Fresh, sweet strawberries, creamy vanilla ice cream, and fluffy whipped cream - there is nothing like a German Strawberry Sundae dessert (Erdbeerbecher). Best of all? It is ready in just 5 minutes.

This strawberry ice cream dessert will transport you straight to a traditional German ice cream parlor. Growing up in Germany, I enjoyed this classic “Erdbeerbecher” (strawberry sundae) countless times—it’s a summer favorite on almost every ice cream menu.
Just the other day, after going strawberry picking with my kids, we wanted to create something special with our freshly picked berries, and recreating this classic German sundae was an instant hit with the family!
This sundae recipe fits in nicely with the other German ice cream desserts I feature on the website, such as the famous Spaghetti Ice Cream or the addictive German Eiskaffee.
Ingredients you'll need
- Fresh Strawberries (for the sauce, if you are making the sauce from scratch, else you can also use frozen strawberries)
- Vanilla Ice Cream (or whatever flavour you fancy. Strawberry ice cream or a mixture of the two is also very popular.
- Whipped Cream (ready-made or homemade)
- Strawberry Sauce (you can buy this ready-made in bottles at the supermarket, but if you want a real treat, try our homemade version here)
How to make a Strawberry Sundae
For the detailed instructions and exact measurements, please jump to the printable recipe card
Prepare all the ingredients:
- Make the strawberry sauce: simmer strawberries with sugar, water, and vanilla, then blend until smooth, and then chill the mixture.
- Whip the cream until soft peaks form, then refrigerate.
- Wash, stem, and quarter the fresh strawberries.
2. Assemble the Sundae
- Layer chopped strawberries in a glass or bowl. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Repeat with another layer of strawberries and a second scoop of ice cream.
- Top with a generous spoonful of whipped cream. Drizzle with the (homemade) strawberry sauce.
Tips for Success
This is a really easy recipe, but it is good to be prepared for it. Have all the ingredients ready to assemble before removing the ice cream from the freezer. I learned the hard way, when taking the pictures of the recipe, that ice cream melts faster than you sometimes want it to!
Variations and Additions
- Experiment with different ice cream flavors - vanilla ice cream is the classic choice for strawberry sundae, but strawberry or chocolate ice cream also go well.
- Additional Sundae Topping: Add sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or chocolate chips (affiliate link) on top of the whipped cream for an extra flavor and another color contrast.
Prepare Ahead:
You can prepare the strawberry sauce and the whipped cream up to two days in advance. Just refrigerate in an airtight container until needed.
Have you made this recipe?
Your feedback makes all the difference! Rate this recipe and drop a comment to help others enjoy it too
More German Ice Cream Desserts
Recipe
Homemade Strawberry Sundae
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 450 g strrawberries fresh or frozen
- 4 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the cream
- 250 g whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoon sugar
For the Sundae
- 450 g strawberries fresh
- 8 scopps vanilla ice cream my glasses were small you can also use more than two scopps per glass.
Instructions
To make the sauce
- Clean, remove the stems and quarter the strawberries.450 g strrawberries
- Place the strawberries, water, sugar, and vanilla extract (affiliate link) in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Blend the mixture using an immersion blender until smooth.
- Let the sauce cool completely, then refrigerate until the dessert is assembled.
To make the Whipping Cream
- Pour the chilled heavy/ whipping cream, vanilla extract (affiliate link) and sugar into a tall mixing bowl.
- Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, start whipping the cream on low speed.
- Gradually increase the speed until soft peaks form and the cream holds its shape.
- Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Prepare the Strawberries
- Wash the fresh strawberries and remove the stems.450 g strawberries
To Assemble the Sundae
- Add a layer of chopped strawberries to the bottom of a dessert glass or bowl.
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.8 scopps vanilla ice cream
- Add another layer of strawberries, then finish with a final scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Pipe or spoon the whipped cream on top.
- Add the whole strawberries to the top
- Drizzle with the homemade strawberry sauce.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Leave a Reply