When that summer heat hits, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a cold scoop of ice cream. (All the better if it’s topped with some hot fudge and a cherry.) This summer, we encourage you to put “A Farm Boy Fresh Twist” on your ice cream enjoyment by building an ice cream sundae bar!
Easy to arrange and a delicious time for adults and kids, this backyard-friendly treat is a must-try. Discover everything you need at your local Farm Boy, where we’re committed to bringing you good food from good neighbours. With a base of locally crafted ice cream, gelato, or dairy-free frozen dessert, there’s something everyone can enjoy. Pick and choose the items you like best and experience an ice cream sundae bar at an excellent value.
Blog Overview
- Learn how to create an ice cream sundae bar in five easy steps.
- Begin with spoons, scoops, ice cream cones, and two sets of bowls for holding toppings and building sundaes.
- Lay out toppings like peanuts, cookies, sprinkles, and fruit.
- Warm any sauces, like hot fudge, caramel, and peanut butter for easy pouring.
- Take out the ice cream towards the end of setting up your ice cream sundae bar so it doesn’t melt too quickly.
- Discover more ice cream recipes and ice cream sundae ideas from Farm Boy.
Step 1: Set out your cones, bowls, and spoons.
Setting your ice cream sundae bar requires some dishes. Grab enough bowls of varying sizes for all of your preferred toppings and sauces. We also recommend having a stack of smaller bowls for the guests who want to enjoy their ice cream that way. Set out spoons, small tongs, and scoops so guests can easily serve themselves.
Make space on your table for cones and waffle bowls as well. Ours have a baked, crunchy texture that makes them the perfect base for your ice cream sundae creations!
Farm Boy™ Sugar Cones
Baked with brown sugar for a crispy texture and caramelized flavour. Proudly produced in Québec.
Farm Boy™ Waffle Bowls
Have your bowl and eat it, too! Proudly produced in Québec.
Farm Boy™ Ice Cream Cones
Crispy, crunchy, and a classic choice for ice cream lovers. Proudly produced in Québec.
Step 2: Lay out your toppings.
One of our favourite parts of an ice cream sundae bar is that you can customize it to suit your tastes. If you have a larger guest list, we recommend offering some variety so people can get creative. Place all your dry toppings in bowls for easy access, along with a scoop, spoon, or small pair of tongs as required.
We recommend providing a variety of textures. Crunchy pretzels and peanuts, sweet crushed cookies, colourful sprinkles, and soft mini marshmallows are classic choices. For fruit, we suggest sliced bananas and maraschino cherries. If you’re using whipped cream, place a can for guests to spray as much as they’d like to top off their ice cream sundae.
Step 3: Heat up your sauces.
For maximum drizzling, you’ll want to warm up your sauces. If you have small pitchers or heatproof measuring cups, now is the time to bust them out. You can also add a spoon to these vessels for guests to have more control over their pour.
Farm Boy™ Milk Chocolate Dessert Sauce
Locally crafted with minimal ingredients, this luxurious chocolate sauce is like classic hot fudge with a fresh twist. Finished with a touch of fleur de sel to amplify the flavours, it’s an elevated topping for ice cream sundaes.
Farm Boy™ Banana Bread Caramel Sauce
Crafted locally with simple ingredients like banana purée, brown sugar, and butter, this decadent sauce brings a sophisticated spin to classic caramel.
Farm Boy™ Smooth Peanut Butter
Available chunky or smooth, we chose the smooth version for this ice cream sundae bar. Warm it just enough for a pourable consistency and savour the flavours of 100% roasted peanuts.
Step 4: Pull out the ice cream.
Finally, it’s time to bring out the stars of the show: the ice cream! From locally churned ice cream made with 100% Canadian dairy to vegan-friendly delights, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Whether you pick classic or more unique flavours, you’ll want to take the lids off and place them on a single serving tray (if you have one). Alternatively, a tabletop cooler will do the trick. Multiple ice cream scoops are useful here, so you don’t mix the flavours.
Farm Boy™ Gourmet Ice Cream
Handcrafted locally with 100% Ontario dairy, our line of Gourmet Ice Cream is seriously decadent. Made without preservatives, artificial flavours, or colours, they’re homespun, natural deliciousness. Available in five unique, creamy flavours like Roasted Banana Blast, Wild Blueberry Boom, and more.
Farm Boy™ Gelato
Prepared in small batches with 100% Canadian homogenized milk, our gelato has the perfect silky smooth texture. Enjoy a scoop or two in luxurious flavours like Belgian Chocolate, Salted Peanut & Caramel, Strawberry Cheesecake, and more.
Farm Boy™ Oat-Rageous Frozen Dessert
Even the dairy-free crowd can indulge in an ice cream sundae bar! Our line of dairy-free frozen desserts is locally crafted in small batches from Canadian-grown oats. Rich, smooth, and creamy thanks to low overrun churning, taste flavours like Blueberry Lemonade, Vanilla Bean, and more.
Farm Boy™ Ice Cream
Locally churned with 100% Canadian dairy, our extensive line of classic ice creams comes in a variety of flavours. Always rich, smooth, and decadent, choose from favourites like Burgundy Cherry, Cookies & Cream, Mint Chocolaty Chunk, and many more.
Step 5: Dig in!
Now it’s time for the best part: creating your own ice cream sundae! With everything ready to go, invite your guests to indulge their sweet tooth in concocting their own unique treat. Then, settle in for a movie, a day by the pool, or just a relaxing afternoon in your backyard and enjoy.
Tips for the Best Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Keep ice cream cold. Pull your ice cream out after everything else is arranged. Store your ice cream in a small cooler or galvanized bucket filled with ice and a pinch of salt. This will prevent your ice cream from melting too quickly and leading to a huge mess. Cover the ice with a lid or waterproof cloth to prevent it from melting and making your ice cream cartons soggy.
Offer allergy-friendly options. For the guests who are dairy-free or vegan, provide options like Farm Boy™ Oat-Rageous Frozen Dessert or Farm Boy™ Sorbet. If guests have a nut allergy, don’t include nuts in your topping bar. Use separate utensils for everything to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Provide a few flavours. For the perfect balance of variety, offer your guests 3 to 5 flavours to choose from. Stick with mostly classics (you can never go wrong with chocolate and vanilla). But, depending on your guest list, feel free to offer some flavourful wild cards, too.
Decorate. We love any excuse for an ice cream sundae bar, but it’s even better when it’s for a celebration. Have fun with decorations like old-school ice cream parlour signage, balloon bouquets, or colourful pictures of vintage ice cream. You can even theme your décor around the occasion itself, like birthdays or baby showers.
Ice Cream Sundae Suggestions
Not sure where to start? Check out any of these ideas for delicious ice cream sundae creations!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bonanza
Top Banana
Very Berry
Twisted Tiramisu
- Farm Boy™ Toffee Cappuccino Crunch Gelato
- Farm Boy™ Cappuccino Mini Biscotti
- Farm Boy™ Dark Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans
Plant-Based Paradise
- Farm Boy™ Oat-Rageous Vanilla Bean Frozen Dessert
- Farm Boy™ Vegan Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
- Shredded Coconut
- Sliced Pineapple and/or Mango
Farm Boy Ice Cream Recipes
Looking for more ice cream ideas to melt over? Check out any of the recipes below!
