Ideas for creating a charming ice cream bar! It’s perfect for a birthday party or a summer kick-off party! Everyone loves ice cream and this is an easy summer dessert idea!
An ice cream bar is the only dessert you need for a summer party! Whether you’re hosting a last minute birthday bash or a fun in the sun party, adults and kids will love this! It’s an easy, no-bake fun entertaining idea for everyone!
We’re covering all the details, what you’ll need and fun ideas for creating your own ice cream bar for your next party.
What do you put on an ice cream bar?
Here is a list of supplies and ingredients you use to make your ice cream bar the best it can be!
- Ice Cream Cones and Cups
- Wooden Ice Cream Cone Holder
- Ice Cream Toppings – See our list below
- Scooper
- Ice Chest – To keep ice cream cold
- Different Flavors of Ice Cream
- Spoons
- Small Bowls for Toppings
- Napkins
- Flowers – For decorations
- Ice Cream Themed Desserts – Like our Ice Cream Sundae Cake!
Ice Cream Bar Ideas
You can find so many charming products for an ice cream bar on Etsy! From unique sprinkle blends to mini waffle cones, charming cups to the sweetest handmade walnut ice cream cone holder! Here are some fun ideas!
Waffle Cone Wall
This is a fun way to decorate for an ice cream party! We gently nailed in waffles cones for a backdrop! You can also use Command strips for this.
Charming Colorful Flowers
Adding flowers to an ice cream bar is the perfect way to add color and beauty! Here are 10 floral tips from a pro!
Ice Cream Cone Holder
A wooden ice cream cone holder is perfect for an ice cream bar!
Chocolate Dipped Spoons
An easy and charming idea to make for your ice cream party! Just dip wooden spoons in melted chocolate, add a few sprinkles and let them dry on parchment paper.
You can also make these with copper or gold spoons! See the tutorial here!
Mini Ice Cream Cone Cookies
Making mini ice cream cone cookies with frosting is a fun idea. Serve them as an ice cream topping or in a bowl. Here’s a great recipe and a mini cookie cutter.
Ice Cream on Ice
Add pints of colorful ice cream and different flavors in an ice chest on ice. This way it will stay cold while scooping.
When buying ice cream, get a few different flavors for guests to choose from. Here are some flavors you can serve:
- Coconut
- Mint Chip
- Espresso
- Mango Sorbet
- Black Raspberry
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Birthday Cake
- Peanutbutter
If you want to get super fancy, you can make homemade ice cream! This definitely puts more work into throwing an ice cream party, but if you’re an ice cream connoisseur you’ll love these recipes!
- Lucky Charms Ice Cream
- The Best Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Ice Cream Recipe
- New Zealand Hokey Pokey Ice Cream Recipe
Ice Cream Bar Toppings
There are so many delicious toppings you add to an ice cream bar! Here are a few fun ideas. Have them in small serving bowls with mini scoops.
- Sprinkles
- Mini Sugar Cookies
- Whipped Cream
- Chocolate and Caramel Sauce
- Edible Flowers
- Dried Flower Petals
- Chocolate Chips
- Cherries
- Gummies
- Mini Marshmallows
- Peanutbutter Sauce
- Fresh Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
What are the most popular ice cream toppings?
The most popular ice cream toppings are the classic ones! Peanuts, whipped cream, sprinkles, marshmallows, cherries and chocolate sauce.
Fancy Sprinkles has so many great blends! We love the uniqueness of their sprinkles and they add a lot of fun and charm to an ice cream party.
Dried, edible flowers are beautiful on ice cream! They add a floral flavor too.
Tips for Creating an Ice Cream Bar
What is the best way to scoop ice cream?
- Dip the scooper into warm water and shake off the excess water.
- Scoop at an angle into the ice cream and around like a full circle until a ball of ice cream forms.
- Gently release onto an ice cream cone.
How much is in a scoop of ice cream?
One scoop of ice cream can be 1/2 to 1 cup. If you do a double scoop it’s about 2 cups!
More Fun Entertaining Ideas You’ll Love!
Fun Ways to Use a Tiered Galvanized Tray
Everything You Need for Hosting an Outdoor Movie Night
Charming Lemonade Stand for Adults
Let us know if you make this ice cream bar! We’d love to see your ideas! Please comment below and tag us on social @sugarandcharm!
The Etsy journal link doesn’t work. Very interested to know where you got the cart as well. Can you share that info?
Hi Lani, not sure which link you are talking about. We checked the Etsy Journal Link and it is linking back to Etsy. The cart is from HomeGoods! We use it a lot for entertaining.