Caroline Potter

Local ice cream shops in Minnesota are the true hidden gems when you’re craving something sweet.

When summer is here, sometimes all you want is an ice cream on a hot day. Located throughout the state of Minnesota, local ice cream shops are the hidden highlights of the warm months. Small business ice cream shops thrive during the summertime, plus they are superior to the bland fast food cones.

Coming in at number one is the iconic Adele’s Frozen Custard. Simple and timeless. A small vanilla concrete with cookie dough is the way to go. Although this is technically a custard, I considered them similar enough to categorize them together. Their portion sizes are insanely large, making your eyes bigger than your stomach. After a few bites, you’ll be too full to finish it. They offer numerous sundae options, but the standout is their chocolate chip cookie sundae, layered with hot fudge and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

The runner-up is Licks Unlimited, located in downtown Excelsior, just a few steps away from Lake Minnetonka. Their Yippee Skippee starts with peanut butter ice cream, and then it’s packed with salted caramel, chocolate-covered pretzels, and brownies. Sticks and Stones has been my go-to since my first time at Licks. It has a simple chocolate base with cookie dough, chocolate-covered pretzels, and salted caramel. And lastly, peanut butter cookie dough is a sweet twist that elevates the typical cookie dough ice cream to the next level.

Landing at 3rd place is a Minneapolis classic, Sebastian Joe’s. Their array of fun, unexpected flavor combinations is what makes the shop intriguing. Pavarotti has a complex flavor profile of vanilla, caramel, banana ice cream with chocolate chips. Their raspberry chocolate chip ice cream is one of my all-time top picks; it’s crafted with real raspberries and sweet chocolate chips. Whenever I stop by, there’s always a long line going out the door, which is always a good sign.

Taking 4th place is Bread & Pickle, a cool outdoor concession stand, located on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. Their traditional Oreo ice cream is wonderful by itself, but when paired with loads of rainbow sprinkles, it elevates the dessert far more. After walking the nearly three-mile loop around Lake Harriet, a refreshing cone of Oreo ice cream is the perfect balance for a summer day.

Securing 5th place is the local Edina Cremery parlour, a Hornet classic. It’s a charming vintage shop that takes you back to the 90s when you step inside. They have a whole selection of every topping you could think of, making it hard to resist picking a few to top off your ice cream. Cinnamon is a bold flavor that pairs well with countless other flavors. A caramel sundae is another old-school basic with a fun twist.

An honorable mention is The Chocolate Ox, which is located in downtown Nisswa and at Grandview Lodge. The famous Minnesota gem is the perfect place if you’re a candy connoisseur, as it’s a candy store in the front. The walls are filled from top to bottom with a variety of exotic sweets. Once you make your way around the back of the store, this is where the legendary ice cream is located. If you come here for one thing only, it has to be their Munchie Madness ice cream: the delicious base sweet cake batter, with a caramel swirl, is simple enough that the mix-ins can shine through. The real star of the show is the inclusions; it’s loaded with M&M pieces, peanut butter cups, and Oreo cookies.