I teamed up with my friends at Hudsonville Ice Cream to host an ice cream social to celebrate my return to Chicago. It was a delicious and fun way to reunite with my friends!
I am home! I missed my friends terribly while I was traveling around the world for 101 days, and seeing them was the first thing that I wanted to do when I got home, so I decided to host an ice cream social!
Charles had never been to an ice cream social so I had to explain the concept to him. You invite your friends and gather your favorite ice cream and toppings and let everyone make their own cones or sundaes. Growing up in Maine, my school had ice cream socials once a year. It was a no-fuss way for the school to put on an event where parents and kids could get to know each other. I hadn’t been to an ice cream social since I was a kid, but it is such a fun party idea! I want to start hosting them regularly.
I love ice cream socials because they are a hassle-free way to host a party. I didn’t need to cook anything! I just needed to go to the grocery store and pick up ice cream and toppings. It was so easy, the total preparation was just minutes, I just needed to set everything out on my counter.
The ice cream social was a blast! What could be more fun than eating ice cream with friends? I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner, ice cream is the perfect summertime treat and a great way to cool down on a hot day. An ice cream social is the perfect summertime party. Ice cream is universally loved, and a great way to bring people together to have the Sweetest Summer Ever!
Speaking of having a sweet summer, Hudsonville has launched their Sweetest Summer Ever Sweepstakes giving people the chance to win prizes each week throughout the summer! After you have entered the sweepstakes, check out Hudsonville’s blog The Sweet Spot! It’s full of fun ideas and recipes, including a very delicious looking recipe for a Strawberry Shortcake Whoopie Pie!
Here are my tips for hosting an ice cream social:
Buy enough ice cream. I bought pints because I wanted to serve several flavors and I was only hosting six guests. If you are expecting a larger crowd, get tubs instead. Hudsonville is available in both pints and 48 ounce tubs – you can mix and match if you want! If you want to stock up on Hudsonville Ice Cream, use the Hudsonville store locator to find a retailer near you that carries the brand. Then click here for a buy one get one coupon for pints, and you can click here for a $2 off coupon for the family-size cartons.
Consider dietary restrictions and food allergies. Luckily, my friends are able to eat nuts and dairy, but you might want to get a pint of Dairy Free Ice Cream (Hudsonville makes it in flavors like Caramel Cookie Dough, S’mores, and Cherry Fudge) in addition to some nut-free flavors.
Pick a variety of ice cream flavors. You need the vanilla and chocolate, so I got Hudsonville’s Creamery Blend Vanilla (my favorite rich creamy vanilla) and their classic Chocolate. I also got Seaside Caramel and Traverse City Cherry Fudge. My friend Libb wanted to taste the Traverse City Cherry Fudge so she took a little spoonful… and went back for two more scoops. It’s just that good. I think that including chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and something fruity covers most people’s go-to ice creams.
Buy extra vanilla. It goes with everything making it the perfect base for an ice cream sundae!
Use paper bowls for easy cleanup.
If you want to make things really easy, you can ask your friends to bring their favorite ice cream topping.
Pick a variety of toppings. I think that chocolate and caramel sauce are essentials. So are sprinkles and whipped cream. Add some fruit – I picked strawberries, cherries, and raspberries. And then some nuts and candy. I arranged everything in glass bowls.
Get creative! The best thing about an ice cream social is that there are no rules. Add all the toppings or none at all. Make exactly what you want and enjoy every bite.
When was the last time you went to an ice cream social? I would love to know the answer!
This post was sponsored by Hudsonville Ice Cream, the opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Kittchen possible.