Fun Ways to Dress Up Your Joy Ice Cream Cone

Instagram envy got you down?

If you’re like us, sometimes scrolling through an Instagram or Pinterest feed can feel a little overwhelming. We’ve all been there–after enjoying our Thanksgiving dinners, we sit down on the couch pre-turkey coma to swipe through our social accounts. As we casually glance at other people’s celebrations, we find we’ve seriously missed out on some over-the-top decorative feasts.

Or perhaps you go all-out on your child’s ice cream-themed birthday party only to open Instagram a few days later to see yet another birthday party that seems like it could be a spread in Magnolia Journal. Nothing like a little FOMO after a full-blown bash of your own.

If you relate to any of this, don’t worry. We have compiled a list of ways for you to dress up ice cream cones, including printable jackets to make your Joy waffle cones picture-perfect! While we can’t promise you’ll become Instagram-famous, we can guarantee these tips will bring a little JOY to your party!

Sweet, Sweet Ice Cream Toppings

The easiest way to dress up your ice cream cone is to top it off with some tasty treats. You don’t have to go over the-top; a simple drizzle of syrup or dash of sprinkles can go a long way in gussying up your cone. Think of your classic ice cream sundae toppings and go nuts!

If you want to get fancier, we love these rainbow meringue-topped truffle cones, which can easily be switched out for icing or whipped cream. Or, you can try one of our favorite ways to top off cones by dipping the ice cream into a chocolate shell sauce and topping it with sprinkles, candy, coconut, or whatever else you can dream up! Making the chocolate shell sauce is relatively straightforward–you can find instructions in our paletas recipe.

If you want to be on-trend for the season, all you need to do is channel your inner child. Classic 90s favorites like Fruity Pebbles and Teddy Grahams are coming back in a big way when it comes to creating photogenic ice cream cones. What was your favorite snack as a kid? Are you imagining it in your head? Alright — now buy some and put it on your cone! Feel free to nerd out as much as you want.

Up the Cute Factor

One of the trendiest looks in ice cream right now is taken straight from Japanese kawaii culture. From adorable piglets to ubiquitous unicorns and kittens, there are plenty of ways to find inspiration by searching “cute ice cream.” Essentially, you take any animal or object, add a dash of JOY and pops of pastel color, and you have instant, adorable cones that are sure to spice up any party.

The easiest way to up the cute factor is to make the faces beforehand using chocolate melts. Melt the candy and pipe the decorations onto a piece of wax paper and chill. You can also use your imagination to create the details, like chocolate chip eyes, cookie ears, or a rainbow-colored fondant unicorn horn. When you are ready to serve the ice cream cones, scoop the ice cream and add the cute decorations.

If you want a make-ahead version, we love this Tastemade recipe. You make the ice cream into balls, dip them into a chocolate shell sauce, and then refreeze. Once the ice cream balls are frozen, you can pipe on the animal faces and then store in an airtight container up to two days in advance of your party. When you are ready to serve, all you have to do is pop the ice cream ball on a Joy Cone sugar cone. Don’t forget to watch everyone’s JOYful faces as you present these extra-cute cones!

Decorate Your Cone

Now for the best part–decorating your ice cream cone! A great way to decorate a cone is to dip into melted chocolate or candy and then roll it into toppings like sprinkles, candy, cereal, and nuts. You can get creative by mixing colors to create technicolor dream swirls or pipe on sweet messages. Bonus–coating the inside of the cone will add more sweetness to your tasty concoction. Toss in a marshmallow or two for an extra sweet treat at the end.

Speaking of marshmallows, a fun take on dipped cones is to melt marshmallows, dip them in chocolate, and then top with sprinkles. Add a scoop of s’mores ice cream for a perfect campfire treat or a scoop of peppermint for a winter delight.

Lastly, if you want a quick and easy way to dress up your cones, add a jacket! We have created four templates that you can download and cut out for your Joy waffle cones. Whether your party is red and blue, dainty and floral, fun and geometric, or tropical and hip, we have your cones covered! Click the links above to download the PDF or click here to download them all!

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