I know what you’re thinking: We’re all living under quarantine. There are no parties. There are no guests. Why on Earth would you make an entire fancy shmancy ice cream board when you could just march to the freezer, grab a pint and a spoon, and be done with it?
Because we can’t just give up completely. The marching scenario is nice and efficient, but it’s also kind of sad. Particularly after your seventh or fourteenth or eighty-sixth march. Just because you’re not able to have your friends over doesn’t mean you can’t throw some stuff on a board and zhoosh it around until it’s attractive. It’s like, “Dance like no one’s watching,” except, “Ice cream board like no one’s there to eat it with you.”
That sounded a little less depressing in my head. But you get the point. Even in a world of doom and gloom, there can still be…an ice cream board. And that’s something to celebrate.
I originally crafted this board for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot—which commemorates the profound and joyful time when the Jewish people received the torah. It’s typically celebrated with a menu of dairy foods—lots and lots of cheesecake, especially. But also blintzes (even ice cream blintzes!), kugel, cheese boards, and siete cielos (a sephardic seven-layered bread that’s supposed to look like Mt. Sinai, where G-d gave Moses the Torah) (thank you Tori Avey for that last fact!).
And an ice cream board works, too.
But it’s just as fitting for any spring or summer gathering. If you plan on serving it outside or it’s just a little toasty wherever you are, you might want to invest in a small galvanized bucket (sort of like a wine bucket), filled with ice, to keep the ice cream chilled alongside your board.
There’s no formal tutorial for this sundae board. Just throw everything on a platter or other flat surface, move it around until you’re happy with how it looks, and share with friends. But here are some topping ideas taken right from the board you see here:
- Strawberries
- Peanuts (always check in about everyone’s allergies first)
- Sprinkles (multiple kinds can be placed in separate bowls around your platter)
- Banana slices
- Chocolate chips
- Pretzels
- Store-bought cookies
- Brownie bites
- Kiwi slices
- Mini marshmallows
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate sauce
And a few ideas not on my board:
- Hot fudge
- Edible cookie dough
- Old-school “Magic Shell” coating (here’s a homemade option)
- Gummy worms
- Blueberries
- Maraschino cherries
- Mini peanut butter cups
- Waffle cones or waffle cone pieces
- Crumbled Heath bars
- Frosted animal crackers
- Mini Oreos
- Whipped cream
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Chocolate-covered raisins
- Mini Twix
That was fun.
The thing is, it’s completely customizable, so you can stick with some of the things I threw on mine or go completely rogue and switch everything out for your own favorite toppings and flavors. You could also pare the proportions down quite a bit to enjoy it solo or with just one family member / quarantine roomie. The options are endless, friends.
One last tip: When it comes to boards like this one, my personal opinion is that it’s better to go big and pile everything sky-high. You want the final board to appear lush and overflowing, evoking a veritable BOUNTY of deliciousness, rather than sparse and careful and restrained. And you really don’t have to go over budget to accomplish that. I mean, one banana goes a long way here. As does half a pint of strawberries, some chocolate chips you might already have in your pantry, and a pile of marshmallows (these are Dandies, by the way). Search through your fridge and kitchen cabinets to see what you’ve got in the way of toppings—you might already have a full board on your hands.
Other than that, there are so many different routes you could take with this one. It’s just plain fun. Have a good time with it!
As always, if you do choose to make one of these boards for Shavuot or any other summery party, I’d love to see it. Tag me on IG (@rebekahlowin)!
Until next time, stay safe and optimistic, everyone. Sending love!
