Should it be surprising that a state with a reputation for being colder than a freezer is such a hot spot for ice cream? Absolutely not. We embrace summer, we embrace desserts, and we have seen an explosion of creative ice cream treats in every corner of the state. Thirty-one flavors? Adorable. Pop that Lactaid and dig into some of the best ice cream in Minnesota—or try a delicious dairy-free treat instead (we’ve included those, too).
Made With Love (From-Scratch Ice Cream)
BEBE ZITO
Locations in Minneapolis and Woodbury
DREAM CREAMERY
816 NE Lowry Ave., Minneapolis
FLAPDOODLES
Two locations in Rochester
LOVE CREAMERY
Two locations in Duluth
PUMPHOUSE CREAMERY
4754 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis
SEBASTIAN JOE’S
Three locations in Minneapolis
Jason’s Pick:
Honey & Mackie’s
16725 County Road 24, Suite 106, Plymouth
I’m biased because it’s close to my house, but the quality of the ice cream at west suburban Honey & Mackie’s is top tier. Cookie Monster. Chocolate Gold. I’m a sucker for the Raspberry Chocolate Chip. Owner Suzanne Varecka keeps it simple: great rotating homemade flavors, decadent French fries, and you can get a hot dog, too.
Courtesy of Honey & Mackie's
Ice Cream in a Pint
BRIDGEMAN’S
Multiple locations
GRAND OLE CREAMERY
Locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul
MINNESOTA DAIRY LAB
Multiple locations
Jason’s Pick:
A to Z Creamery
703 Mainstreet, Hopkins
The creativity here is wild. Would you order a pint of Basically Pizza—a mozzarella
ice cream with San Marzano tomato swirl? Or the Munka Mafia, which is coffee ice
cream with espresso fluff and sweetened condensed milk? For Christmas, A to Z made Santa’s Nightcap with Andes Mint brownies swirled into a dark chocolate ice cream. Founder Zach Vraa has done online-only drops since 2020, and they often sell out
within minutes—pick up a pint in Hopkins.
Photo by Adam Klosterman
Soft Serve
CUP AND CONE
2126 Fourth St., White Bear Lake
MN NICE CREAM
Locations in Minneapolis and Stillwater
Courtesy of MN Nice Cream
MR. TWISTY
Locations in Sartell and St. Cloud
TREATS CEREAL BAR & BOBA
Locations in Blaine, Bloomington, Minneapolis, and St. Paul
Jason’s Pick:
Conny’s Creamy Cone
1197 Dale St. N., St. Paul
Twenty-four flavors of soft serve ice cream including black cherry, key lime, and mango? Sure, that’s fun, but have you dipped your chocolate/vanilla twist cone in a peanut crunch topping? The Creamy Cone near Como Park has been open for more than 30 summer seasons—serving up nostalgia and impressive flavor, too.
Scoop Shops
COLD FRONT
490 Hamline Ave., St. Paul
NELSON’S ICE CREAM
920 Olive St. W., Stillwater
TWO SCOOPS
Locations in Anoka and Osseo
WHAT’S THE SCOOP?
Locations in Buffalo and St. Michael
Jason’s Pick:
The Chocolate Ox
Locations in downtown Nisswa and Grand View Lodge
The Chocolate Ox screams summer to me: heading up to the Brainerd Lakes
region, making family memories, getting that waffle cone loaded up with strawberry ice cream. It’s the perfect scoop shop.
Courtesy of The Chocolate Ox
Non-Ice-Cream (but Still Sweet) Treats
ADELE’S FROZEN CUSTARD
800 Excelsior Blvd., Excelsior
BUSTER BAR AT DAIRY QUEEN
Multiple locations
JONNYPOPS
Sold at multiple retailers
PALETAS AND MANGONADAS AT LA MICHOACANA PURÉPECHA
Multiple locations
Jason’s Pick:
Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pie at Fletcher’s Ice Cream & Cafe
306 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
Jason Fletcher’s Northeast Minneapolis shop pairs the perfect oatmeal cookies with an extra vanilla-y vanilla ice cream for the ideal summer treat. A great way to spend $7.
Photo by Tomer Ran-Ressler
Nondairy Treats
MN NICE CREAM has vanilla and chocolate options that are vegan, lactose free, and made with oat milk; Locations in Minneapolis and Stillwater
NELLIE’S ICE CREAM offers vegan flavors served up in a cone or dish; 2034 Marshall Ave., St. Paul
WONDERS ICE CREAM CO.’S rolled ice cream includes vegan options; Locations in Eden Prairie, Maplewood, and St. Paul
Jason’s Pick:
Vegan Ice Cream at Milkjam Creamery
2743 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis
Chef Sameh Wadi’s ice cream emporium goes overboard in serving the Uptown neighborhood with vegan flavors. A mix of almond and coconut milks make the base for Black (aka The Darkest Cocoa) that has a consistency creamier than a typical sorbet.
