A dessert of ice cream topped with sweet sauce and a cherry is a sundae.
A classic sundae usually contains one or more scoops of ice cream, flavored syrup or sauce, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry. Vanilla ice cream is traditional, but chocolate, strawberry, caramel, hot fudge, fruit, nuts, sprinkles, and brownie pieces are all common additions. The dessert is often served in a tall, footed glass known as a sundae glass.
The sundae is an American invention, but its exact birthplace is disputed. Ithaca, New York, has a strong documented claim based on a “Cherry Sunday” advertised in 1892 after a pharmacy soda fountain served ice cream with cherry syrup and a candied cherry. Two Rivers, Wisconsin, also claims an earlier version from 1881. Other communities have proposed their own origin stories.
The name may have begun as “Sunday” and later changed spelling, possibly to avoid religious associations or trademark concerns. A sundae is not the same as a float, which combines ice cream with a carbonated drink. A parfait is usually layered, while a milkshake is blended into a drinkable dessert.