Novelty ice trays are moulds shaped like anything from skulls and stars to cheeky figures, and they turn an ordinary drink into an instant conversation starter. Drop a few into a punch bowl or a gin and tonic and guests notice immediately, which is exactly why they have stayed popular year after year. They are cheap, reusable and one of the easiest ways to make a gathering feel thoughtfully hosted.
Key takeaways
- Novelty ice trays work best when the shape suits the occasion, so match the mould to the theme of your party.
- Freeze trays flat and level so the shapes set evenly, and unmould gently to keep the detail crisp.
- Novelty trays are made for drinks, so pick shapes that suit your party theme and will still read clearly once frozen.
- Choose food-safe plastic or silicone, and hand-wash delicate trays to keep the shapes crisp.
- Trays like the novelty ice cube tray from PartyVikings are designed precisely for parties, hen dos and themed events.
Why novelty ice trays: the party trick that never gets old, still works
There is a simple psychology behind it. Guests expect drinks to look ordinary, so an unusual shape creates a small moment of surprise. That moment breaks the ice, literally and figuratively, and gives people something to comment on without any effort from you as the host.
Unlike balloons or banners, novelty ice is consumed rather than cluttered. It costs pennies per batch, takes minutes to prepare, and works for everything from a big birthday bash to a quiet Friday night with friends. PartyVikings describes its own novelty ice cube tray as a way to make drinks “a little more fun”, perfect for hen dos and theme parties, and that sums up the appeal neatly.
Which shapes work best for which occasion?
Matching the mould to the moment is the single biggest factor in getting laughs rather than puzzled looks. A few reliable pairings:
- Hen dos and bachelorette nights: cheeky or silly shapes get the giggles going early.
- Birthday parties: numbers, stars and letters let you spell out names or ages.
- Halloween: skulls, bats and spiders turn any drink into a themed serve.
- Christmas and New Year: snowflakes, trees and stars look elegant rather than gimmicky.
- Summer barbecues: fruit and citrus shapes suit sunshine drinks and mocktails.
If you are planning a bigger event, our guide to the best party and celebration ice trays for weddings, birthdays and events breaks down which moulds hold up well for larger guest lists.
How do you get clear, well-defined novelty ice?
The biggest complaint with novelty trays is cloudy or misshapen ice. The good news is that both problems have easy fixes.
Start with clean water
Cloudiness comes from dissolved gases and impurities that get trapped as water freezes. Boiled water that has been cooled, or filtered water, gives noticeably clearer results. Fill the tray gently to avoid bubbles sitting in the fine details of the mould.
Freeze slowly and level
A slower freeze at your freezer’s standard setting lets the water settle into every corner of the shape. Place the tray on a flat surface; an uneven shelf is the classic cause of lopsided stars and half-formed skulls. Give the tray 4 to 6 hours as a minimum, and overnight if you can.
Release the shapes cleanly
Silicone trays flex and pop shapes out easily. Rigid plastic trays benefit from a quick rinse on the back with cool water, or ten seconds at room temperature, before you twist gently. Never hack at the ice with a knife; it damages the tray and the details.
Beyond drinks: clever uses for novelty trays
The fun does not have to stop at beverages. The same moulds open up a whole range of party food and drink ideas.
- Frozen fruit and herbs: freeze berries, mint or edible flowers in the shapes for pretty, flavour-boosting cubes.
- Coffee and cocktail cubes: freeze leftover coffee or a batch of negroni base so iced drinks never taste watered down.
- Chocolate and yoghurt bites: novelty shapes make instant sweet treats for dessert boards.
- Ice lollies for grown-ups: larger moulds double as individual frozen serves at summer parties.
For a different kind of crowd-pleaser, our recipe guide to frozen dog treats in ice cube trays shows how even four-legged guests can join in safely.
What should you look for when buying a novelty ice tray?
With so many shapes on the market, a quick checklist keeps you focused on quality rather than gimmicks. Use this before you buy:
- Food-safe material: check the listing confirms food-grade plastic or silicone. PartyVikings, for example, lists its novelty tray as a plastic product.
- Detail depth: shallow shapes lose definition as they melt; deeper moulds hold their look longer in the glass.
- Easy release: silicone or flexible plastic saves frustration on party day.
- Cube size vs glass size: oversized shapes look brilliant in tumblers but will not fit highballs or coupe glasses.
- How many cubes per tray: one or two large moulds are fun for individual serves; multi-cube trays suit punch bowls.
- Cleaning: intricate shapes need thorough washing; check whether the tray is dishwasher safe or hand-wash only.
As a worked example: if you are serving spritzes in large wine glasses at a garden party, one deep star or fruit-shaped mould per glass looks striking and melts slowly. If you are filling a punch bowl, a multi-cube tray with smaller fun shapes distributes the theme through every ladle.
Do novelty shapes melt faster than standard cubes?
Shape matters more than novelty. Thin, wide or intricate shapes have more surface area relative to their volume, so they melt faster than large solid cubes. A detailed star will water down a drink sooner than a chunky square of the same weight.
The practical answer is to match shape to drinking speed. Fast-drinking cocktails and shots can carry the most delicate shapes. Slow sippers such as whisky or a long negroni are better served with bolder, thicker moulds, or chilled with regular large cubes and finished with one novelty piece on top.
Hosting tips: getting the most from your novelty ice
Prep ahead in bulk
Fill several trays the night before and store finished shapes in a labelled freezer bag. This frees your trays for a second batch and means you are never chipping ice out mid-party. Storing in a sealed bag also stops the shapes absorbing freezer smells.
Set up a small ice station
A bowl of novelty ice next to the drinks table, sitting in a larger bowl of crushed ice to slow melting, lets guests help themselves. It also turns the shapes into part of the decoration rather than something hidden in the freezer.
Use them as gifts and favours
A novelty tray makes a fun, low-cost gift for anyone who loves hosting, and PartyVikings specifically suggests its tray as “an excellent gift idea for anyone who loves a good joke and festive accessories”. Wrapped with a bottle, it becomes an instant present.
If easy access to ice matters as much as the fun factor, our roundup of self-dispensing ice trays covers practical options that keep the drinks flowing without constant freezer trips.
FAQ
Can I put anything other than water in a novelty ice tray?
Yes. Juice, coffee, cordial, puréed fruit and melted chocolate all work. Avoid very sugary liquids if you want the shapes to hold, as high sugar content freezes softer and can turn sticky. Very oily mixtures may leave a lingering smell in plastic trays, so silicone is the safer choice for those.
How do I stop my novelty ice sticking to the tray?
Rinse the back of the tray briefly with cool water or let it sit at room temperature for a minute before twisting. Silicone releases on its own with a gentle push from underneath. Never force rigid plastic, as the fine details of the shapes snap easily.
Are novelty ice trays dishwasher safe?
It depends entirely on the manufacturer, so check the packaging or product listing. Intricate novelty shapes benefit from hand-washing in warm soapy water with a small brush to reach the crevices, which also helps the tray last longer.
How far in advance can I make novelty ice for a party?
Once the shapes are fully frozen, transfer them to an airtight freezer bag or container. This helps protect them from picking up freezer odours until party day.
What is the best way to use novelty ice in a punch bowl?
Freeze some of the punch itself, or a complementary juice, in the novelty trays. The themed shapes then flavour the bowl as they melt instead of diluting it, and they float as decoration for hours.
The final round
Novelty ice trays earn their place in the kitchen drawer because they deliver maximum effect for minimum effort: a small purchase, a night in the freezer, and a party detail guests actually remember. Pick shapes that suit the occasion, freeze them clear, and prep in bulk so the fun happens on the night rather than in a rush. For a straightforward, party-ready option, the novelty ice cube tray from PartyVikings is a good place to start. Then explore our guide to celebration ice trays for weddings and events to plan your next bigger gathering.
