Quick answer: for a sundae bar, plan on about 1 cup of ice cream per guest, three sauces, whipped cream, and six to eight toppings in small bowls. Keep the ice cream nested in ice and bring it out last.
Toppings checklist
| Type | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Sauces | Hot fudge, caramel, strawberry, butterscotch, peanut butter |
| Whipped cream | Vanilla, chocolate or flavored, from a dispenser or a chilled bowl |
| Crunch | Chopped nuts, crushed cookies, granola, toffee bits, waffle cone pieces |
| Candy | Sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, chopped candy bars, gummy bears |
| Fruit | Sliced bananas, strawberries, pineapple, maraschino cherries |
How much to buy
- Ice cream: 1 cup (2 scoops) per guest; a gallon serves about 16.
- Sauces: 2-3 tablespoons per guest in total.
- Whipped cream: about 2 tablespoons per sundae.
- Dry toppings: 2-3 tablespoons per guest in total.
Whipped cream
A whipped cream dispenser suits a sundae bar: the cream stays cold and each guest gets a fresh rosette. Otherwise set out a bowl of stabilized whipped cream over ice. Flavors: chocolate, strawberry and more in whipped cream dispenser recipes.
Keeping the ice cream cold
- Pre-scoop into a chilled tray or paper liners and refreeze until serving.
- Nest containers in a tub of ice.
- Bring the ice cream out last and serve in the shade outdoors.
Make your own ice cream
No-churn ice cream needs only heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk and can be made days ahead in several flavors.
More: desserts for a crowd and waffle and pancake toppings.
Frequently asked questions
What toppings do you need for a sundae bar?
Two or three sauces (hot fudge, caramel, strawberry), whipped cream, sprinkles, chopped nuts, crushed cookies, candy pieces, fresh fruit and cherries.
How much ice cream do I need per person?
About one cup (two scoops) per guest. A gallon serves roughly 16.
How do you keep ice cream cold on a sundae bar?
Nest the tubs in a larger container of ice, pre-scoop into a chilled tray or muffin liners and refreeze, and bring it out last.
How much whipped cream do I need?
About 2 tablespoons per sundae. One cup of heavy cream, whipped, tops about 16 sundaes.
