Make Your Own Gluten Free Sundae Bar
When I was a little girl my family would go out for dinner on Friday nights. We sometimes went to a place that had a 'make your own sundae bar'. I thought this was the most wonderful thing! You could choose your ice cream and then go and put as many toppings as you wanted on. It was so much fun. Each person could personalize their sundae. So, why not do it at home! A sundae bar is a great interactive dessert.
If you are looking for a fun gluten-free dessert for children and adults too, then why not create your own customized sundae bar? You can theme it to birthdays or holidays. It can be as simple or complex as you like.
- How I set up my Gluten-Free Sundae Bar
- How to build a gluten-free ice cream sundae bar?
- Making your sundae.
- Holiday Themes
How I set up my Gluten-Free Sundae Bar
The foundation of any sundae is the ice cream. Chapman's is my favourite ice cream. Chapman's is a Canadian company. Chapman's takes allergies and food intolerances very seriously, and quite a few of their ice creams and sorbets are gluten-free and lactose-free. Check out their website for more information on their products. I like to use French Vanilla. I think that it has a rich and creamy flavour that provides a neutral foundation for the toppings. But, any ice cream works. If you can't tolerate dairy then use a sorbet with fruit toppings or a lactose-free ice cream. There are no rules when it comes to making sundaes!
I prefer to have the ice cream on a side counter and have everyone scoop out their ice cream and then put it back in the freezer. If you'd like different ice creams on the table you could put them in a large metal or plastic container filled with ice.
After the ice cream foundation I like to add the syrup. Above are some of my family's favourite syrup toppings for sundaes. I personally love Golden Syrup. My Mom always had Golden Syrup in the house. I enjoy it on many things such as sundaes, pancakes and buttered toast (all gluten-free of course). No sundae is complete in my eyes, without some whipped cream on top. Here I have the canned version, but you can whip up your own too.
Next would be fruit. Fruit is a wonderful addition to a sundae. Put your favourites on your sundae bar. One great way to present the fruit is to chop it up and display it on a large platter or wooden cutting board. Another way is to have individual bowls of fruit. This time I used blueberries, bananas, crushed pineapple and homemade strawberry sauce. Here is a link to my homemade Gluten-Free Strawberry Sauce. Any fruit you and your family enjoy, works with ice cream in my opinion.
Mini marshmallows are fun to use as a topping. They give a nice chewy texture. You can use plain or flavoured ones. Do read the ingredients label to make sure they are gluten-free. The above Western Family brand are marked gluten-free which is great.
Cookies and nuts are a fun addition to sundaes. This time I used gluten-free Oreos. Use your favourite gluten-free cookies. You can even make gluten-free cookie ice cream sandwiches. In the past I have used gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free peanut butter cookies and gluten-free graham crackers.
Salty and crunchy toppings such as peanuts, gluten-free cornflakes and gluten-free rice krispies are nice toppings too.
Sweet toppings are great on sundaes. Above are some of the candies I used this time. Remember to check the labels and then choose the candy you like.
How to build a gluten-free ice cream sundae bar?
What you need.
- Bowls, spoons, ice cream scoop and napkins
- Your foundation - ice cream and/or sorbet
- Syrups - chocolate, caramel, hot fudge, fruit syrups and sauces
- Fruit - berries, peach slices, bananas, pineapple, kiwi slices, melon balls (honey dew or cantaloupe),cherries, canned oranges slices, apple slices, mango chunks, passion fruit.
- Candy - chocolate chips, mini chocolate bars, flake bars, mini peanut butter cups, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, jelly beans, m&ms, chewy candies such as gummy bears, and swedish berries.
- Crunchy - nuts, cereal, cookies, meringue cookies, gluten-free ice cream cones, peanut brittle, granola, caramel popcorn, brownie bites
- Final toppings - whipped cream and cherries (glaced or maraschino)
Steps
- Set the table with decorative table cloth and decorations if wanted.
- Put out containers for the sundaes such as bowls, fancy parfait glasses, dessert cups, or paper/plastic bowls.
- Spoons for eating and serving the toppings
- Put out the different toppings.
- Don't forget napkins!
Making your sundae.
- Put ice cream in a bowl.
- Top with syrup.
- Then fruit.
- Sweet toppings
- Salty toppings
- Crunchy elements
- Whipped cream
- And a cherry on top.
- Enjoy
Holiday Themes
Holiday themes are fun. Choose appropriate decorations and seasonal candies.
Thanksgiving: Autumn colours, pumpkin spiced cookies, pumpkin flavoured mini marshmallows.
Halloween: orange and brown or black sprinkles, Halloween candy, Halloween shaped cookies.
Easter: pastel coloured sprinkles, chocolate candied eggs, Rabbit or Egg shaped cookies.
Christmas: red and white sprinkles, candy canes, Christmas candies, cookies in the shapes of stars and Christmas trees.
Note: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Always seek out a medical opinion for medical concerns. Not sponsored. If sponsored I will always say so at the top of the post.
