Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae Bar -

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This simple Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae Bar is easy to set up, decadent and delicious, fun for everyone and truly one of the greatest desserts for adults and kids when entertaining for any occasion. Customize with all of your favorite toppings and condiments for a sweet treat that’s better that the ice cream store.

No matter your age or the occasion, ice cream is always the right choice. And this Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae Bar is the perfect sweet treat for kids and adults of all ages. Set one up at your next party so everyone can build their own for the ultimate customizable dessert experience.

Load up on sweet and salty toppings like chocolate chips, chopped candy, fresh fruit, crunchy nuts, crushed cookies, rainbow sprinkles, whipped cream, and don’t forget the sauces and syrups. The Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae Bar is perfect for parties, summer gatherings, birthdays and holidays — guests can mix and mingle as they make their own dessert creations. And the whole thing is customizable, so you can serve it a different way, every time. We guarantee you’ll all scream for this ice cream sundae party!

If you like this frozen dessert, try some of our other cool treats. We love this easy and impressive Ice Cream Sandwich Cake and these Patriotic Ice Cream Sandwiches are delicious and festive.

Why You’ll Love This Sundae Bar

Customizable For All Ages: Everyone loves ice cream, kids and adults alike! And this sundae bar is easy to customize to everyone’s liking. Include kid-friendly toppings or grown-up flavors — or better yet, do a combo of both so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Perfect for Entertaining: Put out a big spread of ice cream and toppings, and you’ve got the ideal dessert for a crowd. Everyone can make their own and enjoy.
Easy to Prep Ahead: Prep and pour the toppings, sauces and serving-ware in advance, so all that’s left to do is grab the ice cream from the freezer. It’s a great time-saving dessert idea.
Budget-Friendly: You can choose whatever ice creams and toppings to match your budget — there are higher and lower end options available.
Works for any Season or Occasion: Ice cream is delicious year round so you can serve this any month for any celebration. Make it summery with fresh berries, or make it cozy in the winter with peppermint candy or gingerbread crumbles.

Ingredients

Ice Cream: Choose your favorite flavors — store-bought or homemade work perfectly. Go with the classics (I love using this vanilla ice cream recipe), or add in some fun surprise flavors too!
Crunchy Toppings: Toasted nuts, granola, pretzels and crushed cookies are all great options.
Candy: M&Ms, gummy bears, and chocolate chips are always popular.
Fruit: Diced or sliced fresh strawberries, bananas, pineapple or blueberries are delicious and colorful.
Fun Extras: Rainbow or chocolate sprinkles and marshmallows are always tasty and colorful add-ins.
Hot Fudge: Rich and chocolatey, a classic sundae topping.
Caramel Sauce: Another signature sweet sauce.
Strawberry Syrup: Colorful and fruity.
Peanut Butter Sauce: Always a nutty hit.
Whipped Cream: Homemade or store-bought, this is a delicious, light and fluffy topping.
Maraschino Cherries: Because you always need that cherry on top!

Serving Essentials

Bowls or Cups: To serve in. For guests to build their own.
Spoons: Use your preferred cutlery.
Napkins: Because ice cream can get melty and messy!
Ice Cream Scoopers: Have a few at the ready – any type will do.
Labels for Toppings: Nothing fancy needed, just something simple so guests know what’s what.
Suggested Equipment:
- I used this Rise by Dash ice cream maker to make vanilla ice cream and it turned out better then any store bought version! You can make frozen yogurt, gelato and sorbet in it too.
- This galvanized tub is a great bucket to use to hold the ice and ice cream.
- I used this acrylic ice cream cone holder which was not only adorable but also a great way to display different cone options.

How To Set Up an Ice Cream Sundae Bar

1. Arrange ice cream in a chilled area

2. Place toppings in small bowls

3. Organize sauces with ladles
4. Add labels for easy navigation
5. Create a flow for guests

Expert Tips

Pre-Scoop Ice Cream for Large Parties: This helps to serve guests quickly and efficiently, and eliminates the need for excess scooping or extra mess.
Keep Ice Cream Cold with Ice Baths: Fill a large shallow tray or dish with water, ice, and a good pinch of salt to make an extra ice cold ice bath. Remember to sit your ice cream in a separate container on top of the ice bath to keep the cartons from getting soggy.
Use Small Containers: Smaller bowls, jars or containers are best for easy refilling.
Offer Allergy-Friendly Options: Be sure to have dairy-free, low-sugar, nut-free, or vegan options available, too.
Add a Theme: If it’s a birthday, holiday, or special occasion, make sure the toppings and decor match the theme!
Keep Sauces Warm: Use a small slow cooker to house the fudge, caramel sauce, peanut butter sauce and strawberry sauce. This will keep them warm so they drizzle easily.
Go with Classic Flavors: Offer vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry for the oldies but goodies.
Serve Crowd-Pleasers: Flavors like cookies & cream and mint chip are always fan favorites.
Choose 3-5 Ice Cream Flavors: For the perfect amount of variety.

I created a cute Ice Cream Bar printable that you can also use if you wish. Click HERE to download the free Ice Cream Bar Printable.

Storage

Any leftover ice cream, toppings, mix-in’s or cones should all be stored separately in zip top bags or airtight containers in the fridge, freezer, or on the counter (depending on what they are).

Store sauces in airtight containers for maximum freshness and flavor. Any leftovers can be store in the fridge for later use.

We recommend keeping the ice cream frozen in the freezer until right before serving to keep it as cold as possible.

You can prep as many toppings in advance to help save time — crush cookies ahead of time, pour candy and sprinkles into bowls, transfer sauces to airtight containers, and chop nuts before guests arrive.

ice cream sundae bar with a hand holding an ice cream cone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much ice cream per person?

Plan for 2-3 scoops, or about 1 cup of ice cream, per person.

How many toppings should I offer?

As many as you’d like! We recommend a variety of crunchy, candies or crushed cookies, a fresh fruit, something fun like sprinkles, and a couple of sauces for the best mix. Customize your toppings based on the guests.

How do I keep ice cream from melting?

Place the ice cream in a tray or container over ice or in a cooler filled with ice.

Can I make this dairy-free?

Definitely. Include 1-2 dairy free ice cream options in the spread.

What’s the best way to serve a crowd?

Fill small bowls or jars with toppings, and have the ice cream pre scooped in bowls, so everyone can grab their own and start building right away. No need for big tubs of ice cream or extra scoops!

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