Every so often someone sets out to break a food-related record, and ice cream is no exception. The biggest ice cream in the world is one of those projects that mixes gastronomy, engineering and spectacle — and the result is as absurd as it is fascinating.
The Guinness record: a 4-metre cone in Gloucester
The biggest ice cream in the world was unveiled in the city of Gloucester, in south-west England, in 2009. Building it took three full days and involved a team of people plus several industrial cranes to lift the upper layers of the cone.
The result was a cone 4 metres tall — twice the height of an adult — made with more than 1,000 kilograms of vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce. Once the event was over, the ice cream was handed out to everyone in attendance so they could taste it before it melted.
The person behind the feat was Heston Blumenthal, a London chef with three Michelin stars known for his extreme creations and molecular cuisine. The record beat the previous one, which measured 2.5 metres, and was officially registered by Guinness World Records judges after a measurement carried out in the presence of an official committee from London.
The second biggest ice cream: the Rimini record
Another of the biggest ice creams in history was presented at the Rimini Fair in Italy, as part of the International Trade Show for Ice Cream, Pastry and Bakery — one of the most important events in the industry worldwide.
This second giant also took the shape of a cone and required a cooling chamber at -20°C to stay stable during the exhibition. Although it did not beat Blumenthal’s 4-metre record, presenting it to industry professionals gave it special relevance within the sector.
Other ice cream Guinness records
The world of ice cream records is not limited to size. Some of the most striking ones:
- Most scoops on a single cone: the record belongs to an Italian gelateria that stacked more than 100 scoops on a single cone.
- Longest sundae in the world: made in California, USA, over 700 metres long.
- Highest per-capita consumption: New Zealand leads the world ranking with more than 26 litres per person a year.
- Most expensive ice cream in the world: a $1,000 sundae served at the Serendipity 3 hotel in New York, made with vanilla ice cream infused with black truffle and topped with edible gold.
Why giant cones are so hard to build
Building a giant ice cream isn’t just a matter of quantity — it’s a cold-engineering problem. At room temperature, ice cream starts melting within minutes. To keep a 4-metre cone stable long enough to measure and photograph it, you need to:
- Work in a very cold environment or at night, when temperatures are lower.
- Use mixes with a high sugar concentration, which have a lower melting point.
- Build in layers from the bottom up, freezing each section before adding the next.
- Move fast — records of this kind have a very narrow time window.
What about you? Do you prefer the giant ice cream or a huge sundae? Honestly, the latter looks pretty great too.
Frequently asked questions
How tall is the biggest ice cream in the world?
4 metres tall, in cone form. It was unveiled in Gloucester, England, in 2009.
Who made the biggest ice cream in the world?
British chef Heston Blumenthal, known for his molecular cuisine and his restaurant The Fat Duck, holder of three Michelin stars.
How many kilos does the biggest ice cream in the world weigh?
More than 1,000 kilograms of vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce.
How long did it take to make the biggest ice cream in the world?
Three days to build, with the help of several cranes to reach the top of the cone.
Is it in the Guinness Book of World Records?
Yes. An official committee from London measured and verified the ice cream before it was officially registered.
What happened to the ice cream after the record?
It was handed out to everyone who attended the event so they could taste it before it melted.
If you’d prefer something a bit more manageable than 4 metres of ice cream, at La Palau we have a menu of artisan Italian gelato with more than 30 flavours, just steps from the Palau de la Música in El Born. Discover our ice cream menu.