These amazing recipes for ice cream toppings are exactly what you need this summer. Once you've tried these irresistible ice cream topping recipes, you'll never go back to the store bought versions. If you want to make the ultimate ice cream sundae, you're going to love these recipes.
I had so many delicious ice cream toppings to share that I broke them down into different categories. You can click on any of the links in this list and it will take you straight to that category of ice cream topping on the page, so you can go straight for your favorite flavor.
Ice Cream Toppings Recipe Index:
- Chocolate ice cream toppings
- Caramel ice cream toppings
- Fruit ice cream toppings
- Other ice cream sauces
- Non-sauce ice cream toppings.
Chocolate Ice Cream Sauce Recipes:
1. Classic Hot Fudge Sauce
A classic hot fudge sundae is one of my favorite desserts, so let's start with an essential basic: Homemade Dark Chocolate Hot Fudge Sauce from Tikkido. This hot fudge recipe beats the pants off of every other recipe I've tried. If you love chocolate, you're going to love this. This simple sauce is delicious on vanilla ice cream, of course--but is also amazing on all of your favorite ice cream flavors.
2. Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Sauce
Who can resist the delicious flavor of peanut butter cups? The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is a match made in heaven. This Peanut Butter Hot Fudge from Certified Pastry Afficianado sounds like an ice cream dream come true.
3. Peanut Butter and Chocolate Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping
I used the same flavor combination in my Chocolate Peanut Butter Magic Shell, too. It's an incredibly delicious AND fun to eat cold treat.
4. Vegan Hot Fudge
Need a vegan version of this classic topping? Check out this delicious Vegan Chocolate Sauce from Gluten Free Palate.
5. Mole and Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Sauce
Or maybe you have a more adventurous palate, and crave more complex flavors. If so, this Mole Sauce with Chocolate Stout from Craft Beering is right up your alley.
6. Chocolate Marshmallow Sauce Ice Cream Topping
This Secret Chocolate Ice Cream Sauce from Julie Blanner combines chocolate and marshmallow sauce to make the most amazing ice cream topping.
7. Chewy Hot Fudge Sauce
The Merchant Baker has this recipe for Chewy Hot Fudge Sauce. Yes, chewy. I'd never thought about that particular texture with hot fudge, but now it's all I can think about. This thick homemade chocolate sauce is the perfect pairing with creamy ice cream.
Caramel Ice Cream Sauces:
8. Maple Caramel Sauce
This Maple Caramel Sauce from An Italian in my Kitchen takes regular caramel sauce (which is already amazing) and makes it more interesting and complex with maple syrup.
9. Salted Caramel Sauce Ice Cream Topping
Salted Caramel Sauce is pretty much my favorite thing ever. The salt in the recipe is the perfect contrast to the sweetness of ice cream. Try this fabulous recipe from Sandhya's Kitchen. A sweet treat doesn't need to be ALL sweet, after all!
10. Dulce de Leche Topping
Homemade Dulce de Leche is kind of like caramel, but is its own thing entirely. Try this recipe from The Petite Cook on your next bowl of ice cream and your taste buds will sing.
11. Rum Raisin Caramel Sauce
This Rum Raisin Caramel Sauce from Little Sugar Snaps sounds like a fabulous combination of flavors. It's a great topping if you like deep, complex flavors.
12. Peanut Butter Caramel Ice Cream Topping
Have you ever thought about combining peanut butter and caramel? If not, you're missing out. This Peanut Butter Caramel sauce from Tikkido is AMAZING. Brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup are cooked into an easy caramel (no candy thermometers necessary!) and then mixed with peanut butter and cream. It's a decadent treat over classic vanilla ice cream, and a sprinkle of roasted peanuts are the perfect addition if you like a bit of crunchy topping.
13. Vanilla Bean Butterscotch Sauce
Butterscotch Vanilla Bean Sauce from Certified Pastry Afficianado isn't strictly caramel, but it's a very close cousin, so I put it in the caramel category. However you classify butterscotch sauce, it's delicious!
14. Vanilla Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Caramel gets a grown up twist with this Vanilla Bourbon Caramel sauce recipe from Good Life Eats.
15. Paleo Caramel Sauce
Dairy-free, gluten free, Paleo caramel sauce from Meaningful Eats. That's a lot of dietary qualifiers for an ice cream topping, but the recipe reads well and it looks absolutely delicious!
Fruit Sauce Ice Cream Toppings:
16. Raspberry Ice Cream Topping
I adore anything made with raspberries, and I can practically taste this Raspberry sauce from Salt and Baker already. Give me a bowl of vanilla ice cream and a generous topping of this raspberry sauce and I'll be a very happy girl.
17. Apple Cinnamon Ice Cream Sauce
We all know that apple pie is great with a scoop of ice cream on top, so it makes sense that it would be delicious flipped upside down, too. Check out this fabulous Apple Cinnamon Ice Cream Topping from Food Meanderings. It's even Weight Watchers friendly!
18. Strawberry Ice Cream Sauce
Use some bright and bountiful summer strawberries to make this amazing Strawberry Sauce from Tikkido. Ripe strawberries are turned into a delicious sauce that absolutely bursts with bright, fresh fruit flavor thanks to an easy (but unique) technique. Put it over vanilla ice cream and you have the best summer dessert ever! Ice cream parlors have nothing on this homemade strawberry sauce! It really is next level, nothing like anything you've ever had commercially prepared.
19. Berry Red Wine Ice Cream Topping
For a more grown up, complex flavor for berry lovers, check out this Berry Red Wine ice cream sauce from Coupon Clipping Cook.
20. Pineapple Sauce Ice Cream Topping
I think pineapple sauce is an underrated ice cream topping. Try this Vanilla Pineapple Compote from Veggie Desserts and I'm sure you'll agree.
21. Pino Noir Strawberry Sauce
Here's another grown-up ice cream topping: Pino Strawberry Reduction for ice cream (or cheesecake!) from Julie Blanner.
22. Roasted Rhubarb Compote
I adore rhubarb, and warm rhubarb sauce over ice cream is a favorite treat. It's incredibly easy to make with this Roasted Rhubarb Sauce recipe from Tikkido.
Other Ice Cream Sauces:
23. Marshmallow Sauce Topping
One of my favorite ice cream toppings EVER is Homemade Marshmallow Sauce . Click through to get my favorite homemade marshmallow sauce recipe, complete with a video tutorial.
24. Easy Peanut Butter Sauce Ice Cream Topping
I love my peanut butter caramel ice cream topping sauce (above), but for lovers of pure peanut butter topping, this is the recipe for you. Peanut Butter Sauce ice cream topping from My Gluten Free Kitchen
Other Ice Cream Toppings (Not Sauces):
25. Homemade Sprinkles
No list of homemade ice cream toppings would be complete without sprinkles, right? Did you know that you can make your own? Check out how to make Homemade Sprinkles from Tikkido.
26. Homemade Maraschino Cherries
The cherry on top of your amazing ice cream sundae should definitely be these Homemade Maraschino cherries from Foodal.
27. Candied Walnuts Ice Cream Topping
This Wet Walnuts ice cream topping from Bunny's Warm Oven sounds like it would make plain vanilla ice cream taste like Prailines and Cream ice cream (my favorite!!)
28. Brandied Cherries
And for a more adult cherry on top of your bowl of ice cream, these Brandied Cherries from Blossom to Stem look absolutely amazing!
What's your favorite topping for ice cream?