Nothing beats a frozen treat on a day when the temperature heads to triple digits. Here are 10 of Scottsdale’s top spots for frozen treats (in no particular order).
Sweet Republic: Local, fresh ingredients and unique flavors like chocolate orange Sichuan peppercorn and sweet corn have earned Sweet Republic national attention in Bon Appetite and Time magazines and on the Food Network. Flavors change daily, but you’ll always find at least 20 different offerings that you can enjoy in cones, sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sandwiches.
The Baked Bear: A newcomer to the Scottsdale ice cream scene, The Baked Bear specializes in homemade, custom ice cream sandwiches. You choose the ice cream that goes in between a cookie, brownie, or donuts along with any desired mix-ins. The Baked Bear also serves hot fudge sundaes with a cookie or brownie and Bear Bowls, a warm chocolate chip topped with one scoop of any flavor of ice cream.
Creamistry: Instead of scooping ice cream out of a bin, servers at Creamistry flash freeze your ice cream with liquid nitrogen. The made-to-order ice cream is all natural and organic and can be customized with more than 70 flavors and toppings at its first Arizona location in the Scottsdale Fashion Square area. A second store is set to open in the Scottsdale Quarter soon.
That’s Amore Gelato: More of a gelato person? That’s Amore Gelato crafts batches of artisan gelato in flavors ranging from traditional chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry to crème brûlée, whiskey cream, and amaretto. The shop uses all natural ingredients.
LuLu’s Italian Water Ice: Water ice, an Italian treat made of ice and syrups, is another option when you want a frozen treat, and LuLu’s Italian Water Ice is one of the best places in the Valley to try one. Lulu’s makes uses only fresh seasonal fruit and 100 percent cane sugar with no stabilizers or artificial flavors. Popular flavors include cherry, lemon, mango, acai, and coconut.
Cold Stone Creamery: You’ll find Cold Stone Creamery locations throughout the Valley, but it is still one of the most popular places in Scottsdale for a cold treat. At Cold Stone, you choose an ice cream flavor and mix-ins, and your server mixes them on a cold granite slab. If you’re overwhelmed by the options, you can choose one of their signature creations instead.
Shakes & Cones: Nostalgic for soft serve? Head to Shakes & Cones, where you can order organic, non-GMO soft serve vanilla or chocolate with mix-ins like organic strawberries and organic peanut butter. The shop has only a few outside seats under misters, so you may want to plan on strolling Old Town with your cone in hand.
Fatty Daddy’s: Milk and cream from local Arizona creameries go into Fatty Daddy’s fun flavors like butter popcorn and Lucky Charms. For a special treat, order a Fatty Daddy’s Cookie Cup, one or more scoops of ice cream sandwiched between fresh macaron cookies and topped with a toasted marshmallow.
Rita’s Italian Ice: The Italian ices here are made with real fruit and served within 36 hours of mixing. All offerings are trans-fat free. You can also order sugar free options, cream ice, and frozen custard.
Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor: A Scottsdale staple since 1958, the Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor has been featured multiple times in Bil Keane’s cartoon “The Family Circus.” Try a banana split, sundae, or a simple ice cream cone. You can also get old fashioned sodas, milkshakes, malts, and floats from the soda fountain.
