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Ice cream nachos are a yummy dessert that combines the crunch of waffle cone pieces with scoops of your favorite ice cream, topped with a variety of delicious toppings like chocolate fudge, caramel, whipped cream, and cherries. This fun and creative ice cream treat is perfect for sharing!
When I first started Modern Honey and my kids were little, every single year on New Year’s Eve, I would make a HUGE ice cream sundae to celebrate the year. We would all gather around the island and dig into this ridiculously huge and delicious ice cream sundae with scoops of ice cream, decadent toppings, whipped cream and crunchy waffle cones.
The kids looked forward to it every single year and it was such a fun tradition. So I wanted to create something similar and since our family LOVES nachos, I thought it would be a fun and creative twist to make something called “ICE CREAM NACHOS.” They have been a hit ever since!
What are Ice Cream Nachos?
Ice cream nachos with waffle cones are a creative and yummy dessert that combines the best of both worlds: the crunchy texture of nachos and the creamy, sweet flavor of ice cream.
Instead of traditional nacho chips, waffle cones are broken into bite-sized pieces to serve as the base. These crunchy “chips” are then topped with scoops of your favorite ice cream flavors and an assortment of toppings like chocolate fudge, caramel sauce, sprinkles, fresh berries, chopped nuts, and whipped cream.
Ingredients:
The best part of creating Ice Cream Nachos is the ability to customize them. You can throw on any of your favorite ice cream toppings!
- Waffle Cones
- Butter Waffle Cookies (optional)
- Pint Straus Strawberry Ice Cream
- Pint Straus Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
- Pint Straus Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream
- Chocolate Fudge Sauce
- Caramel Sauce
- Whipped Cream
Optional Toppings:
- Maraschino Cherries
- Fresh Strawberries and Bananas
- Sprinkles
- Nuts
- Candies
- Chocolates
How to make Ice Cream Nachos:
- Break the Waffle Cones: Take your waffle cones or bowls and break them into chip-sized pieces. Arrange them on a large serving platter or individual plates.
- Scoop the Ice Cream: Scoop your favorite ice cream flavors and place them over the waffle cone chips.
- Pre-scoop the Ice Cream: To make assembly quick and easy, pre-scoop your ice cream and freeze the scoops ahead of time. Use an ice cream scoop to create uniform balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze the scoops for at least 1-2 hours, or until they are firm.
- Drizzle with Sauce: Drizzle chocolate sauce and caramel sauce over the ice cream and waffle cone chips.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle your desired toppings over the ice cream nachos. Fresh fruit, Cherries, Nuts, Sprinkles, Candies, Chocolates
- Finish with Whipped Cream: Add dollops of whipped cream on top. Serve and Enjoy!
How do you keep ice cream cold?
To keep the ice cream cold, scoop it into balls ahead of time and freeze them on a baking sheet. This way, they are firm when you assemble the nachos. Serve immediately after assembly to prevent melting. If you are serving ice cream pints at a party, keep on ice to ensure the ice cream doesn’t melt.
Should you scoop the ice cream ahead of time?
Yes, scooping the ice cream ahead of time is recommended. This ensures the ice cream is firm and holds its shape when placed on the waffle cone pieces. It also makes the assembly process quicker and easier.
FAQ’s:
You can make ice cream nachos two ways — assemble it ahead of time in one large dish or you can have them individually assemble their own ice cream nachos. For parties, set up an ice cream nacho bar where guests can assemble their own. Provide bowls of waffle cone pieces, scoops of various ice cream flavors, and an assortment of toppings. This allows everyone to customize their dessert and ensures the ice cream stays cold until served.
While it’s best to assemble and serve ice cream nachos immediately, you can prepare the ingredients ahead of time. Scoop the ice cream and freeze the scoops, break the waffle cones into pieces, and prepare the toppings. When ready to serve, quickly assemble the nachos and add the toppings.
To keep the waffle cones from getting soggy, serve the ice cream nachos immediately. Another option is to place the ice cream in a bowl or on a platter and place the waffle cone pieces all around the sides of the ice cream. You can also toast the waffle cone pieces in the oven for extra crunch before adding the ice cream and toppings.
I am a huge ice cream fan and I love to stock Straus Ice Cream in my freezer. It is made with organic milk and cream from dairy farms along the Northern California Coast. Straus doesn’t use any preservatives, fillers, artificial ingredients or coloring agents in their ice cream, which is amazing! It is super premium quality with less air and higher butterfat content for the creamiest texture.
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Ice Cream Nachos
Ingredients
- 12-count pkg. Waffle Cones
- (1) pkg. Butter Waffle Cookies (optional, from Trader Joe's)
- (1) pint Straus Strawberry Ice Cream
- (1) pint Straus Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
- (1) pint Straus Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream
- Chocolate Fudge
- Caramel Sauce
- Whipped Cream
- Maraschino Cherries
Optional Toppings:
- Sprinkles
- Mini M&M's
- Nuts
- Fresh Strawberries or Bananas
Instructions
- Break the Waffle Cones: Take your waffle cones or bowls and break them into chip-sized pieces. Arrange them on a large serving platter or individual bowls.
- Scoop the Ice Cream: Scoop your favorite ice cream flavors and place them over the waffle cone chips.
- Pre-scoop the Ice Cream: To make assembly quick and easy, pre-scoop your ice cream and freeze the scoops ahead of time. Use an ice cream scoop to create uniform balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze the scoops for at least 1-2 hours, or until they are firm.
- Drizzle with Sauce: Drizzle chocolate sauce and caramel sauce over the ice cream and waffle cone chips.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle your desired toppings over the ice cream nachos. Fresh fruit, Cherries, Nuts, Sprinkles, Candies, Chocolates
- Finish with Whipped Cream: Add dollops of whipped cream on top. Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh WOW!!! what a great idea here Melissa…you come up with the best ideas and fun things to do with your food. You always put a big smile on my face. Thank you…