It’s Summer and Cool Down with an Ice Cream Social!

I have fond memories of Mom and Dad packing five of us into the station wagon for an evening trip for ice cream during the summer. Doesn’t matter if you like ice cream or soft serve, cup or cone, there is something refreshing about this delicious treat on a hot summer day.

Since I have ice cream on my mind, wouldn’t it be fun to have friends over for an old fashioned ice cream social? Inspired to do so, I set my sights on creating an appropriate centerpiece using waffle cones and sprinkles.

Making an Ice Cream-themed Centerpiece

I have way to many vases, but they do come in handy at times like this. Here is what you will need:

• Glass Cylinder vases
• Waffle Cones
• Sprinkles
• Flowers

Our local ice cream store, Mary Coyle’s provides the waffle cones. I order the sprinkles online here through Amazon. Flowers are from the grocery store. Rather easy peasy.

Depending on the number of flower arrangements and the size of your vases, the quality of sprinkles may vary. I am using 3 glass vases and a 2.2 lb. container of sprinkles. Since I am not sure if I have enough sprinkles, I add a paper cup to the bottom of the vase to occupy some of the space. The sprinkles pour easily around the paper container, allowing me to have the appearance of a higher base of sprinkles.

Next, I test the height of the sprinkles with my cone, as I want the top of the cone near the top of the vase. The tip of the cone easily rests in the sprinkle base.

Selecting Flowers

I want flowers that are not heavy, have thinner stems and will last without water for a period of time. Carnations, alstroemerias and roses in shades of pink are selected. I steal a few bigger carnations from a flower bouquet I already have.

At our local Safeway store, they never carry large carnations. These pink ones are so small and most are not open, so I manipulate blossoms and spread them apart. Here is how the carnation looks before…

And voila! After spreading out the petals, the flower looks completely open.

I carefully place the flowers in the waffle cone (be gentle as the cones easily break) and make a good size bouquet. You can also tie the bouquet together but I didn’t feel the need to do that with this bunch of flowers.

Selecting the tablecloth

This pink hand blocked Indian print feels ice cream parlor-ish to me. From Just Darviny, it is cotton and affordable and easy to wash.

See how cute the vase is against the tablecloth.

The three vases together make a nice visual at the corner of the table and backdrop for the ice cream paraphenalia.

Adding the Goodies

Of course you will need an ice cream selection. Here I have five flavors: Rum Raisin, Pistachio, Chocolate, Strawberry and Peach, all purchased from Mary Coyle’s. Typically I cannot find my two favorites, rum raisin and pistachio, anywhere so those are the flavors I make over the summer. Here is the recipe to the rum raisin and the pistachio.

Glass parfait dishes or waffle cones provide the vessel for the ice cream yumminess. Aren’t these pink polka dot containers the cutest? Amazon sells something similar but smaller as I believe these are pint size.

Toppings can be chocolate chips, nuts, fudge and caramel sauce and of course, whipped cream.

Fun cookies such as piroulines or these chocolate wafer cookies add a bit of crunch to the sundae.

Instead of canned whipped cream, I cannot say enough about making your own fresh cream with this whipped cream maker. You pour fresh whipping cream in, add sweetener (confectioners sugar) if you’d like or other flavorings, add a nitrous oxide (NO2) charger and viola! You have instant fresh whipped cream. I cannot find our brand (it’s old) online, but here is a similar one. Our canister is stainless steel and we have had it for several years (great gift from a friend).

Now, of course, the BEST part is the ice cream sundae to consume. What a delicious treat and a cool relief from the dog days of summer.

I hope you enjoy today’s post. It is such fun to do something a little different during these hot summer days. I wish I had thought of this centerpiece years ago when I was running all the school ice cream events!

Happy Tuesday!

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