Tips for Serving Ice Cream in a Restaurant
Amanda Byk / Foodservice Tips, Restaurant Tips / July 10

No matter if your customers are enjoying a warm, sunny day on the patio or looking to end an anniversary dinner with dessert, ice cream is a classic option to satisfy any sweet tooth. So what are some tips for serving ice cream in a restaurant, and how do you make it fresh?
How to Make Ice Cream
Crafting delicious ice cream is an art. You need the right balance of quality ingredients and the right recipe to make ice cream customers rave. While this process can look different for everyone, here are the main aspects of ice cream making that you’ll want to focus on:
- The amount of dry matter
- The sweetness
- Milk fat percentage
- Percentage of milk solids
- The freezing point
The Extras: Toppings and More
While you can simply offer the standard flavors of ice cream, it can spice things up a bit if you provide toppings like sprinkles, sauces or even fruits. Here are just a few ideas:
- Whipped cream
- Candy
- Sprinkles
- Chocolate, caramel and other syrups
- Warmed fruit
The Presentation
Think about adding something special to your serving dishes like a “happy birthday” written in chocolate or a fun garnish to bring color to the ice cream. Including small touches to each bowl or plate can make the customers smile even wider as they enjoy their dessert.
No matter if you want to make the ice cream yourself or are looking to buy an ice cream machine, there are plenty of ways to keep things fun. Keep these tips for serving ice cream in a restaurant in mind when you change up the menu.