Indulge in the nostalgic charm of the Tin Roof Sundae, a delightful concoction of creamy vanilla and rich chocolate ice cream, drizzled with gooey marshmallow syrup, and topped with crunchy Spanish peanuts. Discover the origins of this Nebraska classic and learn how to create your own with our easy-to-follow recipe.
A Tin Roof Sundae is a yummy ice cream treat stacked with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, sticky marshmallow and chocolate syrup, and lots of Spanish peanuts for a tasty salty bite! It’s one of the yummiest ice cream treats around!
The beloved “tin roof sundae” comes from the small town of Potter, Nebraska. The Potter Sundry made it in the 1930s, and it got so popular that big ice cream brands like Blue Bunny, Turkey Hill, Breyer’s, and Baskin-Robbins made their versions of it using these flavors.
Making a tin roof sundae is super easy, and with everything ready, you can whip one up in just a minute or two.
The mix of chocolate, vanilla, marshmallow, and Spanish peanuts with their skins on is just right and reminds us of the good old days. Imagine you’re at an old-timey soda shop, enjoying a big glass of ice cream with sweet toppings and cold scoops of ice cream. You have to try this!
How to Make a Tin Roof Sundae
Put 1-2 scoops of vanilla ice cream into a bowl or tall glass. We use special soda or milkshake glasses to make it look like it’s from an ice cream parlor.
Pour lots of chocolate syrup on the vanilla ice cream. Just use as much as you think looks right.
Top it with 1-2 scoops of chocolate ice cream.
Add a good amount of warm marshmallow syrup, then throw a big handful of Spanish peanuts on top.
Eat it right away and love it!
It’s a good idea to place your ice cream glasses on a small plate so you can add marshmallow syrup without making a mess. I love to scoop up the extra syrup and peanuts that fall onto the plate with every spoonful of ice cream!
FAQs
Can I make this sundae my own way?
Sure, you can add whatever you like to your sundae, like whipped cream, caramel syrup, or even a cherry. But the classic tin roof sundae is usually just like what we’ve described here.
Why do they call it a tin roof sundae?
The real story behind the name of this sundae is a mystery, but some say its inventor, Harold Dean “Pinky” Thayer, named it after the tin ceiling in the Potter Sundry where he first made it. Others think it’s because the peanuts dropping on the plate sound like rain on a tin roof.