Favorite Ice Cream Shops in the Twin Cities
June might be Dairy Month but July is prime ice cream season in the Midwest. The days are getting longer, the temperatures are getting hotter and the humidity is rising. Many of the local ice cream shops have lines out the door (and even down the block!), especially at this time of the summer, so it’s nice to know which locations are worth the wait. I taste-tested a lot of ice cream to narrow it down to my top three! It’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it…
Grand Ole Creamery in Saint Paul is my go-to spot for ice cream on the hottest days Mother Nature can throw our way. Their homemade waffle cones are my absolute favorite and the fact that I can literally walk there from my apartment doesn’t hurt either. With over 200 flavors, the menu is always changing and the options are endless. Grand Ole Creamery also owns the attached pizza parlor, making it the perfect place for a casual dinner and dessert. As if that’s not enough, they also offer delivery – yes, you can have your ice cream delivered right to your door!
* Grand Ole Creamery recently opened a Minneapolis shop near Lake Nokomis as well!
As someone who is mildly lactose intolerant, I was so excited to discover a local ice cream shop featuring both dairy-free and vegan flavors! My favorite flavor is the Black, a vegan and gluten-free dark coco creation but I can’t wait to try the Ridin’ Duuurty with crushed Oreos and salted peanut butter (yum). Another must-eat item is their Jam Bun – your choice of ice cream sandwiched between two halves of a Glam Doll Donut (another Twins Cities fave!) – messy but oh-so-delicious. Located in the trendy Uptown neighborhood, Milk Jam also offers an “adult” menu featuring spiked milkshakes and champagne floats. Sounds like a dream brunch item to me!
An Izzy’s ice cream cone is unmistakable due to the “Izzy Scoop” perched on the top of every order. While the added 3/4 scoop might not seem like a big deal, the Izzy’s team believes it represents providing every customer with a little something extra. This “something extra” is evident from their flavors and service to their Flavor Up! system. Izzy’s will actually send you a notification when your favorite flavor is available at their shop – how cool is that?! With locations in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Izzy’s Ice Cream Cafe is such a staple to Minnesotans, their hand-scooped ice cream and gelato is even served at Twins games! For more must-eat Target Field fare, click here.
Popular Places I Can’t Wait to Try:
An ice cream truck turned Northeast Minneapolis ice cream shop, MN Nice Cream offers vegan and dairy-free soft serve with toppings ranging from fruit and candy to glitter!
Part coffee shop, part ice cream shop – this family-owned business in Minneapolis also serves homemade baked goods, making it one-stop shopping for all of my flavor faves!
What are your favorite ice cream shops? Does your city have any local favorites?
