ice cream social dessert table

I LOVE ice cream… and sherbet… and milkshakes… and popsicles… you get the idea {wink}. But it is such a fragile treat that it’s really difficult to serve to a group without winding up with puddles.

So for our new Ice Cream Social collection I challenged myself to come up with some tips and ideas on how to serve this yummy treat.  My very first conclusion: go mini.

And my second conclusion: keep it simple. Don’t try to serve too many choices.

We made mini ice cream sandwiches using Kellogg’s Chips Deluxe minis. They were incredibly yummy!

And instead of large buckets of ice cream, I chose to buy individual portion sizes. Like these Edy’s Slow Churned minis,

Klondike Mint Chocolate Chip Bars, and old fashioned push-ups!

There are four HUGE advantages to serving individual portions: (1) you can serve a ton of flavors, (2) you can keep some in the freezer and replenish your table easily, (3) it’s largely self-serve, and (4) you can offer a number of different serving options. 

For instance, guests can just grab the single serve options and go. Or, they can scoop it into a cone. We dipped Kellogg’s Sugar Cones in yellow chocolate and rolled them in sprinkles.

You can serve the cones upside down, but I picked up these cute little snowcone stands at Target, along with the white front opening beverage bucket (LOVE that guests can easily see what’s inside, plus you have a bit more surface area), and the colorful service tray below.

We also set up a banana split bar using dainty little sundae cups topped with wooden ice cream spoons embellished with each child’s name (just handwritten with a Sharpie), bananas of course, and

some super yummy toppings: M&Ms, Keebler Mini Fudge Stripe cookies, butterscotch chips and chocolate chips.

And what goes great with ice cream?! Cake! Our cupcakes are embellished with our Ice Cream Social collection cupcake picks and wrappers (the paper underneath is also part of the collection) and sugar paper rounds (provided by our bakery partners at Sweet Tooth Cottage). 

And our fabulous baking partners at Sweet Tooth Cottage made ice cream cone and popsicle (melt-in-your-mouth soft) butter cookies to complement.

They were a crowd pleaser! And not only with the kiddos… 

For more Ice Cream Social party ideas, read my other posts & visit the collection in the shoppe:

• Host an Ice Cream Social with DIY printables
• How to serve frozen pops! And them stay frozen (at least until the kiddos can gobble them up)
• DIY ice cream cone balloon craft
• Simple favors that POP!

As always, I hope you’re inspired!

Photography by the talented Angie Arthur Photography. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, make sure and visit her for photography tips, ideas and tons of inspiration!

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