Here’s a little secret: It’s pretty difficult to find an ice cream that can’t be improved (at least a little) by an awesome topping. Of course there’s no scientific data here, but we're counting on gooey butterscotch, crumbled peanut butter cups, and caramelized white chocolate sauce to back us up.
While we love complex ice cream flavors (Earl Grey Ice Cream with Blackberry Swirl, anyone?), a solid topping still takes things to the next level. So here are 13 of them for your next ice cream social -- or maybe just for later tonight.
Honey Balsamic Sauce by Alice Medrich
![Honey Balsamic Sauce on Food52](https://images.food52.com/768yG9vGQt-RKi7YfJK-ZgGfTt0=/6e07bc51-afa8-4e1f-9bcc-fe776b520adf--9409122473_836e98a098_z.jpg)
Sage-Candied Walnuts by cristinasciarra
![Candied Walnuts on Food52](https://images.food52.com/7LezbqN-fzJuUSK1aAbOZJFj0D0=/1bb5220f-0c09-4bf3-99f2-78f6d34812bd--sage-candied_walnuts_in_bowl.jpg)
Miso Caramel by theminx
![Miso Caramel on Food52](https://images.food52.com/GgE_11TnPYaNbDijIEDi0K-ip6Q=/51dd6f3c-ad1d-487c-8ea3-617a2b702060--10.jpg)
Nancy Silverton's Whipped Cream by Genius Recipes
![Whipped Cream on Food52](https://images.food52.com/V_l_eUZimh5LoK5OrIUn-2ncldM=/bd016ad1-318c-4a6f-8e4f-bb339d1de1d8--Food52_082211-3621.jpg)
Balsamic Butterscotch Sauce by mrslarkin
![Balsamic Butterscotch Sauce on Food52](https://images.food52.com/LkFQ_Ag-ePWSd7aIJ-nKaxVydt0=/cf5041b0-1f3a-4235-93a9-9e2bfd811d86--food52_05-07-13-0862.jpg)
Thai Peanut Butter Cups by vrunka
![Peanut Butter Cups on Food52](https://images.food52.com/1H0XV-GFURLY_B4i2_Uwmr-6-kc=/ebba825a-afd5-439f-a25c-a4e35350eefc--food52_02-21-12-8672.jpg)
Maple Quinoa Granola by spacekase
![Quinoa Granola on Food52](https://images.food52.com/NGqkuCofPI4rFfiVHsdJjfn41FQ=/c0e5ba1b-72e7-499e-af57-195cb7ccc432--2013-0910_CP-maple-quinoa-granola27910.jpg)
Valrhona's Caramelized White Chocolate by Genius Recipes
![Caramelized Chocolate on Food52](https://images.food52.com/_rNxl2zaZovOCjcNFrkCTiros9Y=/5b90a491-5e18-472e-b155-13005967e9ca--8435339625_def29462ed_z.jpeg)
Magic Shell by Marian Bull
![Magic Shell on Food52](https://images.food52.com/LuRUowx_Ih_y3zI1lMF_o8ma5xQ=/78d01baa-53dd-4a7e-85c8-aa3d6ed94e18--2013-0702_magic-shell-079.jpg)
Milk Chocolate Whipped Cream (and Dark Chocolate, and White Chocolate) by Alice Medrich
![Chocolate Whipped Cream on Food52](https://images.food52.com/cmb8yhONi44ZkwjHgarR8iY4ZMg=/630307d7-87be-44b6-9949-43f631ce9bd4--2014-0107_alice_chocolate-whipped-cream-009.jpg)
Homemade Dulce de Leche by Catherine Lamb
![Dulche de Leche on Food52](https://images.food52.com/fXgk1r-ocDOsaILFm6dcI6pFuZ4=/bbb9758f-06ef-4716-b4c5-1e83da2afc7e--dulce_de_leche_1.jpg)
Butterscotch Sauce by Phyllis Grant
![Butterscotch Sauce on Food52](https://images.food52.com/7e8IeLgOBA7eQ7eA3YfCxObQvUM=/8bc33ded-d811-4832-af19-97205b225095--butterscotchsauce2.jpg)
Twix Bars by Jestei
![Twix on Food52](https://images.food52.com/mJwvLneTe57LLtvFrDle580ZYSQ=/90094f44-d7f4-4455-8370-ada5a4271bb7--Twix.jpg)
Photo of Butterscotch Sauce by Phyllis Grant; all other photos by James Ransom.
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