20 Outrageous Ice Cream Sundaes from Across the U.S.
We searched the country, spoon in hand, for the coolest sundaes ever.
We've searched from East Coast to West Coast, north to south, for the most outrageous ice cream sundaes on the planet. Our final list? An ice cream pyramid to rival any in Egypt, a vanilla sundae gilded with gold, and banana splits, piled with all manner of ice cream toppings.
Nine-Pound Humongous Banana Split
Where to Buy It: The Poky Dot in Fairmont, WV
Ingredients: Nine 1-lb. scoops of ice cream in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry on a whipped cream base, topped with chocolate, strawberry and pineapple sauces, more whipped cream, sprinkles, cherries, nuts and bananas.
Cost: $18.99
King Kong Sundae
Where to Buy It: Sugar Factory in New York, Florida, Illinois
Ingredients: 24 scoops of ice cream covered with hot fudge, caramel, strawberry sauce, sliced bananas, toasted marshmallows, Reese's Pieces, chocolate chip cookies, crushed waffle cones, Gummi Bears, white chocolate strawberry shavings, toasted walnuts, whipped cream, giant lollipops, and sparklers.
Cost: $99
Chilled Churro Sundae
Where to Buy It: The Loop in Orange County, CA
Ingredients: Vanilla soft serve ice cream with a fresh churro loop, glazed and topped with you choice of items, including Fruity Pebbles, warm cookie butter, crushed almonds, Oreos and more.
Cost: $5.50
The Vermonster
Where to Buy It: Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury, VT
Ingredients: 20 scoops of Ben & Jerry's famous ice cream (choose 4 or 5 flavors) is loaded into a giant bucket, then layered with four bananas, three cookies, a brownie, four servings of hot fudge and caramel, ten spoonfuls of chopped walnuts, whipped cream, and two spoonfuls each of your four favorite toppings.
Cost: Price varies by location.
The Millionaire
Where to Buy It: Five Pennies Creamery in Long Island, NY
Ingredients: 36 scoops of ice cream (you can get one of every flavor on the menu!), topped with your choice of wet and dry ingredients, plus whipped cream and a cherry.
Cost: $70
Serendipity 3 Golden Opulence Sundae
Where to Buy It: Serendipity 3 in New York City
Ingredients: Three scoops of Tahitian and Madagascar vanilla ice cream, 23-carat gold leaves, chunks of rare Chuao chocolate, exotic candied fruits from Paris's Fauchon, chocolate truffles, and a tiny bowl of Grande Passion caviar sweetened with passion fruit, orange, and Armagnac. Topped with a gilded sugar flower and sprinkled with pure 24-carat gold edible dust!
Cost: $1,000 (Guinness Book of World Record's Most Expensive Sundae)
The World Famous Farrell's Zoo
Where to Buy It: Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor (various locations in California and Hawaii)
Ingredients: Three fruit sherbert flavors, four toppings, whipped cream, bananas, cherries, fudge, sprinkles and playful pipecleaner animals and paper Farell's pennants.
Cost: $78
Churro Sundae
Where to Buy It: Boqueria in New York City
Ingredients: Four fresh churros, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, sprinkles, toasted walnuts, whipped cream and flaming sparklers.
Cost: $14
Hot Dish
Where to Buy It: Izzy's Ice Cream in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN
Ingredients: 32 scoops of ice cream on a layer of crumbled cones, sprinkled with brownie bits, 7 toppings, and 3 sauces. The red hot dish and matching espresso cup (which comes with the signature 3/4-oz. "Izzy" scoop in it) is yours to keep!
Cost: $100
The Trough
Where to Buy It: Ample Hills Creamery in Brooklyn, NY
Ingredients: An entire malted pretzel ooey gooey pie gets piled with 8 scoops of ice cream, pieces of cookie dough, The Munchies (a sweet and salty mix of pretzels, Ritz crackers and M&Ms), hot fudge, salted butter caramel, whipped cream, chocolate and rainbow sprinkles, and a gummy cow in lieu of a cherry. Non-edible fences are placed around the sides of the bowl to keep it all upright.
Cost: $55
The Waffle Works!
Where to Buy It: Twohey's Restaurant in Alhambra, CA
Ingredients: A large Belgian waffle smothered with baked apples and topped with three scoops of vanilla ice cream, hot caramel sauce, whipped cream, and pecans.
Cost: $16.95
Great Pyramid
Where to Buy It: Cabot's Ice Cream and Restaurant in Newtonville, MA
Ingredients: More than 60 pints of hand-scooped ice cream — including scoops of coffee, Oreo, strawberry, cherry vanilla, and chocolate — with 12 quarts of toppings (choose from 40) packaged separately, whipped cream, marshmallows, nuts and cherries. It can serve up to 175 people!
Cost: $259.99
Mallie's Colossal Ice Cream Sundae
Where to Buy It: Mallie's Sports Grill & Bar in Southgate, MI
Ingredients: Half a gallon of ice cream (including chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry) topped with Hershey's chocolate syrup, whipped cream, chocolate chip cookies, nuts, sprinkles, and cherries.
Cost: $29.99
Giant Crowd Pleaser™
Where to Buy It: Friendly's Restaurant (various locations)
Ingredients: Twelve scoops of ice cream (chosen from more than 26 flavors, including Coffee and Watermelon Sherbet), six toppings, Friendly's Whipped Topping, cherries, and chocolate sprinkles.
Cost: $12.49 in most markets
The Ghirardelli Earthquake Sundae
Where to Buy It: Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop in San Francisco, CA
Ingredients: Eight scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, butterscotch, strawberries, caramel, marshmallow topping, pineapples, bananas, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and chopped almonds. Whew!
Cost: $29.95
The Kitchen Sink
Where to Buy It: Beaches & Cream Soda Shop at Walt Disney World, FL
Ingredients: Scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, and mint chocolate chip, covered in every topping they have. Also available in Chocolate Lovers or Neapolitan flavors.
Cost: $32
The End of the World Sundae
Where to Buy It: Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain in Brooklyn, NY
Ingredients: A Peter Pan donut topped with your choice of ice cream, hot fudge or caramel sauce, whipped cream, and rainbow sprinkles. This special sundae is available on Sundays only.
Cost: $12
Rita's Strawberry Cake
Where to Buy It: Leatherby's Family Creamery (various locations in California)
Ingredients: Strawberries layered between vanilla cake and topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and a cherry.
Cost: $8.99
Tchoupitoulas Sundae
Where to Buy It: The Creole Creamery in New Orleans, LA
Ingredients: Eight scoops of ice cream, eight toppings, whipped cream, cherries, sprinkles, and sugar wafers. Customers may choose their favorite toppings and flavors, including Strawberry Jalepeño Cheesecake.
Cost: $25
Royal Turtle
Where to Buy It: Sheridan's Lattés & Frozen Custard (various locations)
Ingredients: Fresh frozen vanilla custard, a generous heaping of hot fudge and caramel topping, roasted pecans, and cherries.
Cost: $4.54 at most locations
