14 Toppings You Never Thought To Put On Ice Cream

You're doing it all wrong if you scatter some sprinkles on your ice cream and call it a day. Or even worse, if you eat plain ice cream without dipping your toes into the vast world of possible toppings you can add to the sweet treat. You see, desserts don't need to be strictly sweet. Yes, the foundation might be sugary, but after-dinner treats greatly benefit when you incorporate not-so-sweet ingredients into them, too. Le Cordon Bleu notes that it's important to harmonize the five distinct tastes in dishes — sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami. Therefore, when you go to build your next sundae, don't be scared to include something spicy or tart on top.

It's also wise to throw in texture variation so you're not stuck with exclusively soft components that melt into one soupy mixture. Just as with anything else, it takes trial and error to create flawless flavor combos, but that's why we're here to help you out. There's a whole roster of ice cream accompaniments that will take you by surprise and appease your palate. So set the candy aside for a moment to try out these underrated yet delightful ice cream fixings.

Here is a garnish for those in search of a sweet and spicy dessert. Wasabi paste supplies heat that fleets, which makes it suitable to serve with dairy. But of course, you don't need much to feel its effects. If you don't have access to fresh wasabi root, no worries — use wasabi powder to create a paste or buy the tubes of pre-made paste. Place a small amount of the herb atop your sweet treat to give it some heat and an eye-catching display. The light green color won't go unnoticed.

If straight wasabi is too much for you, make chocolate wasabi brownies to crumble up and use instead. It's no secret that baked brownie pieces are a favorite topping among ice cream lovers. However, wasabi brownies are special because you make them with three kinds of chocolate and crushed wasabi peas. It's less intense because the chocolate ensures the wasabi's spice doesn't overpower the whole dish.

This topping is for anyone who loves to dip french fries into milkshakes. Potato chips on ice cream is essentially the same thing, just with the components in different forms. Yet, it's still one of those toppings you likely never thought to add to your ice cream. It works well because the chips are salty and crispy, which drastically contrasts the silky frozen treat (opposites attract, right?). Add whole chips or crush them into smaller pieces before you place them on the ice cream. You can even make homemade potato chips if you want to go out on a limb.

This garish is fantastic with various types of ice cream, especially vanilla or chocolate. You can also use strawberry sauce or hot fudge as accompaniments. Alternatively, go another route with warmer flavors. Top honey ice cream with potato chips, butterscotch sauce, and a dash of nutmeg. Aside from classic potato chips, you could even experiment with flavored ones like cheddar, lime, or honey barbecue, which instantly adds more depth to the frozen dessert.

The next time you have leftover tempura batter on hand, use it as a garnish for your ice cream. A kitchen squeeze bottle is an easy way to transform the batter into pieces small enough to sprinkle. Transfer the raw mixture to the bottle and squeeze drops of it into hot oil; this creates crisped bits that taste divine with rich frozen desserts. Serve the tempura scraps plain, or dust them in something like powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or vanilla glaze, like a fried donut. This topping is versatile; its simple yet pleasant flavor profile allows you to serve it with virtually any ice cream you want.

For instance, serve mint chocolate chip ice cream with tempura fragments and ganache. With the refreshing mint, decadent chocolate, and satisfying deep-fried tempura, your taste buds will have a field day. Likewise, marshmallow ice cream with tempura and toasted coconut is another top-tier combination. Finish it off with a touch of brown butter sauce, and all the toasty components help boost the distinct marshmallow taste. There are unending mixtures to consider, so don't hesitate to turn last night's tempura dinner into a crunchy ice cream topping.

No matter how you like your popcorn, it deserves a spot in your ice cream bar lineup. Nothing else has the texture that popcorn does; it's tender and crunchy at the same time. Not to mention, it has a nutty undertone that complements creamy ice cream. When adding popcorn to your ice cream, you can use classic, buttered popcorn or a flavored option. For instance, you can easily pair standard popcorn with caramel ice cream to create the nostalgic flavor of kettle corn. Unseasoned popcorn also tastes extraordinary with chocolate, butterscotch, cookie dough, and vanilla chocolate chip ice creams. 

Regarding the seasoned kind, consider using vanilla ice cream as a velvety base for spicy Cajun popcorn. The rich vanilla soothes your palate after it encounters the fiery spices. Another fun option is sea salt popcorn. Sprinkle it atop peanut butter ice cream and drizzle it with fudge. Once you try this approach, you'll see why it's an ice cream topping that's gained a cult following.

Ah, caviar — the luxury ice cream topping that's as divisive as it is (potentially) delicious. At first glance, it might come off as unappealing, but when you break down the texture and taste characteristics of the food, it makes sense why you would use it as an ice cream accompaniment. The flavor of the tiny pearls is savory with buttery undertones, so when you combine it with candy-sweet ice cream, you get the ultimate well-balanced pairing.

The firm beads have a nice bite and burst in your mouth; it's like a breath of fresh air when you serve caviar with fluffy ice cream. You only need a small amount to top the dessert. If this food mixture seems daunting, try a spoonful of ice cream with a few caviar pieces on top to see how you like it. Serve it with white chocolate, mango, chocolate, or vanilla ice cream. Include a crunchy topping in addition to the caviar, such as waffle cone pieces.

Olive oil is another surprising topping you should add to ice cream because it makes the dish incredibly indulgent. Although you most commonly see olive oil used in savory applications, like with meat and veggies, it is adaptable enough to use in confections. High-quality olive oil has layers of flavors and aromas; different qualities shine through depending on what you pair it with. Namely, if you pour a small amount of olive oil onto sea salt caramel ice cream, the ice cream ends up highlighting the nuttiness of the oil. Meanwhile, if your serving of ice cream is lemony, you'll notice the fruity undertones in the oil.

Yet, a particular ingredient combination seems to be the favorite among fans of this topping — vanilla bean ice cream, olive oil, and a dash of sea salt. The concoction is relatively simple, but its taste is sophisticated. In addition to olive oil improving the flavor and texture of desserts, there are also health reasons why you should use olive oil in your food. For example, according to Healthline, olive oil contains antioxidants that may help maintain cardiovascular health while keeping inflammation in the body at bay. So, oil-topped ice cream could be considered good for your health and your appetite.

Apple butter is yummy on toast, but it's even more delectable on a heaping scoop of ice cream. Plain apple butter, which has apples, brown sugar, and apple cider, works well with a range of ice cream types. For example, put it on toffee ice cream with caramel candy pieces to go along with it. The candy's flavor goes hand-in-hand with the intense apple butter. Or try different flavors, like honey apple butter or cardamom-spiced apple butter.

Honey apple butter contains vanilla extract, spices, and honey in addition to the classic ingredients. The taste of rich honey and apples aligns perfectly with salted caramel, peanut butter, or butter pecan ice cream. Top the sweet and fruity sundae with a dessert sauce, such as caramel or white chocolate, to really take things up a notch. Meanwhile, cardamom-spiced apple butter has lemongrass, pomegranate juice, apples, and spices, which makes it an undeniable match for classic vanilla bean ice cream. Since the apple butter is already loaded with warm spices, simply top the dessert with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and it's good to go. The taste of apple butter is autumnal and comforting, so when you couple it with similar flavors, there's no going wrong.

You need to try canned fruit on your sweet dessert treat for a few reasons. First, many canned fruits are stored in syrup, which makes them extra sweet. Also, the fruit is already peeled and chopped, so you don't need to spend time doing so yourself. For example, companies package pears, peaches, apricots, and pineapples already sliced with a pleasantly soft texture.

It doesn't stop there; you can often find canned cherries, mandarin oranges, mangos, and mixed fruit. Fruit cocktail is convenient to use since it is a balanced mix of different fruits. Craft a fruity banana split with ice cream, bananas, and mixed fruit with vivid red cherry pieces. Once you place the fruit on top, add fluffy Chantilly cream and rich chocolate sauce to finish things off.

Another option is to make a stone fruit dessert with cinnamon ice cream. Pile canned peaches, apricots, and brown sugar glaze over the frozen dessert. If you want to include a crunchy component, use honey granola or baked cinnamon streusel. Not only is the canned fruit versatile, but you can also use leftover canned fruit juice in your ice cream. This works whether it's 100% fruit juice or a corn syrup and juice mixture. Place a few spoonfuls on your ice cream as a last-minute saccharine touch.

If you haven't yet tried bacon in your desserts, just know that the sweet and salty combination is something worth relishing. When you use it in your ice cream, it's best to chop freshly cooked bacon strips into bacon bits so they're easier to sprinkle on. Also, be sure to allow the bacon to cool completely before putting it to use. Otherwise, it could make your ice cream melt prematurely. Of course, you can stick whole pieces of bacon onto the treat, but it becomes pretty messy because you end up using your hands to dip it.

If plain bacon is too savory for your liking, make candied bacon, which contains brown sugar and cinnamon. Not only does the candied version taste scrumptious with ice cream, but it's also ultra-crispy, thanks to the caramelization of the sugar. While ice cream is assuredly one of the ingredients you never thought to use with bacon, once you try it, you're practically guaranteed to return to the pairing — its milky essence flawlessly balances the hearty meat for the perfect sweet and savory dessert.

Incredible as it seems, lavender is a must-try topping for your hot fudge sundae. And yes, we're talking about the light purple flower buds. Before you try this garnish, you should know the importance of using culinary lavender rather than other formats. Hands down, English lavender is the best variety for you to use on your confections. While many kinds of lavender are edible, some are too oily or pungent to enjoy. Once you obtain the suitable culinary lavender, use it sparingly since it's quite strong. This is one clear instance where less is more.

Sprinkle the lavender buds directly onto your ice cream as a finishing touch; the delicate flowers instantly give the treat a charming presentation. There are also ways to dress up the florets. For instance, make crystallized lavender or mix the buds with other ingredients. If you combine the flowers with roasted almonds, you'll be met with floral, earthy notes. 

Finally, we've got the low down on which ice creams make a good match for this topping. Try vanilla bean, strawberry, blueberry, lemon, or honey.

To add a much-needed crunch factor to your hefty ice cream bowl, top it with pretzels. Grab your favorite brand of store-bought pretzels, whether they are seasoned or only have a dash of salt. You could also try peanut butter-filled pretzels to further add flavor to your dessert. Pair the peanut butter ones with chocolate ice cream for a sweet treat reminiscent of Reese's candy. Or, make a sundae inspired by kitchen sink cookies using pretzels, M&M's, and chocolate chips as garnishes. 

This topping is convenient because it doesn't require special preparation. However, if you want to get creative, you can. For example, make maple sriracha pretzels which contain ranch seasonings, oil, maple syrup, and sriracha. The sweet undertones of the maple and sriracha's slow heat are an unforgettable match for ice cream. And hey, if you prefer soft-baked pretzels, those are always an option. Break a warm pretzel into smaller portions, then scatter them atop the ice cream. The cinnamon-sugar kind tastes heavenly with caramel or vanilla ice cream.

We're here to tell you about chili crisp and why you should use this condiment for fiery ice cream. Chili crisp, as suggested by its name, contains crispy elements. Specifically, onion and pepper bits reside in the seasoned oil, which makes it a uniquely savory sauce. What you need to know about the wide world of chili crisps is that their flavors and spice levels vary. When you pick up a bottle, read the label to see what you're in for.

You should serve the condiment atop your ice cream because the two play off each other quite well. This makes sense when you think about how often people eat or drink dairy to alleviate the fire that ignites on their tongues after eating ultra-hot food. Chili crisp doesn't have to be the only garnish on your ice cream, though. It tastes excellent with classic toppings like chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, and fresh strawberry pieces. Use classic vanilla or chocolate ice cream as the base.

Reduce food waste and give your ice cream a fried and delicious topping when you use corn silk. Of course, this topping is best on sweet corn ice cream, but it also works on caramel, avocado, or honey ice cream. Next time you make corn on the cob, save the corn silk, leave it out to dry, and fry it up. You can also batter the corn silk before you cook it so it turns extra crispy. Its unique nest-like presentation makes any plain ol' bowl of ice cream a show-stopping dessert.

In addition, it's possible to make the corn silk sweet, spicy, or salty with added seasonings. For example, coat it in a sugar and spice mixture and serve it with coffee ice cream. Or, stick with the classic sweetcorn ice cream and season the corn silk with cayenne and brown sugar to give it a spicy kick. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to use corn silk instead of throwing it away.

Are you familiar with pomegranate molasses and just how tasty it is on ice cream? This condiment is zesty and syrupy, which makes it the perfect consistency to use as the final detail for your sweet treat just before you serve it. Surprisingly, this sauce doesn't have anything to do with molasses at all. Instead, you make it by reducing pure pomegranate juice on the stovetop until it's thickened, and the final product is robust.

The deep red condiment enriches the ice cream's flavor and appearance. It tastes phenomenal with vanilla, orange, chocolate, berry, and cheesecake-flavored ice cream. You can certainly buy pomegranate molasses from the grocery store or online, but you should consider making your own, as it's a fairly simple process. All you need is pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon or lime. After heating the ingredients and reducing them to their thicker, stickier form, allow the syrup to cool completely. You can use the molasses cold or at room temperature ... or gently warm it and use it like you would hot fudge. When it comes to other garnishes that match well with it, think dates, walnuts, berries, and fresh mint.