British Knickerbocker Glory Sundae

April 19, 2023

My British Knickerbocker Glory Sundae is more of a homemade take on this classic, summer treat. This is a very British and oh so fruity summer ice cream sundae with a funny name. It’s got layers of fresh fruit, vanilla ice cream, homemade strawberry sauce and it’s all topped off with fluffy whipped cream! Aren’t you craving a fruit sundae now?

A tall glass filled with fruit ice cream and whipped cream

Whenever the British do actually get some nice weather to make to the seaside, it is such a treat to visit an ice cream stand or a nearby shop to enjoy Knickerbocker Glories. As a child growing up on the Northern Coast of England, I frequently used to enjoy them at Minchella ice cream parlors and stands.

A spoonful of ice cream, fresh strawberry and blueberry

How to make a Knickerbocker Glory

Since a sundae is essentially assembling ingredients and layering them together, I do like to make a homemade fruit sauce rather than buying a generic one. Just like the raspberry sauce for my lemon cotta, this strawberry sauce is easy and made in the same way.

Homemade Strawberry Sauce

This delicious sauce couldn’t be easier. I like to use defrosted frozen strawberries because they are mushy when defrosted. This recipes yields 1 cup of strawberry sauce. No need for corn starch because the gelatin in the strawberries are a natural thickener. Thickens when chilled.

Now, if really want to go homemade, you can also make your own vanilla ice cream that you don’t need an ice cream maker for. For this one, I’ve chosen a natural, organic creamy vanilla bean ice cream.

Fun fact: I read that Knickerbocker Glory is featured in the Harry Potter Cookbook.

Interestingly, there are many variations on this classic, but the basic recipe is ice cream, raspberry sauce, fruit of your choice and topped with whipped cream and a wafer garnish. It’s traditionally made with raspberries but any fresh fruit that you like will do just fine, especially when so much fruit is in season over the summer. If fresh fruit is not available, a can of pre-cut fruit in syrup can be used in a moment of desperation, but is not recommended!

A rolled wafer cookie in a sundae topped with cream and homemade strawberry sauce

As a final topping, remember that a traditional Knickerbocker glory garnish is a wafer, but you can also use a rolled wafer cookie as I did.

Knickerbocker Glory Variations

Chocolate Knickerbocker Glory is delicious too with chocolate sauce and nuts. Cherry Knickerbocker Glory with fresh cherries and cherry sauce and you can even use cherry ice cream if you can find it. How about a Biscoff sundae with raspberry sauce and Biscoff cookies? The possibilities are endless and you can use your imagination and have fun making this.

What’s a Knickerbocker?

Knickerbockers are the baggy pants/trousers that lay just below the knee that worn by men in the early 20th Century.

Why is it called Knickerbocker Glory?

Well, there are many conflicting stories associated with this strange connection. It is definitely named after the trousers. Beyond that, stories range from it starting in 1920’s London, to being named after Dutch settlers in New York (wearing Knickerbockers) to simply being named after the Knickerbocker Hotel in Manhattan because of its pink and cream facade.

The next time you have a party for your patriotic holiday (4th July, Memorial Day, or just feel like celebrating the red, white and blue) think of this patriotic delicious dessert. Fitting for American, British or French celebrations!

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