There are many cities that claim to be the home of the hot fudge sundae, but they’ve all got one thing in common: they’re American cities. Hot fudge sundaes are about as nostalgia-tinged as it gets: they’ve dotted pop culture for decades, further back than their cameo in Full House’s “Gotta Dance” episode, and more recently than in Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” video. Hot fudge sundaes have dominated the ice cream landscape for decades now, and on July 25, we celebrate: raise your spoons for National Hot Fudge Sundae Day!
National Hot Fudge Sundae Day timeline
Two Rivers, Wisconsin claims that druggist Edward Berners served the first ice cream sundae.
An ad in the “Ithaca Daily Journal” writes the ice cream treat with the spelling, ‘Sunday.’
The hot fudge sundae is created at ice cream parlor C.C. Browns, on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Harold Dean Thayer makes his version of a sundae by drizzling chocolate sauce over a scoop of ice cream, topped with marshmallow sauce and peanuts.
National Hot Fudge Sundae Day Activities
Have a sundae party
An American classic. If you invite a bunch of people over with the promise of hot fudge sundaes, you're sure to have a good turnout!
Find an old-fashioned sundae parlor near you
While the 50s might be long gone, the visual of an ice cream sundae being prepared by a soda jerk at a classic diner is still worth recreating today. Many establishments practically serve nostalgia for dinner — find one of these diners in your neck of the woods!
Spoil your kids
We've got mother's day and father's day, but what about children's day? Yeah, yeah — "everyday is children's day" is a common refrain, but we're willing to bet they'd be really happy to find out that there was a special day every year where they wouldn't have to beg for that hot fudge sundae! Let them in on this holiday, and maybe it'll turn into a fun, yearly tradition for your family.
Why We Love National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
They're easy to make
It'd be hard to argue that hot fudge sundaes are culinary masterpieces — after all, the simplest ones are often the best — especially when they're so easy to put together. But sometimes, it's something's simplicity that makes it great, and that's the case with the hot fudge sundae.
They bring back memories for many generations
How many things can kids born a hundred years apart appreciate together? Regardless of whether you were born in 1910 or 2010, chances are that you've got fond memories of hot fudge sundaes from your youth.
They're affordable
You can make anything expensive if you'd like to, but great sundaes can be made with some simple (and cheap!) ingredients. If you're on a budget, stick with the classic: hot fudge, vanilla ice cream, chopped walnuts, and a maraschino cherry.