Annie Ray, Lick Honest Ice Creams
You scream, we all scream .. wait a second — let’s give Dad a little peace this Father’s Day weekend! Serve him up a satisfying scoop of one of these ice cream sundaes and he may forget all about the time you snuck out of the house in high school — or dented his new truck!
To all the fathers out there — thank you for reminding us to change our oil, teaching us how to enjoy a baseball game, and taking care of Mom and the family. Our ultimate treat to you comes in the form of an Ice Cream Sundae — just for you! Our panel of experts have given you a guide to summer’s most signature treat.
Petite Sweets
Get Creative With Out-of-the-Icebox Toppings
Petite Sweets
Our friends at Petite Sweets in Houston sure know how to get creative with their sundaes, especially with scratch-made recipes from Lee’s Creamery. You’ll find their 50 homemade ice creams mashed between chewy chocolate chip cookies and layered under creative toppings like popcorn or childhood favorite cereals — Cocoa Puffs and Fruity Pebbles to name a few — or sidled up next to artisan macarons and housemade marshmallows!
And when it comes to crafting those perfect toppings for your perfect sundae, they offer a few handy tips:
- Put out your toppings before pulling out the ice cream — after all, Texas heat is upon us!
- Use your vegetable peeler to make gorgeous gourmet-style chocolate shavings
- Give nuts a flavor boost by toasting them in a medium-warm pan until they become fragrant — and keep an eye on them so they don’t burn!
For those allergic to nuts, Petite Sweets has one sundae recipe for you from someone also allergic to nuts! And Dad will appreciate this sundae recipe — from a fellow 50-something.
Cookie Monster Sundae
Petite Sweets
(Get it? The Cookie Monster is 51, if you didn’t know already! And he also happens to be allergic to peanut butter and hazelnut!)
Crumble Oreos at the bottom of your favorite ice cream dish, then add two or more scoops of an ice cream of your choice– preferably one that’s blue! Then add a layer of chocolate chips, then vanilla whipped topping, and top off with blue sprinkles.
Flavor With Fresh Fruit
Annie Ray, Lick Honest Ice Creams
Looking for something to liven up some vanilla ice cream? You can never go wrong with fresh fruit toppings! Slice up fresh peaches while they’re in season — or make a berry medley using raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and sliced strawberries. Or, add in herbs from your garden — our friends at Lick Honest Ice Creams pair fresh ingredients like thyme with goat cheese and honey — and meld roasted beets with fresh mint!
Savor the Sauce!
Whether you’re a fan of hot fudge or addicted to salted caramel, there’s just no excuse to leave a sundae without a velvety smooth topping! You can pick up a jar from Lick in San Antonio and Austin, which just released a new line of sauces! (How does Honeyed Peanut Butter sound to you? YUM!) It doesn’t end there — Somebody’s Mother’s gourmet dessert sauces, made in Houston and sold at Central Market have made silky smooth sauces an art! They shared a signature milkshake recipe with us where the sauce does the work!
3 to 4 oz. Somebody’s Mother’s Caramel Sauce (or Caramel sauce of your choice)
3 oz. or 2 shots Kahlua
3 heaping scoops Häaagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream (Available at H-E-B, or substitute vanilla ice cream of your choice)
1 cup 2% milk
Ground chocolate toffee pieces for garnish
1 cup or more of ice
Mix all ingredients in blender. Swirl caramel sauce around the rim of glass. Pour mixture into glass and sprinkle with ground chocolate pieces on top.
Give It A Grown-Up Spin
Evoke memories of burger shacks and diners with this marvelous milkshake from Backstreet Café in Houston with a name you won’t forget. The 40-Year-Old Milkshake — yes, that’s really its name! — is a boozy concoction featuring mascarpone ice cream and Texas honey with Ximenez Sherry!
1 1/2 oz. 1979 Don Abala Gran Reserva Pedro Ximenez sherry (You can use a younger PX sherry, but the flavor will be less complex)
4 to 5 oz. or 3 Scoops of ounces mascarpone ice cream or your favorite vanilla ice cream with a heaping tablespoon of mascarpone
1/2 tsp. local honey
2 1/2 oz. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. Madagascar vanilla
Pinch of salt
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Pour into chilled tall glass and garnish with whipped cream and almond slivers.
Root Beer Floats 2.0
Annie Ray, Lick Honest Ice Creams
And while you’re at it — go ahead and give the Root Beer Float a well-deserved upgrade for Dad. Instead of picking up a standard 2-liter, use Dublin’s Texas Root Beer [available at H-E-B] with vanilla ice cream, like Lick does in its stores — or add a little kick with an alcoholic root beer brand or even a Guinness! If you want to get even more creative, pair with your favorite Texas brew — stick with the heavier porters and stouts!
Keep It Classic
Is there really a wrong way to eat ice cream? Probably not — and that’s why people always come back to the classics at Amy’s Ice Creams in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. They’ve created more than 1,000 different types of ice creams with “crush’ns” to keep you coming back — but seven flavors have been on the menu since the beginning! The flavor masters — with more than 30 years in the biz — share their favorite recipes below!
All photos courtesy of Amy’s Ice Creams. 🙂
The Turtle
This tempting Turtle sundae features a warm brownie with Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream. It’s layered in hot fudge and pecan praline sauce — with a layer of homemade whipped topping.
The Zoolander
Pair orange ice cream (or “Dreamsicle” flavored) with mocha or coffee flavored ice cream. Add chocolate sprinkles and marshmallows with homemade whipped topping.
The Lil’ Doggie
Pair dark chocolate ice cream with vanilla or white chocolate ice cream in a waffle cup. Add crushed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with Pecan Praline Sauce and a dash of sea salt!
Big Kid S’mores
Lay a foundation of Biscotti cookies or classic graham crackers under vanilla ice cream! Layer hot fudge or chocolate sauce and sprinkle with marshmallows!
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