Learn how to make the classic hot fudge sundae recipe! This delicious ice cream treat combines ice cream, homemade hot fudge sauce, and a few delicious toppings for an indulgent, delicious treat any time.

Classic ice cream sundae with homemade hot fudge sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles, nuts, and a maraschino cherry

After sharing our family recipe for Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce recipe on Monday, I couldn’t help but share a delicious way to use it!

It doesn’t get much more classic than a Classic Hot Fudge Sundae!

This delicious dessert has been around for over 140 YEARS. It’s one of the most famous and beloved ice cream treats I can think of. But really, what’s not to love? Between scoops of ice cream, gooey chocolate fudge sauce, crunchy toppings, and fun garnishes, it’s a total delight in every bite, and one of those great recipes that seems to please just about anyone.

Today, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about this classic ice cream dessert, from how it was invented (drama!), to who what goes into a classic hot fudge sundae, to fun variations to try, plus a few little tips and tricks to help you along the way. Let’s dive in!

A Quick History Lesson

Ever wonder who invented the ice cream sundae? If you’re a food nerd like me, it can be fun to learn how certain recipes came about! There are actually varying stories about who, exactly, invented the ice cream sundae recipe, but most sources agree that the ice cream sundae was likely invented to get around “blue laws” (religious laws in the United States restricting certain activities, especially on Sundays).

In the late 1800s/early 1900s, there were blue laws restricting the sale of soda on Sundays. Well, the pharmacists/druggists who were running soda counters and soda shops worked around this law by selling ice cream on Sundays instead of soda!

Several cities claim they’re the birthplaces of the ice cream sundae, but the two most likely claims seem to be Two Rivers, Wisconsin and Ithaca, New York. Two Rivers, Wisconsin claims that druggist Edward Berners invented the sundae after swapping chocolate sauce into an ice cream soda in 1881. In Ithaca, New York, the story goes that druggist Chester C. Platt adding a few garnishes to vanilla ice cream to serve Reverend John M. Scott after church service in 1892. Which story is true? Who knows!

Read more about it at What’s Cooking America, Farmer’s Almanac, and Tasting Table.

Simple Ingredients To Get Started

Now, let’s get to the good stuff! What is a hot fudge sundae made of? Let’s take a look:

Hot Fudge Sauce. We *highly* recommend our homemade hot fudge sauce (aka THE BEST Hot Fudge Sauce!). It’s thick, rich, and gets delightfully “chewy” when it touches the cold ice cream, AND it’s made without corn syrup. That said, I won’t judge if you pick up a jar of hot fudge from the grocery store!
Vanilla Ice Cream. Homemade vanilla ice cream will put these over the top, otherwise, you can use your favorite vanilla ice cream! (It’s also amazing with soft serve…just saying.)
Chopped Nuts. I love roasted, salted peanuts, chopped into fine pieces. They add a satisfying nutty crunch that’s lovely with the gooey hot fudge topping and cold ice cream.
Sprinkles. I love rainbow sprinkles (classic jimmies).
Whipped Cream. Feel free to whip your own, but I think a hot fudge sundae is the perfect opportunity to use spray whipped cream (like Reddi Wip).
Maraschino Cherries. So cute and classic! Get bright red stem-on cherries for a classic look, or look for a dye-free brand like Tillen Farms.

How To Make A Classic Ice Cream Sundae, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, including ingredient amounts, step by step instructions, tips and more in the recipe card below.

Heat Hot Fudge. To start, gently warm the hot fudge sauce until it’s pourable and smooth. You can do this on the stove in a small saucepan over low heat, or in a microwave-safe bowl, microwaving (ideally on lower power) in 15-20 second increments, stirring in between each increment until the sauce is pourable.
Prepare Your Glass. For pretty presentation, drizzle some hot fudge sauce into each bowl or glass. (A mason jar, works, too!)
Layer Ice Cream & Sauce. Fill the glass with vanilla ice cream then drizzle with more hot fudge sauce. (If you want it extra fudgy, you can drizzle a little hot fudge in between every scoop of ice cream!)
Add Toppings. Top each sundae with whipped cream, chopped nuts, sprinkles, and a maraschino cherry. Enjoy right away!

Ice Cream Sundae Variations

Now that you know how to make a classic hot fudge sundae recipe, let’s talk about variations! These are some of the most popular ice cream sundae variations when you’re in the mood for something different.

Caramel Sundae. Swap the hot fudge out for warm caramel sauce, or use both caramel sauce AND hot fudge for an extra decadent treat.
Tin Roof Sundae. This variation on a classic ice cream sundae layers chocolate and vanilla. A scoop of vanilla ice cream gets topped with melty hot fudge or chocolate sauce, then a scoop of chocolate ice cream is topped with gooey marshmallow sauce. Then, the whole sundae is topped with roasted Spanish peanuts.
Marshmallow Sundae. Layer marshmallow ice cream topping and hot fudge!
Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes. Start with a fudgy brownie base, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and smother it in hot fudge sauce. Then add the classic whipped cream, nuts, sprinkles, and a cherry on top!
Knickerbocker Glory. A fruity twist on a sundae! Swap out the hot fudge for fresh fruit and/or fruit puree, then layer with ice cream, whipped cream, and maybe some extras (like meringue or marshmallows!)

More Toppings To Try

Part of what’s fun about an ice cream sundae is adding the toppings! So what toppings can you add to an ice cream sundae? Basically anything you like! Mix it up with extras like:

Nuts. Swap out classic salty peanuts for toasted almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts! (Allergic to tree nuts? Just skip these.)
Fruit. Add strawberry sauce or fresh strawberries, sliced bananas, raspberries, cherries, and more!
Sauces. Mix things up with marshmallow sauce, caramel sauce, butterscotch topping, strawberry topping, raspberry sauce, or peanut butter topping!
Candy! Add a candy crunch with chopped candy bars (Snickers, Butterfinger, etc.), add toffee bits, mini M&Ms, peanut butter cups, other types of sprinkles, and more!

a classic hot fudge sundae in a glass sundae cup

FAQ + Tricks For The Best Hot Fudge Sundae

What’s The Best Hot Fudge Sauce For Ice Cream Sundaes? We highly recommend homemade hot fudge sauce. Our no-corn syrup hot fudge recipe uses ingredients like dark chocolate chips, heavy cream, butter, vanilla, salt, and sweetened condensed milk to get that signature fudgy texture and rich chocolate flavor.

Are Hot Fudge Sundaes Gluten-Free? These ones ARE! The basic ingredients for a hot fudge sundae are easily gluten-free, but if you’re using store-bought items, be sure to double-check your labels to be certain they’re celiac-safe and will meet your special dietary needs. We’re using gluten-free vanilla ice cream, gluten-free hot fudge sauce, and gluten-free sprinkles.

What Flavors Of Ice Cream Are Good With Hot Fudge? There are so many good ice cream flavors to try! Pair hot fudge with classics like chocolate or vanilla ice cream, or try it on chocolate cherry ice cream, caramel ice cream (my favorite flavor!), mint chocolate chip, peanut butter cup, or even fruity options like raspberry sorbet! Basically, if you would eat it with chocolate, it’ll taste great with hot fudge!

More Gluten-Free Ice Cream Treats To Try

Gluten-Free Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Front view of gluten-free fried ice cream with one bite scooped out of it

Gluten-Free Fried Ice Cream (No Frying!)

Drizzling chocolate sauce on gluten-free grasshopper pie

Gluten-Free Grasshopper Ice Cream Pie

Recipe Card

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