Sundae

Chocolate has the incredible ability to stand alone quite nicely while playing along with loads of other prominent ingredients—without being a bully. And that is why a brownie sundae can be so frustrating: How can you settle on one ice cream flavor or a single sauce?
We figured Father's Day is the right time to have a brownie sundae your way. Dads have soft spots for cuteness, so serving up a brownie raft supporting mini-scoops of three different ice creams adrift in three different sauces will tickle him to no end. Feel free to use whatever ice cream flavors are the family favorites. Editor's Note: This recipe is part of Gourmet's Modern Menu for A Father's Day Feast. Menu also includes Pretzel Bites with Quick Cheddar Dip and Grilled Rib Pork Chops with Sweet and Tangy Peach Relish.

Bananas Foster goes tropical with the addition of pineapple and toasted coconut.

Dulce de leche is a milk-based caramel sauce found in many Latin American desserts. In the United States, it has become a popular ice cream flavor. If you can’t find it, look for caramel ice cream; vanilla would also taste great here.

Is there really anything else to say? The keywords are “bourbon,” “caramel,” “pecan”! Oh, and “ice cream sundae”! Done.

Here’s a foolproof recipe that involves nothing more than assembling a few store-bought ingredients with a five-minute chocolate sauce. Make it once and it’ll soon become a stand-by whenever you want a little something sweet.

I like to think of this as a Mexican banana split, which isn’t as crazy as it sounds when you realize how important and prevalent ice cream is in Mexico. Quick, easy, and irresistible—you will have this dessert on the table faster than anyone can eat it, which is quite a statement considering how unbelievably mouth-watering it is.

As you’ll notice throughout this book, I use very few fat-free products beyond milk, yogurts, and ice creams because I don’t think they taste good. So if you haven’t tried fat-free ice cream in a while or you’ve never tried fat-free double churn, it’s definitely worth giving it a try. It’s come a long way from the fat-free ice cream of even a few years ago. The marshmallow used in this recipe is an actual sundae topping. If you can’t find it easily, sub in marshmallow creme and stir just the tiniest touch of water into it so it’s not so thick. You won’t need as much to get it spread over the sundae. If you’re having trouble finding fat-free hot fudge, check the labels of all hot fudge at your grocery store. A number of brands make fat-free versions, but some don’t say it on the front of the jar.

When I was a child, I don’t think I ever saw my mother drink unless we were on the occasional vacation and she ordered a piña colada. I do, however, distinctly remember her spooning a touch of Kahlùa over her vanilla ice cream a fair number of times—and every time, she had a big smile on her face as she ate it. I remember her looking so happy. So in honor of her, I created this scrumptious sundae.

I don’t consider myself a snob at all . . . except maybe when it comes to brownies. I’ve tasted very few brownies that are low in fat that I truly love. My favorites are my Chocolate Chocolate Brownie Cups, from The Most Decadent Diet Ever! (Broadway, 2008), but I must say the No Pudge! brownie mix is astoundingly tasty for a boxed product. The brownies and these sundaes are definitely worth a try.

I won’t count this one—it’s a dessert, not a meal—but it has three Boo favorites in one dish.

Stirring in store-bought marshmallow creme, such as Marshmallow Fluff, gives this chocolate sauce its fudgy texture. Spoon it over ice cream for classic New England—style sundaes.

Although we're fans of Irish coffee, this particular incarnation as a coffee ice cream sundae with a whiskey—spiked caramel sauce is so insanely good, we suspect you'll be indulging in this far more often than the drink itself! For more seasonal recipes, download the free Gourmet Live app and stay tuned to the Gourmet Live blog for the latest updates.

Bacon and maple are a classic combination. Here, the dynamic flavor duo teams up in a sweet-and-salty maple sauce studded with caramelized bacon. The sauce is spooned over ice cream and sprinkled with toasted pecans to create the ultimate sundae. Serve any leftover sauce with pancakes or waffles.

A cool treat inspired by spumoni, the classic Italian frozen dessert of ice cream, whipped cream, rum, nuts, and candied fruit.

Kate makes the chocolate sauce with homemade liqueur.