All the cream, the fruit, the toppings — yes, the perfect ice cream sundae really does exist…

An ice cream sundae abundant in fruits, chocolate, sparklers, sprinkles crosses the room and sighs, ooohs and ahhhs follow it. Ice cream sundaes are decadent, indulgent, far too much and absolutely the most wonderful thing. There is no one perfect ice cream sundae, but our Summer Sundaes Box took inspiration from the very best.

First, we revisited everything there is to know about ice cream then we researched and toiled and trialled and errored, exploring some truly incredible versions of the perfect ice cream sundae. Here’s what we know.

What is a sundae?

Ice cream, fruit, nuts, cream, sauce, toppings. An ice cream sundae is pretty much ice cream living its best life. It might be an elegant, dainty sundae drizzled with sauce and finished with a plump cherry. It might be an all-singing, all-dancing dessert topped with anything from candyfloss to cupcakes. 

How to make a classic ice cream sundae

An ice cream sundae is super simple to make. You can either carefully consider every ingredient or you can just throw in everything you like. To take some control over making your sundae, we suggest having three elements: the base, a sauce and toppings. You might want them to complement each other. You might not.  

First, grab a sundae glass. Although the classic shape is much like a glass ice cream cone, others are wider and shallower. Into your glass, drizzle your sauce, then scoop three – or more – balls of vanilla ice cream (three scoops is classic, but you do you). Drizzle sauce generously over the top.

Finally, on goes the squirty cream as much or as … much … as you like. This is the classic retro cream, but if double or clotted cream is more your thing, do it. Some people prefer a light, airy cream, but there are no rules here. As the pièce de résistance, adorn with your favourite toppings then finish with the traditional single glacé cherry.

How to make a chocolate sundae

Your chocolate sundae should be as chocolatey as humanly possible. But keep things lively with variety: dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate can all make an appearance alongside some flavours that really make chocolate shine.

Our Ice Cream of the Gods infuses ice cream with cocoa beans to free the delicate cocoa flavours and give the bean centre stage. A white chocolate ice cream does the same thing, and complete your trio with a meet-in-the-middle milk chocolate ice cream.

For the sauce, make your own chocolate fudge sauce by heating cocoa powder, dark chocolate, butter, brown sugar and golden syrup and drizzle it, warm, over your mountain of chocolate ice creams.

For the toppings, texture is a winner. Chocolate-covered rice puffs and nuts add an extra chocolate and a satisfying crunch. Brownie bites and chocolate shortbread create a divine layer of texture, complementing the indulgent chocolate base. 

What is the best ice cream sundae combination?

Ice cream sundaes can be as bold and as classic as you like. We reckon both approaches have their powers – our Ice Cream Swirls are full of nostalgic childhood flavours, while our Scoops-to-Chill Big Dipper has a grown-up, rather exotic feel.

The best combinations work out from a central theme or flavour pairing. For a citrus bite, try lemon ice cream topped with Italian meringue, cream and crumbled biscuit bites for a lemon meringue pie feel. Or try your own strawberry cheesecake in sundae form. Combine strawberry ice cream with a sweet mascarpone topping, fresh berries and shortbread bites. 

If you’re a peanut butter lover, you could crumble our Peanut Butter Chocolate Selectors on peanut butter ice cream for a nut-lover’s dream come true. The key, really, is to be generous with everything.

What’s the difference between a sundae and ice cream?

Any ice cream can have toppings, but it never truly reaches the giddy heights of a sundae. Ice cream is really just ice cream, maybe with a flake or drizzle of sauce. And, yes, a sundae is made with ice cream. But it’s usually several scoops topped with sauce, whipped cream, chopped nuts or sprinkles or both. 

What are the best ice cream sundae toppings?

Ice cream sundae toppings have taken quite a leap away from the humble cream and cherry combo. We’re now in the magical realms of decadent creations and outrageous taste inventions. Of course, this is hardly surprising with the rise of social media: put an Instagrammed classic ice cream sundae alongside a sundae chock-a-block with cookie chunks, caramel chocolates, pralines and more. It’s a tough competition, aesthetically.

Sprinkles don’t quite cut it, anymore. Your dessert toppings should excite: cut up vanilla sponge cake and top with strawberry and vanilla ice cream for your very own Victoria sponge, recreated in ice cream form. 

Make your version of chocolate orange by combining chocolate and orange ice creams, topped off with Orange Tangs for a zesty burst. Take inspiration from our Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Little Dipper and shave flakes of white chocolate over fresh raspberries.

Perfection is difficult to define. However, you’ll know you’re on the right tracks if your ice cream sundae glass is filled to the brim with ice creams, sauces, cream and copious different toppings.