The Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae

A few days ago I was browsing through the hundreds of photos we've taken over the years for ice-cream-recipes.com - everything from a vanilla ice cream cone with sprinkles to fresh mint leaves just picked from our garden to a chocolate ice cream sandwich which I made and my husband promptly ate the moment we finished the shoot! But there was one section of photos I was drawn to looking at over and over again - the ice cream sundaes. Then I sat back and got to thinking why is that?

What is the appeal of an ice cream sundae?

• Color - this is what makes an ice cream sundae a feast for the eyes, not just the palate. Choose from succulent red ripe strawberries, rich dark blue fresh blueberries, creamy orange peaches, rich brown chocolate sauce ... oh, the list goes on!



• Texture - more sensations for the palate - from the smoothness of fresh, whipped cream to the crunchy nuttiness of a great fan wafer to the inimitable texture of the ice cream itself and then the chunkiness of fruits and other ingredients as you spoon your way down the sundae!



• Taste - the combination of ice cream, cream, fruits, toppings and sauces is as exciting a taste experience as any you'll find.

So what are the world's favorite ice cream sundaes? Until I get the opportunity to run a poll for this on the site, here are my suggestions for the main contenders:

• Knickerbocker Glory


• Banana Split


• Hot Fudge Sundae

The most expensive ice cream sundae in the world is currently served at Serendipity 3 in New York - called the "Serendipity Golden Opulence Sundae" it costs $1,000 and requires a minimum 48 hours advance notice to prepare. Ingredients include a very special vanilla bean ice cream, a rare chocolate and 23 carat edible gold leaf. For more details see Wikipedia's page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundae#Hot_fudge_sundae

Chocolate Ice Cream: Why It's So Good

Two of the most delicious foods of all time have to be CHOCOLATE and ICE CREAM. Each one in its own right is a treat almost second to none for many people and chocolate and ice cream in one combination .... well, that's hard to beat!

I've made lots of homemade ice cream and whenever I make chocolate ice cream I never seem to be able to get the first batch served or into the freezer without being able to resist a taste! And it seems I'm not the only one with a love for it - my chocolate ice cream recipe is one of the most popular on ice-cream-recipes.com, second only to vanilla ice cream in the number of daily page views.

Chocolate ... a few interesting facts

1. The melting point of chocolate is 34°C (just below human body temperature), hence that wonderful 'melt in the mouth' quality it has.


2. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine - a known mood enhancer, hence why so many people claim it makes them feel better when they eat chocolate.


3. Some of the oldest people on record claimed to be big chocolate eaters - one who lived to 119, the other to 122 and both of them women.
   
   Read more about chocolate

Two world famous faces reported to have a love for chocolate ice cream are Elvis Presley and Jackie Chan.
Read more about famous people and ice cream

Ice Cream Cone Origins & Popularity

Anyone who enjoys ice cream will have had an ice cream cone at some point in their lives and if, like me, you make your own homemade ice cream, a cone is a great way of serving up a treat for the family.

But do you know where the cone originated?
The history of the ice cream cone goes back about a hundred years; a US patent for something along the lines of an ice cream cone was issued in late 1903 and only a few months later a waffle maker/seller at the St. Louis Fair is credited with 'inventing' a cone from waffles that he made and sold. So the ice cream cone has been around a long time.

And why is the ice cream cone still so popular?
Probably because it's so versatile. You can walk around eating your ice cream with a cone (no need for a dish and spoon!), you can add different flavored scoops, you can add ice cream toppings such as sprinkles or sauces which make both the ice cream and the cone taste better. The cones themselves are also available in a wide range of shapes, sizes and even flavors. Some you can buy ready dipped in chocolate!

Read more about the ice cream cone on my dedicated page - ice cream cones
Wikipedia also has an interesting page on the history of the ice cream cone.