I scream, you scream…. yea, ice cream is the perfect sweet treat. And, with National Ice Cream Day coming up, there is no reason not to give yourself permission to indulge. While vanilla and chocolate are just fine, there are so many other out-of-the-box flavors to enjoy. Or at least try.
Here are eight ice creams that you should have in your freezer this summer, either one at a time or all at once. Hey, we are not here to judge.
Hazy-O Dairy Free Ice Cream: Well, here’s a real treat for you. Dogfish Head Brewery took its summer sipper, Hazy-O!, and transformed it into an ice cream with the help of Tipsy Scoop. Made with the same oat milk found in Hazy-O!, the beer, and packed with notes of caramel, cinnamon, and coconut, Hazy-O! dairy-free ice cream is equal parts boozy and delicious, and what it lacks in lactose it makes up for in silky smoothness. And like a typical beer, each pint packs up to 5% ABV. Buy it here.
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams: This ice cream empire has some amazing flavors, including banana, peanut butter and chocolate. But one of their most original? Honey and Cornbread Cookies. This little pint of deliciousness is sweet and salty, and the cornbread cookies combines two types of comfort food into one. Buy it here.
Jeni’s Splendid: If you missed out on the Everything Bagel ice cream that debuted earlier this year, no worries. Jeni’s has plenty more unique flavors where that came from. Making its debut this summer already is the company’s Rocket Pop and Mango Cheesecake Swirl flavors. Rocket Pop is a tart, refreshing, ultra-creamy blueberry-pineapple swirl, while Mango Cheesecake Swirl is a dense cream cheese ice cream with an alphonso mango sauce. And just wait because there are three more flavors making their way to shelves this summer. On July 22, Jeni’s will launch Orange Freeze. High Five Candy Bar will be available on July 29. And on August 6, Golden Nectar will hit shelves. Buy them here.
Graeter’s: With so many awesome flavors to choose from, there is one that stands out from the rest: Maple Cinnamon Crunch. Using the French pot method to create this extra creamy treat, Graeter’s starts with maple ice cream. Then, pieces of shortbread pieces covered in cinnamon are swirled in. It’s love in a spoonful, that’s for sure. Buy it here.
Wildgood: An olive oil based ice cream? Yes, please! While Wildgood has more traditional flavors, don’t sleep on its pistachio. It is creamy, smooth and tastes so good you won’t even miss the dairy. And, because there is no dairy products in here, this pint can make a great treat for your vegan friends, too. Grab some for your next ice cream bar! Buy it here.
N!ck’s: If there is an ice cream we need to chat about, it’s N!ck’s. The Swedish-style ice cream has no added sugar and is keto friendly, too. While there are some great flavors available, the most unique of the bunch is the brand’s Swedish Lemon Bar. This creamy Swedish-style light ice cream is swirled with ribbons of luscious lemon preserve. It’s everything good about ice cream packed in a small package. Buy it here.
Salt & Straw: A favorite of the Pacific Northwest, Salt & Straw has taken their goodies nationwide. While one may be tempted to think its wild-foraged berry pie, pear and blue cheese or honey lavender flavors are the most unique, you are wrong on this one. Cue its goat cheese marionberry habanero. The sweet from the berries, the sharpness from the goat cheese and the heat from the habanero create a party in your mouth. Buy it here.
