Frugal Family Sundae Bar Night

Our family loves ice cream and so this frugal family sundae bar night is perfect to try. The season does not even really matter, and can really add to the ambiance of the event. Fall sundae bar nights can be pumpkin related with different ice cream and toppings or winter would be subject to a more hot fudge sundae theme with a variety of sauces to keep everyone warm. If the weather is snowing making ice cream from snow is a hit too!

Summer is our go to month for a frugal family sundae bar night. We love to be outside and I love it because the mess is outside. setting it up under our outdoor patio lights adds a special effect. Sundae ice cream bar social bings family and community like nothing else. Summer is our favorite time of year anyway, we just have to eat our ice cream faster before it melts.

Here is how to set up this fun family experience in a low cost manner.

Frugal Family Ice Cream Options

First, of the ice cream decide on if it will be homemade or store bought. Either is fine. If you have an ice cream maker that is fun for kids to try for themselves and can be part of the event. I know my childhood summer holds a few memories of our cookouts with an old crank that we were able to turn and make ice cream.

If the ice cream is to be store bought then find a store with ice cream sales and buy 3-4 different flavors. Depending on the size of you family it may be wise to purchase more than one gallon of each. For me, I like to have a backup plan.

Sundae Bar Toppings

Toppings are my favorite part. The creativity and options are wide open. There are so many toppings to add for this sundae bar. To maximize on frugality set a limit of four to five toppings. Homemade carmel, hot fudge or chopped nuts are not only healthy, but will be cheaper than a store brand. Our frugal family has been slowly and intermittently replacing store items with homemade options.

Another way to save with sundae bar toppings is to be creative. For example cool whip doubles for whip cream, real cherries are a good substitute for store bought cherries, and instead of candy use fruit. Changing up sugary treats to more healthy ones replaces the guilt from eating more than one sundae.

Bowls and Utensils to Use

Saving money on a sundae bar also means finding a fun way to serve the ice cream. Therefore I have a few suggestions. Shop a thrift store for a matching set of cute sundae dishes or bowls. Next, Look at antique shops for sundae dishes or retro looking bowls to store for future sundae bar frugal family nights. Finally, buy some glass bowls on sale at a store. If you know your sundae bar is going to be held in the summer you have plenty of time to start looking.

Deciding to save doesn’t always mean less work. Washing dishes is not the best part of the frugal family night, but the giggles and laughs that are derived from this family event will bring you joy as you proceed with cleanup.

Healthy Ideas for Sauces

Sauces are determined by this hostess who can be as creative as she wants, or limited. The last time I held our family ice cream social I chose three sauces. Our sundae bar had hot fudge sauce, butterscotch, and carmel. Now that we are replacing store bought with homemade I will implement these same sauces into a homemade version. But, to my defense I did save the glass bottles the sauces came in to hold future sauces.

Don’t be limited by what is on the shelf. Be creative and try different sauces. If you like pineapple, then come up with a recipe for a pineapple sauce. The sky is the limit and you are only boxed in by your own imagination. I allow my kids’ to come up with different sauces such as peppermint toppings in chocolate sauce. They liked it so that it what matters.

Family time is just that…time to be comfortable and enjoy each other’s company. We create fun ideas so that the memories keep rolling. Money should not be an obstacle nor should it be a focus. There are plenty of frugal family get together ideas to try.

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