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ICE CREAM SUNDAE BARS
Looking for ways to make ice cream the main event for any get together? Creating and hosting a sundae bar can be a fun activity for all ages. Follow these helpful preparation tips to make it fun and easy for everyone.
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FUN THEMES FOR ICE CREAM SOCIALS
Tropical Breeze: Make sure to decorate the serving area and include tropical toppings, tall parfait glasses and umbrellas!
Chocoholics: Every flavor of chocolate ice cream, brownie bites, chocolate toppings, chocolate and fudge sauces.
Go Nuts!: Include peanut butter topping, Nut Toppings, brownies baked with nuts, waffle bowls or cones dipped in nuts; melt chocolate, then dip edges in nuts.
We all Scream for Ice Cream: Kids love colorful toppings, colorful ice creams or rainbow sherbet. Decorate with streamers and balloons and have fun! Perfect for birthdays or anytime! |
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WHAT TO HAVE ON HAND
Bowls, spoons, plenty of napkins - disposable will make clean up a snap. If you want to use china or glass bowls, place them in the freezer first. This will keep the ice cream from melting while your guests are adding their favorite toppings.
Variety of ice creams - chocolate, strawberry, vanilla (most popular). Allow 1/2-2/3rds cup of ice cream per person. Each flavor of ice cream should have its own ice cream scoop, a container of warm water to dip between scoops and a folded towel to tap off excess water.
Ice cream toppings for crunch - Fisher nut blends, small candies, toasted coconut, crushed cookies, grated chocolate, crushed sugar cones, gummi bears and worms, all placed in small bowls.
Fruit - unpeeled bananas, fresh sliced strawberries, blueberries, maraschino cherries, pineapple tidbits, frozen fruit.
Sauces – caramel, chocolate, butterscotch, strawberry, etc. Put in small pitchers for easy drizzling. Keep caramel or fudge sauce warm in a mini slow cooker or over a pan of hot water for a delicious contrast.
Whipped Cream - in the can, or freshly whipped!
Not necessary, but nice to have --ice cream waffle bowls, cake and/or sugar cones or even fudgy brownie squares make great starts. Add extra crunch and flavor to the edge of purchased waffle bowls or cones by dipping in melted chocolate and then immediately into our Nut Toppings.
Pull out the waffle maker and top warm waffles with ice cream, Nut Toppings and maple syrup or strawberry jam and whipped cream. |
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SETTING IT UP
Set up a sundae bar on a table or kitchen island. Put the ice cream in the center, with sauces and toppings alongside. (Keep ice cream cold by nestling the containers in bowls of crushed ice).
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TO SAVE TIME AND LIMIT MELTING, YOU CAN SCOOP AHEAD
Cover a baking sheet with plastic wrap; freeze for 30 minutes.
Remove from freezer and, working quickly, scoop ice cream and place desired portions slightly apart on the baking sheet.
Square boxes of ice cream can be easily sliced into squares for an interesting way of pre-portioning.
Freeze until firm, at least 30 minutes, and then cover the sheet airtight and freeze up to 1 day.
Try making very small scoops (cookie scoops work great for this, dip in warm water between scoops) so that each guest can include 2 or 3 different flavors of ice cream in their ice cream sundae creation. |
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WHEN HOSTING CHILDREN
Place ice cream scoops into a muffin tin lined with muffin papers; refreeze.
Once refrozen you can store in a plastic bag in the freezer for ready-to-serve scoops for the sundae bar, or ready-when-you are servings!
Try inserting a wooden stick into the ice cream scoops before freezing and allowing the kids to dip the ice cream “pops” into their favorite toppings.
Mix Nut Toppings with a small amount of multi-colored jimmies to add pizzazz.
Try giving kids small plastic cups to use instead of bowls, the higher sides help to eliminate spill-overs.
Set up the buffet inside to keep the ice cream from melting too fast, but have kids eat their ice cream creations outside in the sun, making the most of summertime! |
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TIPS FOR USING ICE CREAM IN RECIPES
Before beginning your recipe, let the ice cream stand at room temperature just until soft around the edges or soften by allowing it to stand in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes. To be sure it is evenly softened, measure into a bowl and stir until smooth before using.
Use regular, not light ice cream for dessert cakes or pies. When softened, lightened-up ice cream won’t refreeze as well and will develop an unpleasant, “icy” crystalline texture.
No more messy leaks from your cone – place Nut Topping in the bottom to create a barrier before filling with ice cream. Or, add melted chocolate chips and Nut Toppings for a nice surprise on the bottom
Premium ice creams are firmer and harder to scoop than regular ice creams, which have more air whipped into them during freezing.
Is the ice cream too hard to scoop? Briefly warm it unopened in the microwave on medium power; pint 15-30 seconds, quart 30-45 seconds, and half-gallon 30 seconds adding 5-10 seconds if necessary. |
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