traybakes, islak kek is well worth trying. It uses everyday baking ingredients and does not need fancy decoration.

Ispahan

Ispahan is a French patisserie flavour combination associated with rose, raspberry and lychee. It is often seen as a macaron dessert, but the flavours can also appear in cakes, tarts, entremets and puddings.

It is more of a special occasion dessert than a budget staple, but you can borrow the idea cheaply by pairing raspberries with a little rose water in yoghurt, cream or a simple sponge filling.

Imbul Kiribath

Imbul kiribath is a Sri Lankan sweet made with milk rice wrapped around a coconut and treacle filling. It is shaped into small rolls or parcels and often eaten for celebrations.

The filling is sweet, fragrant and satisfying, with coconut doing much of the work. If you like rice pudding and coconut desserts, this is one to look out for.

Indian Pudding

Indian pudding is an old-fashioned American dessert made with cornmeal, milk, molasses and spices. It is slow-baked until thick and soft, then usually served warm with cream or ice cream.

Despite the name, it is associated with New England rather than India. It is a hearty pudding with a deep, caramel-like flavour from the molasses.

Irish Apple Cake

Irish apple cake is a rustic cake made with apples and often flavoured with cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves. It is usually less fussy than a decorated sponge and works beautifully with custard.

It is also a good way to use cooking apples, windfalls or apples that have gone a little soft. Cut away any bruised parts and use the good fruit in the cake.

Irish Cream Cheesecake

Irish cream cheesecake is a chilled or baked cheesecake flavoured with Irish cream liqueur. It often has a biscuit base and a creamy filling, sometimes topped with chocolate.

For a cheaper version, use supermarket own-brand cream cheese and digestives. If serving to children or anyone avoiding alcohol, choose an alcohol-free flavouring instead.

Ischler Biscuits

Ischler biscuits, also known as Ischler Törtchen, are Austrian sandwich biscuits usually filled with jam and sometimes coated in chocolate. They are named after the spa town of Bad Ischl.

They are lovely at Christmas or with coffee. If you make them at home, use any jam you already have open to avoid buying a special jar.

Izmir Bomb

Izmir bomb, or Izmir bomba, is a Turkish dessert made from thin pastry wrapped around a rich chocolate filling. When served warm, the centre is soft and gooey.

It is very sweet, so one small piece is usually enough. Serve with strong coffee or unsweetened tea to balance the richness.

Easy I Dessert Ideas For Home

If you want desserts beginning with I that are realistic for a busy kitchen, these are the easiest places to start.

• Ice cream sundaes: use whatever fruit, sauce and biscuits you already have.
• Iced bun pudding: slice stale iced buns and bake with custard like bread and butter pudding.
• Ice lollies: freeze yoghurt, fruit purée or diluted juice in moulds.
• Icebox cake: layer biscuits with whipped cream and chill overnight.
• Irish apple cake: ideal for using up apples and basic baking ingredients.
• Italian ice: freeze sweetened fruit purée for a refreshing dairy-free pudding.

Money-Saving Tips For Desserts That Start With I

Desserts can quickly become pricey if you buy lots of special ingredients, but many I desserts are naturally budget-friendly.

Use Reduced Bakery Items

Iced buns, iced fingers, doughnuts and sponge cakes are often reduced at the end of the day. Eat them promptly, freeze where suitable, or turn them into puddings with custard, fruit or ice cream.

Keep a Basic Dessert Box

A small stash of affordable toppings can rescue plain desserts. Useful items include sprinkles, digestives, tinned fruit, jelly, chocolate chips, cocoa powder and long-life custard.

Make Frozen Desserts From Leftovers

Soft berries, ripe bananas and leftover yoghurt can become ice lollies or smoothie-style frozen desserts. Avoid using fruit that is mouldy or smells off, but do not waste produce just because it looks a bit tired.

Choose One Hero Ingredient

Instead of buying lots of expensive extras, pick one strong flavour. Lemon zest, cocoa powder, cinnamon, coffee or a spoonful of jam can make a simple pudding taste much more interesting.

Food Storage Notes For I Desserts

Frozen desserts such as ice cream, ice lollies and gelato should be kept in the freezer and returned there promptly after serving. Avoid repeatedly thawing and refreezing, as this affects texture and can be unsafe if food has been left out too long.

Cream-filled iced buns, cheesecakes and custard-based desserts should be stored in the fridge and eaten within the guidance on the packaging or recipe. Homemade desserts containing fresh cream, eggs or custard are best chilled and covered.

Dry biscuits and iced gems can usually be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.

FAQs About Desserts That Start With I

What is a dessert that starts with I?

Ice cream is the most obvious dessert that starts with I. Other examples include icebox cake, iced buns, imarti, Italian gelato, Irish apple cake and île flottante.

What British desserts start with I?

British sweet treats beginning with I include iced buns, iced fingers, iced doughnuts, iced gems and iced sponge cake. They are common in bakeries and supermarkets across the UK.

What Indian desserts start with I?

Imarti is a well-known Indian dessert that starts with I. It is made from a lentil-based batter, fried into decorative spirals and soaked in sugar syrup.

What frozen desserts start with I?

Frozen desserts that start with I include ice cream, ice lollies, ice cream cake, ice cream sandwiches, Italian ice and Italian gelato.

What is a fancy dessert beginning with I?

Île flottante is a classic fancy dessert beginning with I. Ispahan is another elegant option, usually featuring rose, raspberry and lychee flavours.

What is the cheapest dessert starting with I to make at home?

Homemade ice lollies are usually one of the cheapest. You can make them with diluted juice, yoghurt, fruit purée or leftover smoothie. Icebox cake can also be inexpensive if you use own-brand biscuits and cream.

Are there dairy-free desserts that start with I?

Yes. Italian ice and many fruit-based ice lollies are dairy-free if made without milk or yoghurt. Always check labels when buying ready-made desserts, as ingredients vary.

Can I make an I-themed dessert board?

Yes. Try a board with mini iced buns, ice cream sandwiches, iced gems, slices of Irish apple cake and small bowls of toppings for ice cream. It is a fun idea for alphabet food challenges or themed parties.