A sundae is a dessert made of ice cream topped with sauce, whipped cream, and other sweet toppings like nuts, sprinkles, or a cherry. Unlike a simple scoop of ice cream in a bowl, a sundae is an ice cream creation, often served in a tall glass or special dish.

The classic sundae starts with vanilla ice cream and gets drizzled with chocolate, caramel, or strawberry sauce. Then comes whipped cream piled on top, maybe some crushed peanuts, and traditionally a bright red maraschino cherry to crown it all. But people have invented countless variations: hot fudge sundaes with warm chocolate sauce, banana splits (a sundae made with a banana), or elaborate restaurant sundaes with brownies, cookies, and multiple ice cream flavors.

Sundaes became an American classic, the kind of treat that can make an ordinary afternoon feel like a celebration.