Artisanal Ice Cream for the True Ice Cream Fanatics
Everything that’s worth doing is worth doing well, and this same principle also applies to ice cream. At least, that’s the thinking among the real ice cream fans, for whom only the best ice cream will do. And if you count yourself among the real ice cream fans, then you really should try the following ice cream brands:
Tipsy Scoop
The name is due to how the brand combines ice cream with alcohol, and it’s a true connoisseur’s delight (at least for adult ice cream fans). Here, they offer ice cream infused with various alcoholic beverages, so everyone can really have a fun time. Who says you have to choose between dessert and a cocktail? Here, you have the best of both worlds.
Start with their Boozy Favorites Collection, where you can find such heavenly delights as Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel, Cake Batter Vodka Martini, and Spiked Hazelnut Coffee. Take some back to your home, so you have the perfect midnight snack.
Graeter’s Ice Cream
This is a famous brand among Midwesterners, and it’s easy to understand why. First off, it’s based in Ohio. But more importantly, they offer ginormous chocolate chunks with innovative flavors to pick from.
The favorites here include the flavors Dark Chocolate Brownie and Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip. Every pint of ice cream that Graeter’s makes is mixed in a French pot freezer, and then packed by hand.
Nightfood
As the name indicates, the folks behind Nightfood intended their ice cream for those night owls who may be looking for a midnight snack before calling it a day (or night). The point of their “Sleep-Friendly” ice cream is that they’re helpful in getting you to sleep, as they minimize the ingredients that might disrupt your sleep process.
That means they reduce the fat and sugar content, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re all low-calorie as well. Instead, they pack in the amino acids, enzymes, and minerals your body needs so you can relax and get a good night’s sleep.
IT’S IT
The brains behind the IT’S IT brand are experts when it comes to really taking ice cream specialties to the next level. Their ice cream sandwiches are famous, and that’s because they’re not just your regular mix of ice cream and cookies. They also dunk the ice cream and cookies in a thin layer of smooth dark chocolate, so you end up with a winner of an ice cream sandwich.
If you’re new here, start with the ice cream sandwich sampler. That way, you get to try a little bit of everything, with flavors including pumpkin, strawberry, and mint.
Rita’s Italian Ice
Italian ice is like ice cream, but isn’t. It doesn’t use dairy products at all, so you instead get dairy-free treats that works even for vegans.
The brand started out in 1984, when a former firefighter in Philadelphia started selling Italian ice in his front porch in Bensalem (a Philly suburb). They used fresh fruit for their iced concoctions, and it became a hit. The guy’s name was Bob, and his wife was Rita.
The brand expanded quickly with the high demand, with another 3 locations across Philadelphia by 1987. But today, they have more than 500 locations in about 32 states. With more than 95 flavors to choose and the affordable Rita’s Italian Ice menu prices, it’s not surprising that the brand has become this famous. And it’s even healthier than regular ice cream.
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
The brand started out in 1949, and they still make their ice cream with their old-fashioned recipes. They’re all delicious and fresh, since they make everything from scratch.
They offer classic flavors, and among these you have to try the Mint Chip. If you’re looking for more unique combinations, then you should go with the Dark Chocolate Paso Brittle.
Other popular flavors include Coffee, Toasted Coconut Almond Chip, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate, Salted Caramel Chip, and Sea Salt Cream & Cookies.
Crank & Boom
This brand is based in Kentucky, and it’s a great option for those looking for ice cream that suits their Southern taste buds. The down-home flavors here are the epitomes of comfort food, and you can just get a pint and relax.
If you’re new to Crank & Boom, you might start with the Kentucky Ice Cream Collection. These come with 6 special flavors, including Fresh Strawberry, Bourbon Ball, and Blackberry & Buttermilk.
Mochidoki
Have you tried mochi yet? Mochi ice cream is a popular dessert in Japan, where they wrap a sweet pounded rice dough around ice cream. It’s a fun version of homemade ice cream, and it’s great after a satiating meal (especially after an Asian-inspired meal).
At Mochidoki, you can try out various flavors of mochi ice cream. Here you can go with Black Sesame, Seoul Cookie, or Purple Sweet Potato. If you’re new to Mochidoki, try out the Tasting Bundle so you get a taste of everything.
