Ingredients
Scale
For the Sundaes:
- 1 pint Cherry Garcia ice cream (or cherry/vanilla ice cream)
- 1 cup sweet cherries, pitted and halved (fresh, frozen, or jarred)
- ½ cup chocolate chunks or chips
- ½ cup chocolate sauce or hot fudge
- 4 maraschino cherries with stems (for topping)
For the Whipped Cream:
- 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Garnishes:
- Chocolate shavings
- Additional chocolate chips
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Fresh mint sprigs
Instructions
Prepare the Cherries:
- If using fresh cherries: Wash, pit, and halve sweet cherries. A cherry pitter makes this task quick and easy.
- If using jarred or frozen cherries: Drain well to remove excess liquid. Frozen cherries should be thawed completely before using.
Prepare the Whipped Cream: 3. Chill equipment: Place mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 10 minutes for best results.
- Whip the cream: Pour cold heavy cream into chilled bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken.
- Add flavorings: Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Continue beating until soft peaks form. Set aside in refrigerator.
Prepare Additional Components: 6. Warm chocolate sauce (optional): If using hot fudge, warm gently in a saucepan or microwave until pourable but not scalding.
- Prepare chocolate garnishes: If making chocolate shavings, run a vegetable peeler along the edge of a chocolate bar.
Assemble the Sundaes: 8. Create the base layer: Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of chocolate sauce into the bottom of each sundae glass.
- Add first layer of cherries: Place a spoonful of prepared cherries over the chocolate sauce.
- Add ice cream: Scoop generous balls of Cherry Garcia (or cherry) ice cream into each glass.
- Add chocolate chunks: Sprinkle chocolate chunks over the ice cream.
- Drizzle with chocolate: Generously drizzle chocolate sauce over the ice cream, allowing it to cascade down the sides.
- Add more cherries: Scatter additional cherry halves around and over the ice cream.
- Top with whipped cream: Crown each sundae with a generous swirl of fresh whipped cream.
- Final garnishes: Add more chocolate sauce drizzle over the whipped cream. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings and any additional toppings. Place a maraschino cherry with stem on top.
- Serve immediately: Insert a long sundae spoon and enjoy right away!
Notes
- For the most authentic Cherry Garcia experience, use Ben & Jerry’s actual Cherry Garcia ice cream—it already contains cherries and chocolate chunks.
- Fresh summer cherries (June-August) provide the best flavor, but quality jarred cherries work beautifully year-round.
- Dark chocolate creates more sophisticated flavor; milk chocolate is sweeter and more kid-friendly. Mix both for variety.
- If cherries release too much juice, it can make the sundae watery. Drain all cherries well before using.
- For an adult version, macerate cherries in kirsch (cherry brandy) or amaretto for 30 minutes before using.
- This sundae is naturally gluten-free if you skip the graham cracker crumbs and verify your chocolate is gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desert
- Method: No-Cook Assembly
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sundae
- Calories: 585
- Sugar: 53g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 90mg