Who's ready to ring in the new year? I am! I used to love going out with friends on New Year's Eve, buying tickets to fancy parties at hotels or restaurants, dancing all night, and starting the new year with a massive hangover (OK, that part I don't love). But now, I find the best parties are the ones at home, where you can get to bed at a much more decent hour, kids get to participate, and we still have a great time watching Ryan Seacrest counting down from Times Square.
So, what to serve when throwing a party at home? Sure, we can all set out bowls of chips and plates of appetizers, but how about adding something way more fun? The DIY ice cream sundae bar!
Credit: Jeswin Thomas
I can't claim to have invented it, but whoever did, thank you! Adults love it, kids love it. Every time I do it, I immediately win the coolest aunt of the year award. Surprisingly, it doesn't get as messy as you think, but I do take a few steps to make sure I keep the mess at a minimum.
I like to set it up on the kitchen island so that I have easy access to a sink to wipe up any sticky messes. But knock on wood, it's really more of a precaution and I've never had any big problems before. Who knows, I might be brave and move it out to the dining room table next time!
Credit: Molly Keesling
I think we're hardwired to go from left to right, so that's how I set things up, kinda like an assembly line:
- Both bowls and plates would work. I love using pink flower-shaped bowls. So cute and pretty, and just adds to the overall experience.
- I usually take care of scooping out the ice cream to make it less messy. I would fill a large punch bowl with ice and set the ice cream bucket in it. Buys me a bit more time before it starts melting. I'll have the bowls and plates next to me, and I'll scoop out the ice cream as each guest come by. Encourage everyone to make their sundaes around the same time so that you don't have to constantly take the ice cream in and out of the freezer.
- Next to the ice cream, I'll set out bottles of Hershey's syrup – chocolate, caramel, and strawberry. The great thing is that they're in easy-to-open and close bottles, so again, help to keep messes to a minimum.
Credit: RitaE
Now comes the fun part! The toppings! Honestly, the sky’s the limit. I put all the toppings in separate bowls, each with their own serving spoon. My favorites are nuts (toast them a bit to make them crunchier), small candies, and of course, sprinkles. I love candy stores like Dylan’s Candy Bar that offer online shopping so that you can purchase candy that may not be available at your local store. You can try a lot of different varieties that way. Cut fruit is also a great option.
The last time I did a sundae bar I added something that I hadn't tried before – mini glazed donuts! I just got them at my local grocery store and set them on a plate. You should have seen the kids' reactions! Actually, I think some of their parents may have lost their minds as well.
- Of course, no sundae is complete without whipped cream. I love doing whatever's easiest, so I just set out a pitcher, filled it with ice, and put a can of whipped cream in it for guests to help themselves. The only real messy part is when kids try to squirt the whipped cream directly into their mouths. I remember my brother and his friends doing that as kids. Is it a rite of passage for teenagers or something?
Credit: Gayatri Malhotra
- Last, but certainly not least, is the cherry on top! Love it or hate it, a sundae just isn't the same without a maraschino cherry crowning it all (with the stem of course!). Rather than making my guests try to pick one out of the jar, I pour them out into a bowl and put a pair of tongs in it.
- Have some colorful spoons available at the end of the line and ta-da! A bunch of very happy guests!
Give it a try and let me know how it turns out! Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve!
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