Sprinkling some extravagance on your classic dessert can elevate it to new heights. Serving up a scoop of premium ice cream with high-end toppings such as gourmet sauces or artisanal cookies, peanut butter cups, and chopped nuts is an excellent way to indulge in the sweet treat. Whether you’re reminiscing about childhood favorites like strawberry sauce or hot fudge over your sundae, you can easily recreate these flavors at home by experimenting with different combinations of ingredients.
Looking back on fond memories of enjoying ice cream as a child can be a great starting point for finding new favorite toppings. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the best ice cream toppings and provide an extensive list of over ten mouth-watering options for you to try. Additionally, there will be a special bonus section dedicated to incorporating natural ingredients to add a touch of wholesome goodness to your frozen treats.
Hot Fudge
Just as every ice cream shop offers hot fudge as an option, you can easily make your own at home to serve with your favorite ice cream. To create this indulgent treat, heat up some sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips while stirring constantly over low-medium heat. Once the mixture is melted and smooth, remove it from the heat source, stir in a tablespoon of butter until well combined, and then transfer the hot fudge to an airtight jar for storage.
Caramel Sauce
Pondering the perfect accompaniment to ice cream, many would argue that a rich caramel sauce is the way to go. It may seem subtle at first glance, but trust us when we say it adds a level of decadence that’s hard to resist. One thing to keep in mind is that a runny caramel can be just as effective as a thick one – after all, its sweetness is likely to cut through even the most rustic of flavors.
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to give homemade caramel a try, simply heat up butter, milk, and brown sugar until they reach a boil, then remove from the heat and stir in some vanilla extract before allowing it to cool.
Salted Caramel
Bringing a new level of flavor to caramel sauce is easy – just add a pinch of salt. Unlike hot fudge, which stands on its own as a classic topping, salted caramel has gained immense popularity over the years. The process of making it from scratch is also relatively simple. To get started, heat sugar in a pan until it reaches an amber color, then remove it from the heat and stir in butter before gradually adding cream and a pinch of salt.
With this homemade salted caramel sauce by your side, you’ll be able to elevate any dessert or even add a touch of sweetness to your coffee.
Melted Marshmallow
Making this delicious melted marshmallow sauce is quite straightforward, requiring just a few essential ingredients like unflavored gelatin, sugar, light corn syrup, salt, and vanilla extract. Having a candy thermometer on hand will also be crucial to achieving the perfect consistency.
Whipped Cream
Often overlooked as an extra topping option, adding whipped cream to your ice cream can bring an exciting new texture and dimension to the dessert. By whipping heavy cream with sugar and vanilla extract, you can create a light and airy topping that pairs perfectly with a variety of other ingredients.
While it may not be as thick and scoopable as your main ice cream, whipped cream can still serve as a tasty vessel for toppings like chopped nuts or hot chocolate sauce, helping to balance out the flavors and textures. Alternatively, you could add a simple yet elegant touch by topping your ice cream with a Maraschino cherry.
Chocolate Sauce
Sweet treats often require a delicate balance of flavors and textures, especially when chocolate sauce is involved. It’s crucial to exercise caution with this indulgent condiment, as its rich, velvety consistency can overpower more understated ice cream flavors. The sauce itself comes from a mixture of heavy milk and chocolate chips, lending it an intense flavor profile that demands attention.
When paired with an otherwise subtle ice cream flavor, the result can be overwhelming, dominating the senses rather than complementing them. Despite its silky texture, which remains even when chilled, the ideal serving temperature for chocolate sauce-dipped ice cream is actually quite hot. However, this comes with a caveat: the heat can cause the sauce to melt the ice cream prematurely, potentially ruining the overall experience before it has even begun.
Even so, the taste alone stands out as a testament to the quality of the ingredients used in its creation.
Strawberry Sauce
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t indulged in strawberry sauce on their ice cream at some point, often during their youth. The reason for this is that it’s such a visually appealing topping when drizzled over ice cream – the vibrant colors and tantalizing texture make it a standout combination. However, making your own strawberry sauce from scratch is just as easy as combining strawberries, lemon juice, and granulated sugar in a bowl.
One of the things you might notice when eating homemade strawberry sauce is its gooey and sticky texture, which can be punctuated by a few stray strawberry seeds here and there. Despite this, the flavor profile is well-balanced, swinging between sweet and tart notes that can be perfectly tempered by a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.
Sprinkles
Delightfully whimsical, sprinkles bring a touch of playfulness to any dessert, despite their perceived childishness. They add minimal flavor but provide a satisfying crunch that complements the creamy texture of ice cream perfectly.Desserts are often about presentation as much as taste, and sprinkles serve this purpose beautifully. To create a classic look, try using rainbow sprinkles, or get creative with your own custom colors by mixing food dye into the mix.
Crushed Oreo Cookies
Delighting fans across the US, Cookies and Cream ice cream has managed to carve out a permanent spot in the hearts of many. The unbeatable combination of vanilla ice cream and crushed Oreo cookies is what sets it apart from other flavors. This pairing creates a perfect harmony that people just can’t get enough of. But why stop at just enjoying this flavor? Why not take it to the next level by adding even more texture and crunch to your Cookies and Cream ice cream?
Crushed Oreo cookies, with their cookie wafers and gooey filling, make an excellent topping. And if you want to go all out, you could try making a show-stopping Oreo Ice Cream Cake – or simply blitz some Oreo cookies in a food processor for a quick fix. Whatever your preference, one thing is certain: this flavor combination will never get old.
Cookie Dough
Rather than relying on store-bought cookie dough, you can easily create your own at home using a few basic ingredients. Simply combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and water in a bowl, then mix until the dough is well blended. Once prepared, you can use this homemade dough to bake cookies or mix it with ice cream for a delicious treat.
This way, you’ll have complete control over the ingredients and can experiment with different flavors to create your own unique recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Evidently, the most popular ice cream topping is no mystery, as chocolate sauce remains a consistent favorite. In addition to sauces, chopped nuts and sprinkles continue to be the top choices for dry toppings. When it comes to ice cream sundaes, the possibilities are endless, but some classic combinations include hot fudge or chocolate sauce as a base.
To elevate your sundae game, consider adding mini marshmallows, Maraschino cherries, chocolate chips, and even chocolate pretzels for added texture and flavor.
Directions
According to the instructions, there are three steps involved in making your own dish: Firstly, choose a recipe from our comprehensive list. Next, click on the desired recipe’s name to be redirected to its official website. Once you’ve arrived at the website, make sure to gather all the necessary ingredients for the chosen dish. Finally, start cooking and relish the outcome – don’t forget to leave a review to help others.
