Nothing beats the anticipation of your birthday when you are a child. But once school’s out, it can be tough to gather all your child’s friends due to summer camps and family vacations.

To combat this perennial summer birthday concern, some parents throw a big party during the school year and another smaller family shindig on the actual date. Others make sure the day is full of surprises, including yummy, unforgettable treats.

Here are some great ideas to make the day extra delicious, from three lifestyle and entertaining experts:

Berry, Berry Good

“Every family has their special touches that turn children into excitement charged little bees buzzing around practically giddy with anticipation. For me, that was a can of whipped cream,” writes food and lifestyle expert Coryanne Ettiene, reflecting on her childhood in a recent posting on her “Kitchen Living with Coryanne” blog. “The moment I would open the fridge door and see that bright red top, my heart would nearly burst from happiness while I let dreams of whipped cream swirl in my head.”

With this in mind, a favorite easy recipe for birthday party strawberry shortcake gives the dessert a mini makeover with individual frozen shortcake bites, says Ettiene, whose nostalgia for her sweet childhood memories led her to partner with Reddi-wip on their summer #PartyReddi promotion, which challenges partiers to create recipes with the whipped topping.

You can make Ettiene’s frozen bites by slicing strawberries across the waist (so the hole appears in the center), cutting small squares of angel food cake, and stacking them together with colorful paper straws through the middle. Place them in the freezer for up to an hour and serve with a small bowl of Reddi-wip for dipping. Or for even quicker birthday treats, add a slice of berry and a slice of angel food cake to serving spoons and top with the whipped topping.

Sundae Tea Party

Inspired by the spirit of the tea parties most girls love so dearly, Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali, co-founders of The Party Bluprints Blog, are sharing tips for a tea party with an ice cream sundae twist. This birthday party idea is perfect for summer and can be hosted indoors or out.

Set a table with personal sundae stations for each guest. Each setting should have its own parfait glass with ice cream and three soup spoons or tasting spoons with toppings.

Choose traditional options like sprinkles, mini-marshmallows, and flavored syrups or try something new like fresh fruit, pretzels or popcorn. Then add some fun by placing several cans of Reddi-wip on the table so each child can spritz her sundae herself. Just beware: whipped topping with real cream can go fast, especially with sugared-up fingers on the button, so have enough on hand.

For a fun setting, build your tablescape on a coffee table and provide colorful pillows for seating. Polka dots and stripes can evoke the vibe of a retro sundae shop.

Above all, show your child how special he or she is by celebrating the big day together. These memories can be the biggest treat of all.