It’s almost summer in Wisconsin. There is no better time to make ice cream sundaes. Nearly any event can be improved with ice cream—Father’s Day, the Summer Solstice, The First Day Above 80 Degrees, Friday, you name it! Especially when the toppings are both plentiful and unusual. You, your friends, family and colleagues, will all have a blast building an aesthetic and engineering marvel and then attempting to consume it before it melts.
Personally, I almost never eat ice cream by itself. I have been known to put any number of bizarre pantry items in my bowl in search of the perfect sundae. I start with a theme to set the tone—am I in the mood for something light with fruit, or rich and decadent with chocolate, or sweet and salty with caramel? Then, with theme in mind, I set out in search of toppings. Crackers, trail mix, shredded coconut, breakfast cereal, last year’s leftover fruit preserves—all fair game and worth at least one try.
This month, I’m sharing some of the best combinations to be found once you get off the beaten path. I’ve grouped them into categories and sorted them from least to most adventurous. All ingredients can be found right here at the Willy Street Co-op.
Be bold and be brave, think outside the box, but most of all enjoy a wonderful summer treat. Best of luck in choosing your own ice cream sundae adventure!
Looking for something fresh, Summery, and fruity?
Dipping Your Toe In
Start with Luna & Larry’s Naked Coconut Bliss, add chopped fresh mango pieces, and top with ground cardamom and Dang coconut chips.
Jumping In
Start with vanilla or vanilla bean ice cream, add a scoop of lemon curd, and top with pistachio mulberry granola and extra pistachios!
Off the High Dive
Begin with your favorite vanilla ice cream, add a generous amount of sliced strawberries; top with a few chopped basil leaves, a drizzle of balsamic cream and a sprinkle of ground black pepper.
In the mood for a sweet and salty treat?
Dipping Your Toe In
Start with vanilla ice cream, add Hokey Pokey mix (from the bulk aisle) or caramel corn and top with salted peanuts.
Jumping In
Start with equal parts Sassy Cow Salted Caramel and Alden’s Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream and top with crushed Kettle Sea Salt Potato Chips.
Off the High Dive
Begin with cookie dough ice cream, add crushed chocolate cookies, pretzel rods, and a drizzle of your favorite salted nut butter.
In search of a sundae with a nutritious kick?
Dipping Your Toe In
Start with dark chocolate ice cream, add finely chopped crystallized ginger, and sprinkle with hemp seeds.
Jumping In
Begin with Halo Top Chocolate Ice Cream, add Tierra Farms’ Very Berry Mix, and top with raw cacao nibs from the bulk aisle.
Off the High Dive
Start with Sassy Cow Salted Caramel Ice Cream, add caramelized banana slices (you will have to caramelize them yourself), top with dark chocolate Gorilly Goods, and sprinkle with roasted salted sunflower seeds.
Looking to indulge your inner child?
Dipping Your Toe In
Start with mocha or coffee ice cream and top with mini marshmallows and Nature’s Path Koala Crisp cereal.
Jumping In
Start with banana chocolate swirl gelato, add cut up brownie pieces and banana bread chunks, top with banana chips and finish with whipped cream.
Off the High Dive
Top a bowl of blue moon ice cream with Cascadian Farms Fruitful O’s and Surf Sweets Gummy Bears and finish with a Tillen Farms maraschino cherry.
