New Fangled Ice Cream Bar

When we were kids, there was a simple rule when it came to ice cream…the sweeter, the better. End of discussion, right? I’m not sure if there are any other recovering “bubble gum” flavor enthusiasts out there, but I am guilty as charged. In fact, there was a multi-year span in my pre-teen years where, as far as I was concerned, no other flavors even existed. Although I’m kind of impressed by my previous talent of simultaneously eating ice cream while chewing gum, I am happy to say that my palate has matured a bit since those days.

Somewhere along the line, my obsession with candy-filled sweetness morphed into an appreciation of subtle flavors with a touch of semi-savoriness, which is exactly what inspired this new fangled ice cream bar. Gone are the rainbow sprinkles and that eerily red cherry on top. In their place, you will find updated and unexpected toppings that won’t leave you with a three-day sugar rush. I like to think of it as an ice cream bar for grown-ups…

The ice cream bar starts with the plainest of canvases…vanilla ice cream. I like to get the kind that actually has the little flecks of vanilla seed in it. For one, I prefer the flavor, but I also think it looks prettier (important!). I also love to scoop the ice cream ahead of time so you’re not stuck doing this once your guests have arrived. I’m a huge fan of these paper soup cups. Not only are they compact and easy to stack, but the white simplicity makes them super versatile for any event. You just stow them away in the freezer, and pull them out when it’s time for dessert.

Along with the toppings, I served salted caramel, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. You’re more than welcome to make the sauces from scratch, but don’t feel like you have to! Give yourself a break, and pick them up at the grocery store (Oh, but do try to skip the over-processed stuff and find good quality, all natural sauces, if you can.)

Let’s also not forget this is an ice cream bar for adults…so it’s totally acceptable if a little bourbon makes its way into your whipped cream.

Then comes the fun part…letting your guest concoct their favorite combinations!

Naturally, mine happens to include bacon. What’s your favorite?