Build a Perfect Gelato/Ice Cream Sundae Dessert Board

How to make the best gelato/ice cream sundae board in 5 minutes

Saying it’s the perfect gelato or ice cream sundae board might only be a slight exaggeration! This fun and beautiful display, including all your favorite toppings and different flavors, is so easy to throw together at the last minute. The good news, everyone will love it! It’s a great way to serve the perfect frozen dessert and sweet treat any time of year, but especially in the summer for a movie night outdoors or all kinds of special events! It’s like a giant ice cream sundae bar with a bunch of toppings of all your favorite flavors.

Here’s what you are going to need from the grocery store

When I am setting up a gelato dessert board, I like to go to a big supermarket and head straight to the freezer section. The great thing about big stores is that they will likely have your favorite ice cream flavors, toppings, and all your favorite sweet treats are kept right by the gelato and ice cream. This makes it easy if you are going to the store just for gelato night, your next ice cream party or family gathering! There’s nothing quite like a bowl of ice cream with good toppings.

What to buy in the freezer section at a supermarket

• Pints of ice cream or gelato (a variety of classic ice cream flavors and one quart per 2-3 people is safe)
• Ice cream cones, waffle cone, waffle bowls
• Hot fudge, chocolate sauce, salted caramel sauce
• Magic Shell
• Sprinkles
• Nuts
• cookie dough bites
• Toffee crunch

What to look for in the cookie/baking aisle at a supermarket

• Shortbread cookies
• Biscoff cookies
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Chocolate wafer cookies (I crumbled mine)
• Chocolate chips (2 kinds)
• Maldon sea salt
• Granola (store-bought or homemade maple granola)

What’s our favorite kind of gelato?

An ice cream board is all about personal preferences. But Talenti® gelato is our favorite Italian gelato. We LOVE their Sea Salt Caramel. But if you prefer ice cream or frozen yogurt instead, just choose a variety of flavors. And if you’re feeling ambitious, you could always use homemade ice cream.

Dessert supplies: what you’ll need to have ready at home

• Several small bowls, glass jars, and ramekins
• Ice cream scoops (you’ll need one for each type of gelato or ice cream)
• spoons
• small spoons for small dishes and jars
• A small bowl or plate collection
• Napkins

Can a gelato board be prepared ahead of time?

Absolutely! That’s what I love about this! You can have all the toppings in small bowls or jars, and then when it’s time to serve, take out the gelato or ice cream, add a scoop in each, and serve.

I like to use my farmtable plank serving board. We assembled it inside and carried it right out to the patio...carefully!

How much gelato will I need for a crowd?

One of the things I love about making your own ice cream sundae bar is that you can create it for a small group of, say four or six, or you can make the bowls of toppings a little larger and add a few extra gelato or ice cream pints and serve a crowd.

I would plan to have at least a  pint for every two people. You’ll have extra, but it’s better to have leftovers than to run out!

What kind of gelato or ice cream?

I like to have chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and sorbet. I skipped the classic vanilla ice cream on this night, but I would typically add in vanilla to play it safe. If you know someone who is vegan or prefers non-dairy, you could include a couple of options in the mix. I leave it in the container because it’s easy, and everyone knows what it is if they can see the container.

How could I make this more kid-friendly?

Color! Add toppings with lots of colors and use different colored bowls. Bright or pastel or all one color if it’s a birthday-themed party.

• Rainbow sprinkles
• All different colored sprinkles
• pink and white circus cookies
• Maraschino cherries
• Ice-cream cones in colors
• Pastel marshmallows

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