Ah, ice cream sundaes!
Whether eating the entire thing by yourself, or sharing with your friends, you’re bound to have the discussion (or argument) of what should be added atop your ice cream scoops.
With so many toppings and flavor combinations, most of the time creating the perfect ice cream sundae is tough work! Everyone has their own idea of the perfect sundae and the perfect fix-ins.
But we’re here to settle the debate over the best ice cream sundae toppings once and for all. Did your favorite make the list?
14. Fruit- This may seem obvious, but you could not possibly have a banana split without the banana in the first place! The banana split is quite iconic, yet other fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwis, mangoes and pineapples have been gaining popularity. These other fruits have opened up a whole new way to be creative (and a little healthy) with our sundaes.
13. Wet Walnuts – Not only do wet walnuts offer a satisfying crunch, but they add the tender sweetness of maple syrup. Even way after the walnuts are eaten, the syrup sticks around until the final drop, mixing perfectly with ice cream that melts to the bottom.
12. Snickers Bars – Ah, Snickers….the caramel, nougat, and peanut combo just somehow seems to sync with ice cream so well.
11. Gummy Treats – Whether your weakness is bears, worms or some other gummy shape, our chewy toppings are here to stay. Every child lights up when they are handed an ice cream sundae with gummies, while every adult chases the nostalgia of their youth. Additionally, gummy treats are just another great excuse to fill up on sugar, but by utilizing a whole different texture!
10. Nuts – Peanuts, almond slices and even pistachios are all welcomed ice cream sundae toppings. Not only will they add a bit of healthy protein, but the crunchy and creamy combination is almost too great to pass up. To get a bit in every bite, crush up your nuts into smaller pieces before adding to the sundae.
9. M&M’s – M&M’s have two jobs: adding extra chocolate and extra color to your sundae. Not only will your sundae look more visually appealing, but M&M’s always pack just the right amount of solid chocolate to each bite. For the peanut lovers, of course you can always spring for peanut M&M’s as well.
8. Brownies– There is nothing quite like freshly baked brownies. Even though they can technically stand alone as a dessert, adding crushed up brownie bits into a sundae adds a fudgy flavor that can’t be beat. Texture is also a huge plus because a brownie will add a nice cake-like bite to your ice cream.
7. Caramel Syrup– Caramel lovers are adamant in their quest for caramel. Caramel syrup is such a great sundae topping due to the fact that it probably has the most loyal fan base. Once you spring for caramel syrup on your sundae, you probably won’t ever have one without it again.
6. Sprinkles – Whether you call them sprinkles of jimmies or some other regional term, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact taste of a sprinkle. But one thing is sure: the subtle crunch they add to the top of our ice cream sundaes is absolutely addicting and does a great job of reminding us of our childhood.
5. Maraschino Cherry– The perfect topping, topped on the rest of your toppings! A little sweet pucker that signifies your sundae has just begun!
4. Cookies & Crème– Chocolate sandwich cookies are obviously near the top of our favorite sundae toppings list. Bringing both a cookie crunch and that addicting cream to the mixture of ice cream is a true treat. To take your sundae up a notch, try adding a different flavor such as a sweet lemon cookies & crème topping.
3. Reese’s– Rounding out our top 3 is Reese’s (both Reese’s Pieces and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are acceptable) because there is almost nothing better on this planet than the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Add that to your ice cream and you’ve automatically got a winner.
2. Whipped Cream – Airy, frothy whipped cream comes in at #2. It is hard to picture an ice cream sundae without its white, fluffy topping. It’s the perfect light and delicate beginning before diving in to rich, thick ice cream.
1. Chocolate Fudge Syrup – Well, would it really be considered a sundae without the thick and dark chocolate syrup? Chocolate fudge syrup comes in as our #1 ranked topping because it is an undeniably iconic and essential ingredient. The warm, rich and gooey topping melts the ice cream a little bit and leaves you licking the last bits out of your bowl with a desperate desire for more.
Well, there you have it folks… the definitive ranking of ice cream sundae toppings.
We know you won’t all agree, but you’ve surely found points on our list that left you passionately agreeing and feeling a serious craving for a sundae that’s stacked to the ceiling with delicious toppings.
About the Author: Edward Lee is a passionate supporter of the ice cream sundae, in all of its many forms. As the National Accounts Manager for BoDeans Baking Group, he’s tried every possible combination out there. BoDeans is a leader in ice cream toppings wholesale and offers everything from chocolate waffle cones to graham cracker crumbles. To learn more, visit http://www.Bodeansbaking.com.
