Ditch the classics: 14 Dallas ice cream shops with unforgettable flavors
A frozen treat is the perfect way to combat the summer heat. Celebrate National Ice Cream Month in style with these unusual Dallas offerings.
Welcome to National Ice Cream Month! While we like to indulge every month of the year, these next few weeks encourage us to be extra diligent. Thankfully, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has plenty of shops to enjoy ice cream, including several that serve more unorthodox treats.
Most of these spots do offer the basics, so if you’re just craving a scoop of vanilla, you can make it happen. However, when you’re feeling more ambitious, these Dallas ice cream shops deliver plenty of wacky options.
1. Tongue in Cheek Ice Cream
526 W Arapaho Rd, Richardson, TX 75080
3505 E Park Blvd #300, Plano, TX 75074
You don’t have to place an order here sarcastically, though it would be very on-brand. Brett Smith founded Tongue in Cheek Ice Cream after 25 years as a Richardson firefighter, and now he’s churning up a rotating selection of more than 20 flavors. Give your palate a perk with Bourbon Bean or pair heat and cool with Hot Honey Roasted Peanuts. Tongue in Cheek also does “Names of the Day” posts on social media. If your name is on the list, you can collect a free scoop.
2. Churn and Bake
2707 W 15th St Ste C, Plano, Texas 75075
Churn and Bake is an Asian-owned business, and the continent inspires the shop’s flavors. That means you’ll get to sample a variety of tastes you won’t typically find in the DFW metroplex, such as Mango Sticky Rice or Salted Egg Tart. The shop also creates new menu items for Asian-American Pacific Islander Month in May; this year included special flavors like Peach Oolong Tea and Korean Sweet Corn.
3. Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream
Multiple locations
Beth Marie’s may have “old fashioned” in the name, though more than 100 flavors provide quite the eclectic mix. The selections are made with 14% butterfat, giving a creamy taste that melts on your tongue perfectly. The alcoholic selections are the funkiest, with options like Texas Honey Whiskey, Jack & Coke, and Wobbly Monkey.
4. Bigdash Ice Cream & Pastries
Multiple locations
When you bill yourself as “home of stretchy ice cream,” you’ll certainly stand out. Bigdash has four locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and offers a mix of pastries and treats. They pound the air out of the ice cream, creating a condensed, stretchy serving. While stretching your ice cream is fun, perhaps the most unique treat is an Arabic log of original ice cream coated in pistachios. If you’ve never asked for a slice of ice cream before, it’s well worth checking out.
5. MELT Ice Creams
Multiple locations
A decade ago, MELT founder Kari Crowe-Seher took stock of the DFW ice cream scene and realized there was an opportunity for small-batch, high-quality concoctions. That handcrafted touch is evident in each scoop, and MELT has expanded to three additional locations beyond its original in Fort Worth. Some flavors are unique (hand)spins on classics, such as the Loaded Cookie Dough—made from a chocolate chip cookie milk base—and the Peanut Butter Explosion, a plant-based mix of peanut butter and dark chocolate stracciatella. The seasonal MELTshakes also get a little wild, like the Peach Cobbler Cheesecake.
6. Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream
3100 Independence Pkwy Suite # 215, Plano, TX 75075
From the enthusiastic bandana-toting cow mascot to the promise that “ice cream makes you pretty,” there’s a lot to like about Henry’s. The business launched in Philadelphia but has been serving the Plano community for over three decades, both as a shop and a wholesaler for local eateries. Give the Spumoni or Maple Walnut a try, and if you think Double Stuf Oreos aren’t enough, the Triple Oreo flavor is calling your name.
7. Milk & Cream
1929 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75206
Milk & Cream initially launched on Ross Avenue in 2016 but relocated and re-opened on Greenville Avenue earlier this year. Even with the new digs, the concept remains the same: tasty ice cream served atop a donut with delightful toppings. You can add a traditional choice like sprinkles or chocolate chips or dip into something more out there, like a heaping of cereal.
8. Sugar Pine Creamery
6832 Coit Rd #270B, Plano, TX 75023
Heads up: By the time you read this, Sugar Pine Creamery will likely have new flavors. This Plano favorite rotates its offerings every two weeks, which means there are only limited opportunities for Tomato Goat Cheese, Biscoff Cheesecake, or Nectarine Ginger Lemongrass. On the plus side, if you’re ever not feeling anything from the menu, you won’t have to wait long for a change in taste bud scenery.
9. Milwaukee Joe’s
901 MacArthur Park Dr #160, Irving, TX 75063
1417 Main St, Southlake, TX 76092
In 1995, federal agent Joe Libowsky hung up his badge, moved from Milwaukee to Texas, and started work on his passion project: making creative, creamy ice cream flavors. The “Joe” of Milwaukee Joe’s has since retired, though the legacy of his ice cream lives on. The Dr. Pepper is essential for any Texan, the Cashew Raisin Medley is essentially a frozen trail mix, and the Disco Lives will have you searching for a strobe light to complement your dance moves.
10. Sweet Firefly
2701 Custer Pkwy #810, Richardson, TX 75080
You might have memories of catching fireflies during the summer. Grabbing a cone from Sweet Firefly is far more satisfying. Though the classics are abundant here, the options—which come in sweet baby, sweet mama, and sweet daddy sizes—do include a few quirky flavors. Try the Peanut Butter & Jelly for another childhood nostalgia kick, or put a twist on a traditional with Orange Chocolate.
11. Parlor’s Ice Creams
6465 E Mockingbird Ln, Suite 465, Dallas, TX 75214
Kellie and Brandon Stoll decided to quit their corporate jobs in 2018. After a trip to Europe, including a stop in Italy, they realized their calling was making ice cream from scratch, and Parlor’s Ice Creams was born. Graduating from a scoop cart to brick and mortar in 2022, the duo continues using ingredients from local farms and businesses to deliver classic flavors. Their seasonal and rotating classics are where you’ll find the more unique flavors, such as Horchata, Oatmeal Cookie Crumble, and Blueberry Pound Cake.
12. Cauldron Ice Cream
Multiple locations
Perhaps it isn’t surprising that a place named Cauldron is keen on alchemy. These ice cream treats are crafted with liquid nitrogen, presented in a rose-shaped serving, and come on a puffle, a twist on the Hong Kong egg waffle street snack. You’ll certainly want to snap a few photos before diving in. Try the Sun Moon & Stars for a creamy blend of oolong, jasmine, and green tea, or grab the Milk and Cereal and sit in front of your TV to watch cartoons for hours.
13. Botolino
Multiple locations
Botolino is technically gelato, but we are absolutely counting it on this list. The “Italo Texano” combination leads to a collection of rotating flavors that are some of the most creative in the Dallas area. Stop by and order a cup (or two) of Mascarpone & Figs, Black Sesame, White Coffee, or Olive Oil.
14. Zero Gradi
Multiple locations
Johnny DiFrancesco created 400 Gradi to bring the flavors of Italy to Melbourne, Australia. Realizing cold treats could be just as satisfying as hot dishes, DiFrancesco turned the temperature down 400 degrees, and Zero Gradi was born. The husband-wife duo Igor Stevovic and Nikoleta Plavsic run the Texas locations, and few things top a slice of pizza paired with a cup of gelato. You could also just indulge in a croissant to accompany your gelato—the options are endless. Pomegranate Mint and Ferraro Rocher are two highly refreshing selections.
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