Throw the Ultimate DIY Ice Cream Sundae Party

Host the coolest party of the summer with an ultimate make-your-own ice cream sundae bar. This newest trend in party desserts plays well with any occasion—from backyard BBQs and birthday parties, to engagements, weddings, and showers. We’ve got all the tips, tricks, and recipes to make it happen.

Old-fashioned ice cream sundaes with cherries on top. | Photo by Meredith

How to Stock a Super Sundae Bar

Your guests will love creating and customizing their choose-your-own ice cream adventures. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ice Cream

You can go two ways here. Either give your guests three or four ice cream flavors to mix and match, or stick to one basic flavor and let them use it as a blank canvas for their sweet masterpieces. Whichever way you go, keep ice cream frosty cold by setting the containers into deep baking dishes, buckets, or bowls filled with ice. Make sure each flavor has its own dedicated ice cream scooper. Or try this: Scoop and freeze individual servings of ice cream in cupcake liners.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for… | Photo by Meredith

Need “nice cream” options for your dairy-free/vegan/paleo pals?

• Mint-Chip Coconut Milk Ice Cream
• Vegan Banana Ice Cream
• Paleo Tropical Ice Cream

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Related: Check out all the ice cream recipes you could possibly want, and get tips to make your own ice cream.

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Toppings

Here’s your chance to be a kid in a candy shop, literally.

There’s no end to the toppings that go on a sundae. | Photo by Meredith

The more colors, textures, and flavors you give them to play with, higher the fun factor. You can organize the toppings in bowls, jars, or cupcake baking pans. Here are just a few ideas to put out there:

• Mini candy bites of all kinds
• Crushed candy brittle
• Cookie crumbs
• Melt-in-your-mouth meringues
• Bite-size brownies
• Miniature cupcakes
• Banana bites dipped in chocolate
• Colorful fruit skewers
• Toasted or candied nuts
• Crunchy popcorn
• Chocolate sauce
• Caramel sauce
• Fruit sauces
• Whipped cream
• Maraschino cherries, of course!

More: Try 28 outrageous ice cream sundae toppings and boozy fruit sauces for grown-ups only.

Cups and Cones

Make like an ice cream shop and let your guests choose whether to build their sundaes in cups or cones, or both. Bowls or wide-mouth jars make it easier to pile on the toppings, but cones are so much fun to eat afterwards. Maybe they’ll want both! To dress up your cones or waffle cups, dip the edges in melted chocolate, and top with sprinkles. Set on waxed paper to harden.

Cones or bowls? How about both? | Photo by Meredith

More: Earn serious cooking cred with homemade ice cream cones.

Extras

An ice cream sundae bar that’s a visual delight makes for memorable photo-ops. Choose a bright color pallet and express it in all of your sundae accessories.

• Cover a long table with colorful (and easy-to-clean) oilcloth or long sheets of white or brown craft paper.
• Embellish your table with crepe paper streamers or colorful paper flags from a party store.
• Stock up on straws, spoons, napkins, and bowls in coordinating colors.
• Write up your ice cream flavors and topping choices on a chalkboard.

Ice Cream Sundae Inspiration

Ready to raise the sundae bar? Give these next-level recipes a try.

Grilled Fruit Ice Cream Sundaes

If you’ve got the grill going for a backyard BBQ, go on and fire up some fruit to top these inventive sundaes from Reddi-wip.

Photo by Reddi-wip

More: Get tips for grilling all kinds of fruit.

Grillswith (Donut Happiness)

A grilled doughnut (or donut, okay?) is the foundation for this restaurant-inspired sundae. Yes, it sounds completely crazy and you should definitely go there.

Honey Ginger Plum Sundae

This cardamom-and-ginger spiced fruit combination is an exotic departure from the usual sundae toppings.

Photo by lutzflcat

Related

• Find every kind of dessert sauce you need for your DIY sundae bar.
• If you can’t stand the heat, these no-bake summer desserts are for you.
• Watch out! This mega milkshake could be your next dessert obsession.

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