23 Awesome Ice Cream Party Ideas

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! This delicious sweet treat is a fabulous party theme for a birthday, shower or other important celebration. Ice cream lends itself to beautiful decorations and a wonderfully scrumptious array of desserts that the birthday girl or boy will adore! Take a look at these 23 Awesome Ice Cream Party Ideas for inspiration as you plan your next party!

Here’s the scoop… you can’t go wrong with ice cream! And if you build your party theme around this delicious dessert your guests are guaranteed a great time! We found some amazing ideas for ice cream cakes, cookies, cupcakes and sandwiches as well as beautiful inspiration for your decor, tableware, favors and more!

Take a look, find your favorites, download a copy of our Party Planning Checklist and you’re sure to throw together a celebration you and your guests will long remember!

Ice Cream Cakes

I think it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway… an ice cream cake is absolutely required for an ice cream themed birthday party! Here are three of our favorites…

1. Vegan Oreo Ice Cream Cake | Any Reason Vegans

I love this ice cream cake because it’s shaped like a giant ice cream sandwich – so fun! Plus, it’s vegan but includes everyone’s favorite Oreos, so it’s a total win-win!

2. S’mores Ice Cream Cake | Pink Fortitude

This S’mores Ice Cream Cake looks and sounds absolutely amazing! If you need something that’s gluten free and vegan, this is for you! Your guests are sure to love the delicious combination of chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows!

3. Brownie Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich Cake | My Kitchen Love

This gorgeous brownie cookie ice cream cake is covered in colorful sprinkles (which is an easy way to customize for the colors and theme of your party) and layered with chocolate chocolate chip ice cream! Yum!

Ice Cream Cupcakes

Another staple at any party is the cupcake! These ice cream themed cupcakes will take your party to a whole other level!

1. Brownie Sundae Cupcakes | Food, Folks and Fun

The idea of using a brownie bowl for the base of your ice cream sundae is so clever! I bet the kids at your party would love decorating these just as much as they’ll love devouring them!

2. Traditional Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes | Honey and Lime

I’ve always wanted to try baking cupcakes inside of ice cream cones! This blog post walks you through doing just that and the results are completely adorable!

3. Melting Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes | Crayons and Cravings

For a fun twist on ice cream cupcakes, why not turn your cone upside down and make a melting ice cream cone cupcake! Your guests are sure to adore these!

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice cream sandwiches bring back happy memories of childhood don’t they?! Why not help your littles make some special memories by baking us your own version of the ice cream sandwich! Here are four creative versions to try…

1. Birthday Cake Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches | Little Sweet Baker

These adorable little sandwiches look like perfection with the cheery birthday sprinkles and big chocolate chips! Yum!

2. Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches | Recipes from a Pantry

The idea of using waffles instead of cookies in your ice cream sandwich is totally fun and unique! Also, check out the end of the recipe for several variations and ways to mix it up.

3. Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches | Latina Mom Meals

Calling all chocolate loves! Fair warning… these will have your mouth watering in no time flat! Check out this post for several great tips on how to succeed with this dessert as well!

4. Peach Banana Ice Cream Sandwiches with Warm Sweet Cloves | My Chefs Apron

This interesting take for a no-bake dough for your ice cream sandwiches is worth a look! Plus enjoy an unexpected – and delicious – combination of flavors!

Ice Cream Themed Cookies

Whether you serve your ice cream shaped cookies on the dessert table or wrap them up as favors to go, is up to you! Here are 2 super adorable options to consider…

1. Ice Cream Cone Shaped Cookies | A Baker’s House

These ice cream cone shaped sugar cookies are absolutely adorable! I would totally make these, wrap them up and give them for favors at my party!

2. Ice Cream Scoop Sugar Cookies | Tikkido

I am crazy for these cookies! A cookie that looks like a scoop of ice cream?! Genius! I love how you can serve it on an ice cream cone (ceramic like she did, or real) in a bowl with some chocolate syrup and sprinkles like a sundae – so many options!

Ice Cream Party Decorations

Now that you have plenty of ideas for desserts and sweet ice cream treats, let’s talk about decorations! There are so many beautiful ways to decorate an ice cream themed party and here are a few ideas you’ll want to consider…

1. Mason Jar Ice Cream Centerpieces | Foo Foo Fancy

This super cute painted mason jars would make perfect centerpieces for your party filled with white or pastel colored flowers! Or use them to set out cutlery on your dessert table.

2. Popsicle Party Garland | Sustain My Craft Habit

Cute, fresh and easily adaptable to your party colors and theme, this popsicle garland would be the cutest addition to your dessert table or feature wall!

3. Ice Cream Truck Party Sign | Cutefetti

This darling ice cream truck craft is easy and will look fabulous on your dessert table! You won’t need too many supplies and in no time flat you’ll have the perfect addition to your decor.

Ice Cream Party Tableware

Setting a beautiful themed table or having coordinating serving ware is also an important party planning detail. Here are some darling ice cream themed options to inspire you!

1. Ice Cream Themed Party Plates | Stesha Party

These pastel colored party plates with ice cream and sprinkles are the perfect addition to your themed tablescape!

2. Ice Cream Cone Party Cups | Sugar Sweet Bliss

Your guest are sure to love these darling custom party cups featuring ice cream cones and ice cream carts!

3. Ice Cream Cone Bowls | The Party Darling Shop

Why serve ice cream in a plain old bowl when you can serve it in these cute pastel colored ice cream cone bowls?!

Ice Cream Party Activities

Another element to plan for is your party activities. I always try to have some kind of themed craft the children can participate in. It keeps them busy during the event and doubles as a little keepsake they can take home.

1. Ice Cream Cone Necklace Craft | The Purple Pumpkin Blog

A simple craft activity to do with the littles at the party! This pom pom and burlap necklace will keep the girls busy at your party and provide a keepsake party favor they can take home.

2. Ice Cream Craft | Simple Everyday Mom

These bright and cheery popsicles or ice cream bars are perfect if you’re hosting a party for little kids! They’ll love putting together their very own possible to take home.

3. Build Your Own Ice Cream Craft | The Growing Creatives

If you have the time, she shares a really cool way to get a marbled effect for your ice cream scoops, but if not, you could use solid colors or fun printed craft paper in bright patterns. Then let the kids go wild stacking ice cream scoops and adding sprinkles and cherries to the top!

Ice Cream Party Favors

Last, but definitely not least are the party favors! There are so many clever options for little gifts to leave with your guests – maybe the perfect one is right here…

1. Ice Cream Sandwich Gift Boxes | Kimspired DIY

What a clever idea! An ice cream sandwich favor box that can be filled with all kinds of goodies for your guests to take home!

2. Popcorn Ball Ice Cream Cones | Two Kids and a Coupon

These are so pretty – especially with the bright teal and hot pink ice cream cones! These popcorn ball ice cream cones would make the perfect party favor – just wrap them up in clear cello bags with a pretty bow!

3. Personalized Ice Cream Bowls | Caris Creation 113

These hand-painted personalized ice cream bowls would make perfect party favors! Available in multiple colors to match your party theme, each guests can enjoy ice cream for years to come in their very own commemorative dish!

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I hope you found some awesome inspiration and are ready to go host the best ice cream themed party the world has ever seen! Be sure to save this post for later Party Planning too!