The US industry-leading gelato manufacturer’s blog
There are so many unique events in life to celebrate – from your child’s first birthday party to a gender reveal, anniversary, or a friend’s engagement. Sure, you could serve a traditional sheet cake and vanilla ice cream – but you want to wow your loved ones with something a little more unique. Gelato is a delicious Italian treat guaranteed to impress and delight party guests.
Hosting a gelato party is a new and unique concept that will work regardless of season or occasion – from a summer wedding to an office Christmas party. Here are a few tips that are guaranteed to make your gelato party a roaring success:
Are you ready to make your ice cream party stand out? Want to host a memorable celebration that your loved ones will be reminiscing about for years? To successfully host an ice cream or gelato party, you must choose fantastic ice cream or gelato flavors and have beautiful decorations that work perfectly with the theme.
Quite simply, an ice cream social is a party that features ice cream! These types of parties have been thrown for decades – although you might associate ice cream socials with the 1950s. In addition to different varieties of ice cream, the social will also feature several different toppings – including syrups, nuts, and candies – in addition to ways to serve and enjoy the frozen treat, including bowls and various cones of all shapes and sizes.
The thematic success of your ice cream party hinges on choosing the ideal ice cream or gelato flavors. For example, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and a host of other familiar favorite flavors are perfect for a child’s party. If the affair is more sophisticated, consider flavors, sauces, and toppings that will delight adults – including pistachio gelato, cafe gelato, cheesecake, or even key lime pie!
In addition to the ages and palates of the guests, keep your theme in mind. For example, if you are having a Halloween, Thanksgiving, or autumn-themed party, choose flavors that are reminiscent of cool temperatures and falling leaves, such as pecan pie, black forest, caramel, and coffee.
Think back to some of the best parties you have ever attended. Chances are, the hosts served ice cream! There is something about the taste of ice cream that makes everyone feel like a kid again. However, before you assume that ice cream is only a kid’s treat, consider hosting a party centered around ice cream’s more sophisticated cousin: gelato.
Ever wonder what the difference is between ice cream vs gelato? Ice cream has a higher air content than gelato, making it more light and fluffy. Gelato is whipped more slowly and has a smoother, deeper, and refined texture – making it the perfect hot weather treat for adults.
Whether you are hosting an anniversary, birthday party, baby shower, or even a divorce party – you want your celebration to stand out and create a lasting memory! Luckily, when your featured dessert is gelato, ice cream, or both, your party is guaranteed to keep your friends and family talking for months to come!
Constructing a DIY ice cream bar is an art form that requires the ideal combination of outstanding ice cream, scrumptious gelato, toppings, sauces, fresh fruits, sprinkles, and all the essentials your guests will require to make their own ice cream concoction, including spoons, bowls, ice cream scoops, and napkins.
Careful planning of your ice cream bar can mean the difference between thrilling all your guests and organizing a mess most people will soon forget.
Want to create an ice cream bar that will stand out? Follow these simple tips and tricks:
Every memorable party starts with a wonderful theme. If the theme of your party is “ice cream,” don’t stop with ice cream party decorations. Instead, turn your ice cream flavor choices into the theme. For example, head to your local gelato shop and ice cream parlor and purchase the same flavors of both gelato and ice cream.
The guests can sample each flavor and decide if ice cream or gelato is the superior frozen treat! Chances are, your guest will prefer gelato over ice cream every time!
Hosting a party is a very personal experience, and you want to ensure that your guests have fun and know how much time, care, and energy you put into the event! Here are a few simple ways you can add a distinctive flair to your ice cream party:
Store-bought ice cream is acceptable for your run-of-the-mill party – but you are throwing an ice cream-themed affair. Creating your own homemade ice cream isn’t as difficult as you might think. All you need are the essentials – including sugar, eggs, and heavy cream – a recipe, which can easily be found online, and a little imagination!
Creating your own flavors of ice cream is the perfect way to treat your guests to a truly unique experience. Once again, there is a multitude of recipes online that can allow you to personalize your ice cream while keeping your guest’s preferences and even dietary restrictions in mind.
For example, you can easily swap out eggs and heavy cream with coconut milk to make an outstanding vegan ice cream. Similarly, if you slowly churn the ice cream and substitute coconut milk for whole or skim milk, you can craft your own vegan gelato!
However, if you really want to make your party stand out, let the chefs at I Scream Gelato create a one-of-a-kind homemade Italian gelato for you!
Want to save time and prevent your guests from straining their wrists trying to scoop their own ice cream? Opt for the pre-scoop ice cream method instead. As the name suggests, this method involves scooping the ice cream ahead of time. The easiest way to present the pre-scooped frozen treat to your guests is on a plastic wrap-covered tray or cookie sheet.
Remember, when you pre-scoop the ice cream, keep the ice cream cold and only pull out the tray a few minutes before the ice cream is served.
There isn’t a whimsical or sophisticated affair that cannot be made more memorable and exciting by including ice cream or gelato. Want to make your party the talk of the town? Contact I Scream Gelato and ask about gelato catering.
Whether you are throwing your child a first birthday party or planning your spouse’s 40th – you cannot go wrong with ice cream. Kids and adults alike will be thrilled when you pull the ice cream or gelato out of the freezer and allow them to create their cones or sundaes, complete with crushed cookies, chocolate sauce, fresh fruit, and all the other toppings your guests will enjoy.
A bridal shower is truly a rite of passage for every woman, and if you are the maid-of-honor, you want to ensure your friend or loved one enters into marriage in style! Forget ice cream and throw a more cultured bridal shower by serving gelato. Before you think that gelato is just Italian ice cream – think again!
In addition to the deeper flavor profile, gelato is better for you because gelato is made with milk instead of heavy cream. There are fewer calories and less fat in your typical half-cup of gelato than ice cream!
Ice cream is truly the perfect food for any occasion – including your office party. Whether you are hosting the annual Christmas party or a treasured employee is retiring, you can treat your colleagues by serving several different ice creams. As with any other party, don’t forget the toppings!
As the host of any party, ultimately, your goal is to ensure your guest have a unique and memorable experience. The best way to ensure this happens is that you serve extraordinary treats. If you ask yourself, “Where can I find the best gelato near me?” The answer is simple: I Scream Gelato!
Ice cream sundaes are the quintessential American treat and a must-have for every ice cream party. However, why not swap out the “ice cream” in the ice cream sundae with gelato? From coffee gelato to lemon, strawberry, or even Kit Kat, dozens of gelato flavors will work well in a gelato sundae.
Have even more questions about throwing a gelato or ice cream-themed party? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions you might have:
The better question is, “What can you not serve with gelato?” Almost any food or beverage will pair perfectly with gelato. Want to truly treat your loved ones to a unique combination? Pair a chilled scoop of gelato with a hot cup of coffee!
The best way to make any ice cream or gelato party fun and memorable is to serve high-quality products – including the most memorable gelato to go from I Scream Gelato! In addition to enjoying gelato in any of our fabulous boutiques, you can order gelato to go or for delivery.
In addition to the star of the show – ice cream – you also need to supply everything your guests will need to make their ice cream dessert, including:
Don’t forget you must keep the ice cream cold, so make sure to stock up on a lot of ice, especially if you are throwing an outdoor party in summer.
An ice cream sundae is essentially one or two scoops of ice cream topped with various sprinkles, sauces, syrups, fresh fruit, or whatever else you can imagine. The easiest way to host an ice cream sundae party is to provide your guests with everything they need and have the toppings and ice cream easily accessible.
For example, throwing the party buffet style and asking your guests to line up is the easiest way to ensure everyone creates their perfect sundae.
Pre-scooping ice cream is the easiest way to ensure your guests enjoy their sundae without straining to scoop the frozen ice cream out of the tub. If you are worried about the effort it takes to scoop ice cream, serve gelato instead!
The gelato at I Scream Gelato is typically served at a warmer temperature than most traditional ice cream – meaning you can easily scoop and enjoy the frozen treat!
Ready to host an ice cream or gelato party? Want to cater an event – or simply have gelato delivered to your home, party, or hotel room? Come into one of I Scream Gelato’s gelateria or contact a local I Scream Gelato franchise.