Stars & Stripes Ice Cream Nachos — A Memorial Day Dessert for Two

Patriotic ice cream nachos for two — Rooted in Rare waffle cone chips piled high with vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, whipped cream, and strawberry sauce. 10 minutes, no baking.

★★★★★ 5 · 1 reviews
Prep Time 10 min
Cook Time 0 min
Total Time 10 min
Servings 2
Difficulty Easy
Cuisine American
Jump to Recipe
Stars & Stripes Ice Cream Nachos in a wide white ceramic bowl — waffle cone chips topped with three scoops of vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and blueberries, whipped cream, and a generous drizzle of bright red strawberry sauce, on a light oak...

If you're hosting Memorial Day weekend and want a dessert that hits the table with maximum visual impact and minimum work — this is it. Ice cream nachos are exactly what they sound like: a generous pile of crispy waffle cone chips serving as the base, topped with scoops of ice cream and all the patriotic toppings of summer. They're the dessert version of a backyard nacho platter, and they look like a celebration on a plate.

The trick is using Rooted in Rare's Waffle Cone Chips as the chip base. They're sturdy enough to hold up to ice cream and sauce without going soggy in seconds, with a crisp golden waffle texture that mimics traditional nacho chips while bringing classic ice-cream-cone flavor.

The version pictured here is a cozy 2-person portion — perfect for a date-night dessert, a Mother's Day or Memorial Day treat for two, or splitting with one of the kids on a Saturday afternoon. The patriotic red-white-blue color story comes naturally from fresh strawberries, blueberries, vanilla ice cream, and a vibrant strawberry sauce drizzle. No food coloring required, no fancy techniques — just bright fresh ingredients piled on with intention.

This recipe scales beautifully. For a crowd at your Memorial Day cookout, double or triple everything and serve on a wide platter instead of a bowl. The whole thing takes 10 minutes from start to first bite — and it'll be gone in five.

Ingredients

servings

Instructions

  1. Get everything ready

    Take the ice cream out of the freezer and let it soften for 2-3 minutes (just enough to scoop cleanly, not enough to melt). Wash and hull the strawberries — leave half whole and slice the rest in half lengthwise to show the bright red interior. Rinse the blueberries. Warm the strawberry sauce in the microwave for 15 seconds so it pours easily but isn't hot enough to instantly melt the ice cream.

  2. Layer the chips in a bowl

    Pile 8-10 Rooted in Rare waffle cone chips into a wide shallow serving bowl (about 8-9 inches across), fanning them out and overlapping slightly so they cover the bottom of the bowl as the dessert nacho base.

    Two hands arranging round waffle cone chips in a wide shallow white ceramic bowl, fanning them out as the dessert nacho base, with small bowls of fresh strawberries and blueberries nearby

  3. Add the vanilla scoops

    Place 3 generous scoops of vanilla ice cream on top of the chips, spacing them so each one sits on its own little nest of chips. Don't pack them tight — leave room between for toppings.

    A hand using a silver ice cream scoop to place fresh creamy white vanilla ice cream onto a bowl of waffle cone chips, with small bowls of strawberries, blueberries, and glossy red strawberry sauce ready nearby

  4. Scatter the berries

    Tuck halved strawberries between and around the ice cream scoops with the cut sides facing up so the bright red flesh is visible. Cluster the blueberries in 2-3 small piles around the bowl. The goal is bursts of red and blue across the white ice cream and golden chips.

  5. Add whipped cream and white chocolate chips

    Pipe or spoon small dollops of whipped cream into the gaps between the ice cream scoops. Sprinkle the mini white chocolate chips over the whole bowl for extra texture and to round out the white in the patriotic palette.

  6. Finish with the strawberry sauce drizzle

    Just before serving, drizzle the warm strawberry sauce generously over the entire bowl in a back-and-forth motion — letting it pool on the ice cream, drip down the scoops, and run onto the chips below. This is the move that makes it look bakery-magazine-worthy.

    Macro close-up of a single scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on waffle cone chips with bright red strawberry sauce drizzling down, surrounded by fresh halved strawberries, blueberries, white chocolate chips, and a dollop of whipped cream

  7. Serve immediately with two spoons

    Bring the bowl to the table with two dessert spoons and dig in together while the ice cream is still cold and the chips are still crisp. The full appeal lives in the first 5-10 minutes — don't pre-assemble and let it sit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this in advance?
No — this dessert is meant to be assembled right before serving. The ice cream will melt and the waffle cone chips will go soft within 10-15 minutes. The good news is that assembly takes literally 5 minutes, so it's easy to do at the last second. You can prep all the components ahead (wash berries, soften ice cream, warm the sauce) and just stack everything when you're ready.
Where do I find waffle cone chips?
Rooted in Rare's Waffle Cone Chips are the perfect chip for this recipe — they're round disc-shaped, sturdy enough to hold up to ice cream, and have the same crisp golden waffle flavor as traditional ice cream cones. They ship year-round, which beats hunting them down at grocery stores during the summer rush.
Can I make a bigger version for a Memorial Day cookout?
Yes — this recipe scales up beautifully. For 6-8 people, triple the chips, ice cream, and toppings and serve on a wide round platter instead of a bowl. Set out spoons and let everyone scoop their own portion. It's the perfect informal dessert for a backyard cookout.
How do I make homemade strawberry sauce?
Simmer 1 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of water in a small saucepan over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally and lightly mashing the berries with a wooden spoon. Cool slightly before drizzling. You can make this 1-2 days ahead and keep it in the fridge — just warm it briefly before serving.
Can I substitute different berries?
Absolutely. Raspberries work beautifully (the deep red is even more striking), and blackberries add another color note. For a less-patriotic but equally delicious version, try peaches, mango, or kiwi in late summer. The waffle cone chips are a neutral base that pairs with almost any fruit.
What ice cream flavor works best?
Vanilla is the classic choice and lets the toppings shine, but you can absolutely play with it. Strawberry ice cream amplifies the berry theme. Neapolitan gives you three flavors in one bowl. For a more decadent version, try cookies-and-cream or vanilla-bean. Avoid anything with chunks bigger than a chocolate chip — they compete visually with the toppings.
Can this be made dairy-free or gluten-free?
For dairy-free: swap in coconut-milk or oat-milk vanilla ice cream and dairy-free whipped topping — everything else is naturally dairy-free. For gluten-free: confirm the waffle cone chips you're using are gluten-free (some brands are, some aren't — check the package). The toppings are all naturally gluten-free.
What other Memorial Day or 4th of July desserts pair with this?
If you want a full patriotic spread: pair this with a red-white-and-blue fruit salad, mini cheesecake bites with berry topping, or our Mini Waffle Cone Cake Pops decorated in pastel colors. Anything with the same bright fresh-summer feel works.

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