How to Set Up an Ice Cream Bar for a Party

Ice cream bars at parties make everyone feel like a kid again. A buffet-style dessert also helps take the pressure off the host. Ice cream dessert bars allow guests to choose their own toppings and flavors, so there's something for everyone. All of the ingredients and tools are adjustable to taste and convenience, and hosts can even add a homemade touch by making some of the toppings from scratch. Having a simple, help-yourself range of ice cream and candy toppings is a sure-fire winner with kids and grownups alike. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1

Make the chocolate fudge sauce. Having one or more sauces that are homemade will show you put a lot of effort into the dessert bar. To begin, chop 4 ounces of dark chocolate. Pour 1 cups of heavy cream into a saucepan and warm over a low heat. Once the cream starts to boil, stir in cup of brown sugar. When the sugar has dissolved, slowly stir in cup chopped butter, adding only one piece at a time. Mix in the chocolate. Leave the mixture to gently simmer for around five minutes or until the chocolate is fully melted. Using the spatula, fold the mixture until the chocolate has thoroughly combined with the cream, butter and sugar. Mix in 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, turn off the heat and leave to cool for 15 minutes.

2

Set the table. Use a tablecloth that you don't mind getting dirty, as melted ice cream can be quite messy. Set out the different toppings in separate bowls with a spoon for each. Pour the chocolate sauce into the pouring jug and set it out on the table. Place the cooler in the middle of the table. Place a bowl of warm water either on the table or on a nearby countertop for guests to dip the scoop in before scooping the ice cream. A little warm water helps the cold ice cream scoop easier.

3

Place the ice cream in the cooler when the guests are ready to eat. The less time the ice cream spends out of the freezer, the longer it will stay frozen. Take off the tops of the ice cream containers, warm the scoops and place one in each flavor of ice cream.