The History of the Ice Cream Sundae
If you’re a fan of ice cream, there’s a strong chance you’ve consumed a hot fudge sundae at some point in your life. The hot fudge sundae is about as iconic of an ice cream treat as you can get! This delicious treat consists of ice cream—traditionally vanilla—smothered in rich hot fudge and topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. It’s an ice cream classic, and one you can get almost anywhere (even at McDonald’s!)
But just where did this classic American dessert come from? Who originally thought of the idea to put molten chocolate on top of creamy, cool ice cream? And why has it prevailed as one of our favorite ways to eat ice cream for so long?
It All Started With Toppings
Ice cream was simply made for toppings. The cold, creamy dessert is good on its own, but a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream is taken to new heights when toppings are added. People have been putting toppings on their ice cream for decades. Thomas Jefferson, for example, reportedly topped his ice cream with maple syrup.
As time went on, toppings continued to be added to ice cream, including when cherry syrup and a cherry was added a scoop of vanilla by Chester Platt—the owner of a drugstore in New York. The addition of the toppings was a hit, and in 1892, Platt started selling Sundays—initially named after the day of the week the dessert was created on. Soon the name was changed to Sundae, and that’s where we get the iconic name for one of our favorite ice cream treats!
Then it Morphed Into Hot Fudge
Before long, sundaes were popular all over with toppings like pineapple, marshmallow cream, and a plethora of other options. In 1906, C.C. Brown’s ice cream parlor supposedly created the hot fudge sundae (according to the ice cream parlor itself, at least) by serving ice cream with warm chocolate sauce. The combination of the ice cream and the fudge, paired by C.C. Brown’s ingenious owner, Clarence Clifton Brown, soared in popularity, and soon the combo was the most popular ice cream sundae flavor requested.
And Now It’s a Classic
The hot fudge sundae grew in popularity not only at C.C. Brown’s, but it spread like wildfire across the country. Soon hot fudge sundaes were for sale at every diner and soda shop in town.
The hot fudge sundae continued to be very popular throughout the twentieth century, and now there’s even a National Hot Fudge Sundae day celebrated every year on July 25th—as if you need an excuse to indulge in one of America’s favorite ice cream treats.
While the origins of the hot fudge sundae may not be particularly shocking or famous, they resulted in a dessert beloved by millions—so that’s a win, no matter how obscure. Now, we know you’ve been craving a sundae! Go get yourself a treat. And, while you’re at it, check out Besties Ice Cream for all of your ice cream needs.