Ice Cream Bar for Summer Parties

Create an ice cream bar with options to make your own cookie sandwiches and root beer floats. This is such a fun dessert idea for all those casual get-togethers and summer birthdays.

The idea is simple: provide ice cream along with cookies and sodas so guests can help themselves and create what they like. You can make your cookies from scratch or buy them, but variety is key!

The same is true for the sodas, the more flavors the better. Keep it casual and easy to access, and follow my tips below for everything you need to know to set up your own ice cream dessert station.

Decorations

• Decorate using red, white and blue colors like I did here to suit Memorial day, July 4th, or Labor day. Or you can incorporate any palette that suits your theme. 
• Use chalkboard signs and tags as an easy way to label everything.
• Using a vintage soda crate is a great way to showcase the sodas. Very apropos!
• Small pails are a cute way to display the cookies. Line them with fabric if you’re not sure the vessel is food safe. Plus it adds more color to coordinate with the theme.
• For more ideas on setting up, check out this 4th of July ice cream float bar.

What You Need

It doesn’t take much to set up this dessert table. In fact you only need 3 main ingredients to start with, and you can expand on those to have more options.

The key ingredients are ice cream, cookies, and sodas.

Ice Cream

For the most universal option use vanilla ice cream. It really does pair the best with various cookies and sodas. If you want to add variety you can also include chocolate, strawberry, or Oreo cookie flavor.

Have a large spoon handy for grabbing a scoop.

PARTY TIP: Pre-scoop ice cream balls and keep them in the freezer until ready to use. If you have an insulated server like this one, it will keep the ice cream from melting too quickly when you bring it out to serve.

Soda

Nothing is more classic than a root beer float with vanilla ice cream. But to make it more interesting you can incorporate more flavors to this float station. I’ve provided pomegranate soda, and blueberry soda. Orange soda is fantastic too!

Traditional soda bottles look and taste best, I think. Make sure you have a bottle opener handy to open the bottles.

Eight-ounce canning jars are the perfect size to make your floats in. Don’t forget the straws!

Cookies

The cookies are my favorite part! For this type of party idea I suggest buying them from the bakery section or getting some favorite packaged options.

Provide 3-5 different types of cookies so guests can taste a variety. They may even want to mix-n-match cookies to create a truly unique ice cream sandwich.

I love the crunch of packaged cookies but they can break easily. Soft cookies hold up well with the ice cream sandwiched between them. Try these classics:

• Chocolate chip
• Chocolate cookies
• Oatmeal or oatmeal raisin
• Peanut butter or peanut butter chip
• Pecan Sandies
• Sugar cookies
• Snickerdoodles
• Molasses cookies

More Ice Cream Party Ideas

• Build-your-own banana splits
• Ice cream soda bar
• Ice cream sundae party
• Easy ice cream recipe

This would be a terrific idea for a child’s birthday or end of school party, as well as 4th of July celebration or cookout. I know your guests will love this summer party ice cream bar. Money back guarantee!