When kids visit, I want dessert to feel like an event without turning the afternoon into a complicated production. These six Publix picks help me create a playful sundae bar where everyone can make their own treat.
1. Publix Ice Cream, Banana Split, Classic
Banana split flavors are already built into this frozen base, including cherries, pineapple, pecans, fudge and strawberry. I use it when visiting kids want lots of excitement but I don’t want to open six separate topping jars.
Taste: The creamy banana ice cream gets fruity brightness from the cherries, pineapple and strawberry, with fudge adding a richer note. Pecans and the other mix-ins keep each scoop interesting.
Make It Better: Add fresh banana slices and a puff of whipped topping to give each bowl the full banana-split treatment.
Parting Thoughts: Young banana-split enthusiasts will love the abundance, though picky eaters may prefer a simpler base.
2. Publix Waffle Ice Cream Bowls
Edible bowls turn dessert into an activity and give each child a clear boundary for building a sundae. The 10-bowl package is especially handy when cousins or neighborhood friends arrive together.
Taste: The waffle bowls are sweet and crisp, providing a crunchy contrast to melting ice cream. Once broken apart, the pieces work like an extra topping.
Make It Better: Dip the rims in fudge, chill them, and fill the bowls only when everyone is ready to eat.
Parting Thoughts: For a gathering where easy portions matter, these earn their spot on the table.
3. Smucker’s Magic Shell Magic Shell Chocolate Fudge Topping
A crackable chocolate shell brings the little bit of theater that makes a visiting-kid sundae bar memorable. Set the bottle beside very cold ice cream and let an adult supervise the pouring.
Taste: Rich fudge flavor becomes a thin, crisp candy coating as the topping freezes. That brittle snap is a fun counterpoint to the creamy ice cream underneath.
Make It Better: Shake the bottle well before pouring, then give the shell a moment to set before kids tap it with their spoons.
Parting Thoughts: The instant shell effect makes this the playful pick for children who care as much about the process as dessert.
4. Reddi Wip Fat Free Dairy Whipped Topping
Clouds of whipped topping make even a modest scoop look party-ready, and the spray can invites careful hands-on decorating. I keep it refrigerated until sundae time, then help younger children operate the nozzle.
Taste: Real milk and cream give it a gently sweet dairy flavor without artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners. Its light, fluffy texture balances dense ice cream and heavier sauces.
Make It Better: Shake the can, invert it to spray, and add the topping just before the cherry or sprinkles so the finished sundae stays tall.
Parting Thoughts: Kids who delight in towering sundaes will appreciate this more than anyone counting on a deeply rich topping.
5. Betty Crocker Parlor Perfect Rainbow Sprinkles
Bright color is the easiest way to make an ordinary afternoon feel like a celebration. I pour these gluten-free rainbow sprinkles into a small bowl so each visitor can decorate a sundae independently.
Taste: The sprinkles bring mild candy sweetness and a crisp little crunch. They add texture without competing much with the ice cream’s main flavor.
Make It Better: Offer a spoon for sprinkling rather than the whole container; it gives kids control and keeps the topping station tidier.
Parting Thoughts: Nothing here is sophisticated, but that cheerful simplicity is precisely the appeal.
6. Strawberries
Fresh fruit gives the sundae bar a juicy option alongside all the candy-shop extras. I slice these refrigerated strawberries just before serving and place them where kids can layer them between scoops.
Taste: The berries taste naturally sweet and juicy, with enough freshness to cut through rich ice cream. Their firm texture softens pleasantly against a cold, creamy base.
Make It Better: Pair the slices with chocolate topping, or let them stand alone when a child wants a simpler sundae.
Parting Thoughts: A bowl of berries is worth including for guests who welcome something fresh among the sweeter choices.
