Summer is the time of the year when the cravings for an icy, sweet treat seem to hit the hardest. However, sometimes plain vanilla ice cream [1] in a cup is just so boring. And while adding toppings or springing for some mint chip can also be the way to go, for serious food-lovers out there, out-of-the-box ice cream flavors are the next wave in the foodie phenomenon.
There are some ice cream shops around the country that are serving up serious culinary creations. Made for adventurous eaters, sophisticated palates, and, of course, Instagram, flavors range from avocado toast [2] (seriously!) to everything bagel [3]. Check out some of these interesting blends and flavor creations around the country, and maybe even pay a visit to one of these shops for a taste of something different this Summer.
Everything B&W Sammie at Ice & Vice
Ice & Vice [5], based in New York, offers vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two black and white cookies. That's cool, yes, but then it's rolled in everything bagel seasoning for a totally fresh take on, well, bagels.
Partly Cloudy at A La Mode
Partly Cloudy from New York's A La Mode [6] is a sweet take on blue cotton candy with mini marshmallows mixed in. However, something super cool about ice cream from this brand is that it's made in small batches in a nut-free, sesame-free, and egg-free environment.
Lemon Verbena With Calendula Petals at Nimble & Finn's
The cutest little ice cream shop in Guerneville, CA, Nimble & Finn's [7], is located on the site of an old bank. Creative flavors, including this lemon verbena with calendula petals, and a vault transformed into a photo booth make this a place to stop.
Basil Lemonade and Blood Orange Mimosa Sorbets at Cupcake Royale
Known more for its baked goods (peach bourbon crumble cupcake, anyone?), the ice cream selection at Seattle, WA-based Cupcake Royale [8] should not be missed. Try basil lemonade (shown here on the top) or blood orange mimosa (bottom) sorbet for a one-of-a-kind taste. It's always cooking up new flavors (like breakfast biscuit ice cream and retro cherry cola), so you can return plenty of times without getting bored.
Pickled Mango at Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream
For the sake of transparency, I once made five friends wait in line at Jeni's [9] with me for more than half an hour. While they all whined while waiting, no one complained when the ice cream hit their lips.
From pickled mango [10] (shown) and peach buttercream to goat cheese cherry, Jeni's (based in Columbus, OH) takes its ice cream to a completely different level. However, you can also grab yourself something a bit less adventurous but just as delicious, as it caters to all kinds of ice-cream-lovers.
You Can Call Me Babs at Bliss Street Creamery
The Queens, NY-based Bliss Street Creamery [11] has a ton of pretty insane flavors on its menu. Shown here is You Can Call Me Babs, which is tarragon-flavored with a rhubarb swirl. But if that's not your style, try purple sweet potato with marshmallow swirl, pink peppercorn, or sage brown butter.
Cornbread and Honey at Circles
Let's talk about cornbread and honey. No, not real cornbread and honey, but this seriously delicious ice cream from Circles [12] in Indianapolis. However, the coolest thing about this brand is that it can be found around the country in some grocery locations, making this a treat you may be able to find right at your own door.
Avocado Toast at Sweet Peaks
The ice cream that millennial dreams are made of: avocado toast from Sweet Peaks [13] is a sight to behold and a lick to savor, as well as a photo to Insta. It's also made from locally sourced ingredients, so it's something you can feel good about eating.
And if avocado toast isn't off the beaten path enough for you, Sweet Peaks is also home to Pine + Chocolate. Yes, that's right, we said pine. The brand's chocolate ice cream is infused with pine extract and needles of a local pine tree.
Peach and Ricotta Cream Pie at Salt & Straw
What happens when you want something a little sweet but not too sweet or jazzed up? The answer is peach and ricotta cream pie from Portland, OR-based Salt & Straw [14]. This treat is made from peach compote over sweetened ricotta cream and topped with a walnut lace cookie crumble all stuffed in a waffle cone. Yea, we'll take two.
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip With a Twist at Graeter's
Graeter's [15] is known for making small-batch French pot ice cream like this black raspberry chocolate chip. Chips, however, are its signature, and the company is always pumping out other cool combinations — like buckeye chocolate chip.
Salty Caramel Ash at Frankie & Jo's
Gray ice cream? Leave it to Frankie and Jo's [16] to come up with salty caramel ash. The ice cream is dry-burned caramel blended with activated charcoal and sea salt. It's made with sprouted cashew milk, coconut milk, cane sugar, vanilla extract, coconut oil, activated charcoal, and sea salt.
Peaches and Biscuits at Circles
We know we already mentioned Circles [17], but peaches and biscuits? How could that not make the list of some of the most outrageous ice cream flavors from around the country?