In honor of “National Ice Cream Day” I decided to throw a little ice cream social. With summer in full swing and the heat in Miami at an all-time high, I couldn’t think of a better way to cool off!

One of the things I have found is that my guests really enjoy participating in the process and making their very own creations. That’s why an ice cream sundae bar is a great way to get your guests involved.

Putting together a sundae bar could not be easier. I went to my local Walmart and picked up everything I needed including the cute galvanized tin to keep my ice cream cold, little cellophane bags and stickers for my ice cream sandwiches, the tiered serving and oval trays for all my toppings and essentials and even the fun paper flowers that I used for my table-scape. I had so much fun creating this bar. It was so colorful and happy. I even made my guests ice cream sandwiches with cookies from The Bakery at Walmart. I packed, and labeled them so they could have them at home for dessert one night during the week. They absolutely loved it!

What I used to create my sundae bar:

• Assorted flavors of Great Value brand ice cream. I used: Hashtag Chocolate, That Green Nut, Vanilla Bean, Banana Puddin’, Cookies and Cream, Legend Cherry, Down by the Sea Salt Caramel, Cotton Candy Craze & Tropical Sherbet. There are so many amazing flavors to choose from that you might have trouble picking just a few. Fortunately, they are so reasonably priced (at around $4 each), that my friends and family enjoyed a nice variety of flavors.
• Great Value Caramel Syrup
• Great Value Chocolate Syrup
• Great Value Jumbo Cones
• Great Value Waffle Cups
• Great Value Chocolate Chips
• Great Value Shredded Sweetened Coconut
• Great Value Whipped Cream
• Great Value Sandwich Cookies
• The Bakery Mini Brownies
• The Bakery Mini Cupcakes
• The Bakery Mini Sugar Cookies
• Sliced Bananas
• Candied Pecans
• Great Value Ice Cream Toppers in: Moose Tracks, Mint Chocolate Chip, Assorted Nuts, Mint Chocolate Chip
• Great Value Assorted Sprinkles
• Malted Milk Balls
• Great Value Neon Straws and Clear Spoons

I also created a special ice cream cake for the occasion. I called it the “Kitchen Sink” because I just kept adding goodies to it. Needless to say, it was a hit!

KITCHEN SINK ICE CREAM CAKE

What you’ll need:

• 1 spring form pan (This recipe is for a 12” pan but it can be made in a smaller pan as well)
• 1 container Great Value Hash Tag Chocolate Ice Cream
• 1 container Great Value Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
• 3 cups crushed great value sandwich cookies
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large ripe banana sliced
• 1 cup fresh sliced strawberries
• 1 cup toffee chips
• 1 cup Great Value caramel syrup
• 1 cup Great Value chocolate syrup
• 1/2 cup marshmallow topping
• 3/4 cups Great Value semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup malted milk balls

What you’ll do:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Place the crushed cookies in the bottom of the spring form pan, add the melted butter and sugar and combine well. Press the mixture down onto the bottom and about an inch up the sides of the pan.
• Place the pan in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until most of the white cookie filling is melted. Set aside to cool.

• Once cooled place the sliced strawberries and bananas evenly on top of the cookie crust.
• Spoon the vanilla ice cream evenly over the fruit layer.

• Top with 3/4 cup of the caramel syrup followed by 3/4 cup of toffee chips. Place in freezer for 1 hour to set.
• Spoon the Hashtag Chocolate Ice cream over the caramel and toffee chips evenly.

• Top with the chocolate syrup covering the whole top of the ice cream cake. Allow to set in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
• Drizzle the top with the remaining caramel syrup and marshmallow topping. sprinkle with chocolate chips and the remaining toffee chips, and decorate with the malted milk balls.
• Place in the coldest part of the freezer covered with foil overnight or until very firm. Run a warm knife around the edges to release spring form pan, slice, serve with whipped cream and enjoy!

I was so inspired by the variety of Great Value Ice Cream flavors that I created some special milkshake recipes too! They are so festive and fun to make, and they taste as good as they look!

CARNIVAL COMMOTION MILK SHAKE

 What you’ll need:

• 3 cups Great Value Cotton Candy Craze ice cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• Great Value Whipped Cream
• Bamboo Sticks (the kind you use for grilling)
• The Bakery Mini Brownies
• The Bakery Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
• Multi colored rope candy
• Multi colored sprinkles and assorted candies

What you’ll do:

1. In a blender combine ice cream and milk. Blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour in an extra-large glass mug.
3. Top with a generous amount of whipped cream, colored candies and sprinkles.
4. Skewer the brownies and cupcakes on the bamboo sticks and place inside the mug, add some rope candy to finish off the look!

GREEN N’ NUTTY MILK SHAKE

If you love pistachio ice cream, you’re gonna love the Green N’ Nutty! Not too sweet and complimented by caramel and coconut flavors; the pistachio takes center stage in this yummy green shake. Yum!

What you’ll need:

• 3 cups Great Value That Green Nut ice cream
• 1 cup whole milk
• whipped cream
• 1 T sweetened shredded coconut flakes
• 2 T Caramel Syrup

What you’ll do:

1. In a blender combine ice cream and milk and blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Pour into a large glass mug, top with a generous dollop of whipped cream, drizzle with caramel syrup and top with shredded coconut.
3. Enjoy immediately. Careful with the brain freeze!

COOKIES AND CREAM MARSHMALLOW DREAM SHAKE

The chocolate and cookie monster in every one of us is going to love this one. It truly is a dream shake!

What you’ll need:

• 3 cups Great Value Cookies and Cream ice cream
• 1 cup of whole milk
• ¼ cup marshmallow sauce
• 1/4 cup plus 1 T chocolate syrup
• Whipped Cream
• Chocolate sandwich cookie and malted milk ball for garnish

What you’ll do:

• First, in a blender, combine ice cream and milk and marshmallow sauce and blend until smooth and creamy.
• Drizzle the 1/4 cup chocolate syrup along the sides of a large glass mug covering as much of the sides as possible.

• Carefully pour the milk shake into the center of the mug.
• Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream, drizzle with remaining chocolate syrup and decorate with a chocolate sandwich cookie and a malted milk ball

Enjoy the sweet chocolaty goodness! Happy National Ice Cream day everyone! Hope the rest of your summer is cool and sweet….AnaPS: I would love to see your ice cream creations! Connect with me on my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @AnaQooks and tag @Walmart using #NationalIceCreamDay

This post was sponsored by Walmart.