What's easier than serving ice cream for dessert at your next dinner party? A few tips can turn a boring scoop into a party worthy dessert. And no one will be the wiser that they only took you a few minutes to put together!
Do more than just plop a scoop in a bowl with these serving ideas:
• Don't scoop it, slice it
• Make ice cream sandwiches
• Make your own cones
Drizzle one of these over your best vanilla:
• A spoonful of jam or preserves
• A good balsamic vinegar
• Hot espresso
• Dessert wine or ice wine
• Stout beer
• Homemade Magic Shell Chocolate Sauce
What are you favorite ways to serve a sophisticated scoop of ice cream?
Related: How To Make Ice Cream Like an Artisan: Splendid Recipes from Jeni's Ice Creams in Columbus, Ohio
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Hot espresso over vanilla scoops is amazing.
Coffe with a scoop of icecream is called "cubanito" in some coffee chain bars in Spain
A scoop of vanilla in a balloon wine glass (or a martini glass could work), add fresh berries and pour in some Martinelli's sparkling cider. It's my favorite way to dress up ice cream in the summer.
One more way: I always have berries in the fridge (in season) or in the freezer. I like to macerate them with
- a bit of lemon juice, a grating of zest, and sugar, or
- a splash of orange juice, or
- a slug of liqueur, or
- all of the above!
Let them sit (in the fridge or at room temp) until they're juicy, then serve over ice cream. It takes about three minutes of hands-on work and is a beautiful, fresh-tasting way to doll up store-bought ice cream.
@ Fondue - Sparkling cider sounds great over ice cream, I'll have to try that!
@ Elsa Macbebkin - I love this idea - much better than plain berries alone!
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie Barlow, it's so easy and delicious and looks quite beautiful, too. I also like to drain smooth strawberry yogurt (just as you would drain plain yogurt to make yogurt cheese) and layer it with macerated fruit to make a parfait or a verrine.
I make my own berry sauce; modified from Ina Garten's recipe:
2 TB blackberry or raspberry preserves or jam
3/4 lb strawberries, sliced
2 TB sugar or honey
Cook over medium heat until the berries are soft, and then blend with a immersion blender (or you could mash them; whatevs.) The jam helps thicken the sauce, and I put it on everything from cereal to toast to mango sorbet.
Kahlua and spiced rum... and chocolate syrup.
I serve vanilla drizzled with honey- so easy and it tastes incredible! In fact, I just blogged about it.
http://mightykitchengarden.blogspot.com/2011/05/simply-delicious.html
Quenelle it! It's amazing how something so simple makes ice cream look so sophisticated.
A splash of scotch and some very finely ground espresso beans. Heaven.
Tequila and lime zest
I make snoballs to dress up my ice cream for guests. Roll ice cream into a ball and then roll it in something gorgeous like fresh toasted coconut, ground nuts, shaved chocolate, sanding sugar, etc.
If you have a little extra time, make a divot in the top and fill with diced kiwi, strawberries, mango, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, etc. (those don't adhere to the sides of an ice cream ball as well but look great sitting on top!)
Put them back in the freezer to firm up and you're done.