Four Unique but Delicious Ice Cream Toppings to Try

There is likely no better summertime sweet treat that also helps beat the heat than a heaping scoop of ice cream. Whether piled high in a bowl or crammed into a waffle cone, ice cream is the perfect conclusion to a fun day at the swimming pool, any summer evening walk, or just a night in watching the newest Netflix movie.

When it comes to topping that bowl or cone, there are countless ice cream topping options. While many options lean toward traditional favorites like hot fudge, caramel, chopped nuts, and whipped cream, there are some out-of-the-box options proving to be quite tasty and delicious. Next time you head out to your favorite ice cream shop like Cate’s Ice Cream or Cravings Ice Cream and Waffles , consider these four unique ice cream toppings for some delicious inspiration.

Salty Sweet

Do you ever dip your salty French fries into your strawberry milkshake? While a bit unconventional, there are scientific studies that explain the appeal behind the melding of salty and sweet. So go ahead and combine both contrasting flavors on your next ice cream dessert. Try crumbled Ritz Crackers or pretzels on caramel ice cream, add barbecue potato chips to a blackberry ice cream, or sprinkle simple, flaked sea salt atop a dark chocolate ice cream.

Sauces and Glazes

Any bowl of ice cream, no matter what flavor, is made just a bit extra special when those scoops are topped with a delicious sauce or glaze. Instead of traditional caramel or hot fudge, consider ice cream toppings that are a bit more palate expanding. For a delicious bowl of strawberry ice cream, drizzle with a rich balsamic vinegar reduction for a beautiful twist. Or, for an even more sophisticated flavor combination, top your vanilla ice cream with olive oil and sea salt .

Crispity Crunchity

When building a perfect bowl of ice cream, some people love to incorporate contrasting textures—chewy, crunchy, and crispy to enhance the creamy goodness. Chopped nuts are often the go-to for a typical sundae, but for your next frozen dessert, try adding someone altogether new. Add some of your favorite breakfast cereal flavors to your bowl, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, or even Frosted Flakes. Looking for even more crunch? Try caramel corn or peanut brittle for some circus fun.

Garden Fresh

Looking for a simple, garden-fresh topping for your ice cream? Grab some snippers and head out to the herb garden for a new option. That bowl of fresh strawberry ice cream is just calling for slivers of fresh basil. Love the flavor of lavender? Crush up a few blooms and top a bowl of French vanilla ice cream. Using that same vanilla ice cream as a base, finely chop up some rosemary to sprinkle on top and drizzle with honey for a flavor explosion.

No matter what your favorite flavor is, there is a multitude of unique ice cream toppings to perfectly dress up your summertime dessert. So try something new this summer—and let us know how it goes!