After 119 Years, the Ice Cream Sundae Still a Restaurant Favorite

The ice cream sundae celebrates its 119th birthday Sunday, April 3rd.

Since that time, ice cream sundaes have become a mainstay in the restaurant industry. The traditional ice cream sundae is made up of vanilla ice cream with a flavored sauce or syrup topping, whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Over time, however, the ice cream sundae has evolved and given birth to a new generation of restaurant sundaes including the McFlurry and the Blizzard, although some may not necessarily consider those sundaes.

RestaurantNews.com takes a look at ice cream sundaes offered up by some of your favorite restaurants.

Friendly's Jim Dandy ice cream sundaeFor going on seventy-five years, Friendly’s restaurants have been using their own homemade ice cream to bring Sundae smiles to their guests. Friendly’s ice cream sundaes include the Forbidden Fudge Brownie, a Sweet Cinnamon Roll sundae, and the Caramel Cone Crunch, among others. The Jim Dandy comes with five scoops of ice cream, a fresh split banana, walnuts, sprinkles, chocolate topping and strawberry or pineapple.

Dairy Queen Oreo Brownie EarthquakeDairy Queen restaurants have been scooping up ice cream sundaes for over sixty years, but the ice cream icon also offers soft-serve ice cream sundaes delivered in freshly-baked waffle bowls. Waffle Bowl Sundaes are available are Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Fudge Brownie Temptation and Turtle. You can also shake your ice cream world up with the Oreo Brownie Earthquake – an Oreo Brownie, soft serve ice cream, marshmallow topping, whipped topping and hot fudged and crushed Oreo cookies.

Baskin-Robbins Reese's Peanut Butter Cup ice cream sundaeBaskin-Robbins offers a full line of Classic and Premium ice cream sundaes. The Classic Sundae line includes a Banana Royale Sundae, a Brownie Sundae and a Classic Banana Split. Premium Sundaes include Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Sundae, Snickers Sundae, Oreo Layered Sundae and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sundae. If you’re one of the more adventurous, Baskin-Robbins also lets you Build Your Own Sundae.

Cold Stone Creamery No Fair Funnel Cake ice cream sundaeCold Stone Creamery’s offers up seven delicious sundaes including No Fair Funnel Cake, Hunka Chunka Burnin’ Fudge, Who You Callin’ Shortcake, Churro Caramel Crave and more. Cold Stone also provides a full line of Signature Creation treats like the Apple Pie A La Cold Stone, the Banana Caramel Crunch adn the Birthday Cake Remix.

Marble Slab Creamery Double Toffee SundaeMarble Slab Creamery has three new Tasty Creation Sundaes. The Cherry Chocolate Crisp Sundae, the Double Toffee Sundae and the Peanut Butter Bliss Sundae. Happy Sundae!

Sonic Drive-In ice cream sundaeSonic Drive-In offers classic Single Topping Sundaes including Hot Fudge, Strawberry, Chocolate, Pineapple and Caramel. In addition, the chain also carries its own Sonic Blast line of ice cream and candy treats including Oreo, M&M’s, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Butterfinger and Snickers.

Applebee's ice cream sundaesApplebee’s Strawberry Cheesecake comes with cheesecake, strawberry sauce, graham cracker crumbs and whipped cream. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae includes a big, warm chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream and Oreo Cookie pieces. Applebee’s also offers a traditional Hot Fudge Sundae.

Denny's Maple Bacon SundaeAnd, for a limited time, Denny’s restaurants boast a Maple Bacon Sundae on their new Celebration of Bacon menu. Yes, creamy vanilla ice cream, hickory-smoked bacon and maple-flavored syrup. Put a little sizzle in your sundae!