Host the Ultimate Halloween (or Summerween) Ice Cream Party

This year, try a different kind of Halloween party (or Summerween party) and host an ice cream social. We’re talking candy corn, mini chocolate bars and gummy worms that look like they’ve jumped straight out of a trick-or-treat bag and onto an ice cream sundae. We’ll share tips on picking the perfect seasonal flavors, show you how to turn ordinary scoops into ghoulish specters and give you all the secrets to setting up the ultimate toppings station.

Many of your favorite fall sweets like pumpkin pie, cinnamon buns, chai lattes and caramel apples are available as delicious ice cream flavors. These flavors capture the essence of fall and are perfect for an autumn-themed ice cream social. Keep an eye out for fun colors like green apple and purple sweet potato, which give plenty of Halloween eye appeal.

Provide bowls for sundae lovers, sugar cones for those who love a crunch and cake ice cream cones for a classic treat. Opt for ceramic bowls if your guest list is small — ceramic will keep the ice cream cooler longer. For larger parties, use disposable bowls made with recycled plastic for easy clean-up and an eco-friendly touch. Use them, rinse them and reuse them again.

Charm your guests with striped straws and themed stirrers to add a touch of whimsy to their ice cream creations. Spoons in Halloween hues are practical for eating ice cream sundaes and milkshakes. Add a few spooky cupcake decorations like these skeleton-topped toothpicks.

Use muffin pans to organize an array of Halloween candy for easy self-service. Include candy corn, gummy worms, Halloween-themed marshmallows and other trick-or-treat favorites. This setup makes it simple for guests to customize their ice cream with their favorite sweets.

Finding fun-size candy bars in your treat bag is a major score, so be sure to include an assortment of them on your toppings bar. Mini peanut butter cups, candy-coated chocolate pieces and chopped chocolate, cream-filled cookies will be a hit with kids and adults alike.

Head to the seasonal aisle of your grocery store to find Halloween-themed candy sprinkles. Look for fun shapes like bugs, skulls and bones to sprinkle on your ice cream. These unique toppings add a creepy touch to your chilly treat.

No ice cream social is complete without whipped cream. Top your scoops with homemade or aerosol whipped cream in a tall swirl, then add mini chocolate chips for eyes and a mouth to create adorable ghostly figures.

Transform store-bought caramel or white chocolate syrup into eerie ice cream sundae toppings. Stir in gel food color to achieve a ghastly blood-red hue or ectoplasmic green. These spooky syrups are delicious and add yet another creepy element to your soiree.

Amaze mini specters with a witchy sight. Scoop green apple or pistachio ice cream into Halloween-themed cups, and then add candy eyeballs, a candy corn nose and a chocolate chip mouth. Add sour spaghetti candy for hair and a chocolate cream-filled cookie with a chocolate-dipped cone on top for a witch hat. These can be made ahead and stored in the freezer, then presented as a ready-made surprise to the kids at your party.

With an array of candy and toppings at your guests' disposal, invite them to create a monstrous Halloween milkshake. "Freakshakes" are trending as a creative, maximalist version of a milkshake. Spread a wide band of canned frosting to the top of a glass with a small offset spatula and embellish with candy and sprinkles before adding your favorite milkshake to the glass. Go over the top with whipped cream garnished with festive sprinkles, cookies, spooky cupcake picks and Halloween candy. Make it even more extra by adding rock candy sticks, lollipops and creepy treats on a skewer.