Supreme Sundae Kids Cooking Party

A supreme sundae kids cooking party is a fun dessert party where kids make cookie cup bowls, scoop ice cream, and build their own sundae creations with toppings.

This is a great choice for a kids cooking birthday party, dessert cooking activity, classroom celebration, homeschool cooking project, summer party, or weekend family cooking event.

This page is part of the Fun Food Activities Hub and the Kids Cooking Party Ideas section. For more dessert party ideas, try Cake Decorating, Cone Cakes, Spaghetti and Meatballs Cake, or Mini Fruit Pies.

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Planning a themed cooking party? Start with the Kids Cooking Party Hub, or explore the larger Fun Food Activities Hub.

On This Page

Why This Sundae Party Works
Sundae Party Supplies
Party Planning Timeline
Cookie Cup Sundae Recipe
Chocolate Ice Cream Boats
Sundae Topping Ideas
What Kids Learn
How to Run the Party
More Dessert Cooking Party Ideas
Sundae Party FAQ
More Fun Food Resources

Why This Sundae Dessert Party Works

A sundae party is simple, flexible, and exciting for kids. Adding cookie cups gives the party a real cooking activity before the decorating begins.

Best Ages: Younger kids can add toppings and decorate. Older kids can help mix cookie dough, press dough into muffin pans, and prepare the toppings bar.

Items Needed for a Sundae Kids Cooking Activity

Muffin pans
Mixing bowl and mixer, or bowl and wooden spoon
Measuring cups and spoons
Cookie dough ingredients
Ice cream scoop
Ice cream
Sundae toppings
Chocolate chips for ice cream boats, optional
Flour taco boat shells, optional
Paper plates, cups, napkins, and eating utensils
Recipe cards or printed recipe sheets for kids to take home

Sundae Kids Cooking Party Planning Timeline

Two Weeks Ahead

Send out invitations.
Choose aprons, chef hats, or another cooking party activity.
Decide if kids will make cookie cups, ice cream boats, or both.

One Week Ahead

Make your shopping list.
Buy nonperishable items, goody bags, and craft supplies.
Prepare chef hats ahead of time if using them.

Several Days Ahead

Put goody bags together.
Get a final count of children coming to the party.
Check that you have enough muffin pans, bowls, spoons, and serving dishes.

One to Two Days Ahead

Do your grocery shopping.
Make topping labels if using a toppings bar.
Prepare cookie cups ahead if you want a lower-stress party.

Morning of the Party

Cover tables with a plastic tablecloth or white butcher paper.
Set out topping ingredients.
Keep ice cream in the freezer until serving time.

Make a cookie cup out of store-bought cookie dough, or make the following cookie dough recipe. You can use any type of cookie recipe you would like.

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup mini milk chocolate chips
Ice cream
Sundae toppings

Directions

Work together as a team and assign different tasks so every child gets a turn adding or stirring.
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Mix with a mixer or stir using a wooden spoon.
Add baking powder, baking soda, and flour.
Give each child the opportunity to add and stir ingredients.
With a wooden spoon, stir in chocolate chips.
Grease each hole of a muffin pan.
Press a small ball of dough into each muffin cup.
Press cookie dough up along the sides, making a well in the middle.
Adults bake at 350F for 7 to 10 minutes, until golden brown.
While cookie cups are still warm, press down the middle with the back of a spoon or ice cream scoop.
Allow cookie cups to cool.
Give each child a cookie cup and a scoop of ice cream.
Let kids add their own toppings.

Try one of our homemade easy ice cream recipes to go with your cookie cups.

Chocolate Ice Cream Boats

Ingredients

8 flour taco boat shells
1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
1 pint vanilla ice cream or other flavor ice cream
2 tablespoons peanuts, chopped
Ice cream toppings

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F.
Lay the taco boats on a cookie sheet.
Adults bake for 5 minutes, or until crispy.
Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes.
In a microwave-safe dish, melt chocolate chips.
Dip each boat into melted chocolate.
Place on waxed paper with the chocolate bottoms up.
Let dry until chocolate is set.
When ready to serve, add scoops of ice cream and toppings.

Ice Cream Sundae Party Toppings

A great sundae party needs a variety of toppings. You can make a topping bar with small bowls and labels so kids can choose their favorites.

20 Sundae Topping Ideas

M&M's
Gummy candies
Chocolate covered coffee beans
Nerds
Oreo cookie pieces
Chocolate chip cookie pieces
Chocolate chips
Butterscotch chips
Maraschino cherries
Skittles
Marshmallows
Reese's Pieces
Pretzel pieces
Bananas
Peanuts
Jelly beans
Sprinkles
Strawberries
Brownie pieces
Blueberries

Sauce Ideas

Chocolate fudge sauce
Peanut butter sauce
Caramel sauce
Strawberry sauce
Marshmallow fluff
Butterscotch sauce
Magic shell toppings

How to Run the Sundae Cooking Party

Step 1: Start with Handwashing

Have kids wash their hands and review basic kids kitchen safety rules.

Step 2: Make Cookie Cups

Kids help mix the dough and press it into muffin pans. Adults handle the oven.

Step 3: Prepare Toppings

While cookie cups cool, set up the toppings bar with sauces, candies, fruit, nuts, and sprinkles.

Step 4: Build Sundaes

Give each child a cookie cup or ice cream boat. Add a scoop of ice cream and let kids decorate their own dessert.

What Kids Learn at a Sundae Cooking Party

Measuring: Kids measure cookie dough ingredients and toppings.
Mixing: Kids practice creaming, stirring, and combining ingredients.
Kitchen safety: Kids learn handwashing, oven safety, and safe topping setup.
Creativity: Kids design their own cookie cup sundaes with toppings.
Food confidence: Kids make a fun dessert they can recreate at home.

For more skill-building cooking ideas, visit Kids Cooking Lessons and Kitchen Safety Rules for Kids.

More Dessert Cooking Party Ideas

Cake Decorating

Decorate cakes or cupcakes with frosting, sprinkles, and edible toppings.

Cone Cakes Party

Make cupcake cones for a birthday-style dessert activity.

Spaghetti & Meatballs Cake

Try a funny cake idea that looks like spaghetti and meatballs.

Mini Fruit Pies Party

Make mini fruit pies for a sweet hands-on baking party.

Cookie Decorating

Decorate cookies with frosting, sprinkles, candies, and edible designs.

Sundae Kids Cooking Party FAQ

Is a sundae party a good kids cooking party idea?

Yes. A sundae party works well because kids can help make cookie cups, set up toppings, and build their own ice cream desserts.

Can kids make cookie cups for sundaes?

Yes. Kids can help mix cookie dough and press it into muffin pans while adults handle the oven.

What toppings work well for a kids ice cream sundae party?

Good sundae toppings include sprinkles, cookie pieces, chocolate chips, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, marshmallows, cherries, peanuts, caramel sauce, and chocolate syrup.

Can cookie cups be made ahead?

Yes. Cookie cups can be baked before the party and cooled so kids can focus on filling and decorating sundaes.