Best Indianapolis-area shops for National Ice Cream Day
Let's all scream: National Ice Cream Day is Sunday.
And whether you like it in a cone, slathered with hot fudge in a sundae, or made into an insane milkshake, there are plenty of locally-owned shops ready to help you beat the heat with a sweet frozen treat.
Here are some of the best places in the area to commemorate.
Bates Ice Cream
1740 S. East St., Indianapolis, 317-784-8329
This small shop opened in 2021 to sell hand-scooped Hershey’s ice cream, shakes, floats and sundaes. And it's pet-friendly.
Big Hoffa's Freezery
800 E. Main St., Westfield, 317-867-0077, bighoffasfreezery.com
The pirate-themed shop at Big Hoffa’s BBQ has hand-scooped ice cream; but it’s hard to keep your eyes off of the over-the-top milkshakes. A key lime pie option features a full slice of pie, graham cracker planks and vanilla sugar wafer cookies.
The Freezery recently added cereal milkshakes made with Reese's Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Apple Jacks, Fruity Pebbles and Cap'n Crunch.
Cone + Crumb
205 Park St., Westfield, 317-399-7878, conecrumb.com
An ice cream shop with an executive chef and a sous chef? Yep. That’s where the “Crumb” comes in.
Everything’s made in-house, from the 12 rotating ice cream flavors, including a peanut butter, bacon and banana flavor made with chopped bacon, to cupcakes, slab pies, muffins and coffee cakes.
Fundae's Ice Cream & Sweets
7165 Whitestown Pkwy., Zionsville, 317-732-5046
1515 Main St., Speedway, 317-941-7185
The family-owned stores serving hand-dipped ice cream emphasize accessibility with artwork that includes images of American Sign Language for shop- and race-themed words and phrases. Stepstools are at the ready to help little ones select their flavors and watch them being scooped.
The Neapolitan features a dark, rich Zanzibar chocolate ice cream swirled with old-fashioned vanilla and strawberry; but the signature flavor is the "This $&@! Just Got Serious," salted caramel ice cream with sea salt fudge and cashews.
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Gordon’s Milkshake Bar
865 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis
816 W. Main St., Carmel
Among the shakes, sundaes and desserts featuring fresh-baked goods, the signature item here is a hot fudge peanut butter brownie milkshake.
Lick Ice Cream
The Garage Food Hall, 906 Carrollton Ave., Indianapolis, lickicecream.tumblr.com
Lick Ice Cream's flavors go way beyond vanilla. Think gingersnap lemon curd, pistachio brittle and blueberry, and gorgonzola candied pecan; all made with locally-sourced ingredients.
Lick scoops 12 flavors at a time, half of them seasonal.
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LiftOff Creamery
111 E. 16th St., Indianapolis, 317- 426-2641, liftoffcreamery.com
We do love a theme.
At this Herron Morton spot, it’s aviation. The owner is a commercial airline pilot.
Ice cream from Michigan-based Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream is scooped up – about 20 flavors at a time – taking their names from things aviation-related.
Milkshakes, shaved ice and boba tea are also on the menu.
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Mandy's Ice Cream
1042 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-350-2467, facebook.com/mandysbrownsburg
Not only is the ice cream here among the best in the area – catch the lemon meringue with fresh lemon and marshmallow ice creams swirled with a tart lemon ripple for a limited time – but the customer service is hard to match. The shop features hand-written letters from young visitors. Cute.
Sundae’s Homemade
9922 E. 79th St., Indianapolis, 317-570-0533 sundaeshomemade.com
Sundae’s carries 32 rotating flavors, all made in-house.
In business since 1995, it doesn't skimp on the mix-ins. The lemon pound cake has plenty of cake pieces in a lemon ice cream base, and the cookies and cream is loaded with chocolate cookie pieces. Made-to-order pies also are available.
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Square Scoop Ice Cream
1028 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, 317- 426-3320, sqrscoop.com
Scoops are huge at this Fountain Square shop. Flavors include banana cream pie, sticky chewy chocolate and orange pineapple Dreamsicle. Pineapple upside-down cake and Sour Patch Kid flavors are among those offered for a limited time.
Guests can also get their vintage candy fixes here.
TeeJay’s Sweet Tooth
8660 Purdue Rd., Indianapolis, 317-744-9764, teejayssweettooth.com
You can opt for scoops, sundaes and shakes – there are 16 flavors at any time – but the star of the shop is the Donut Ice Cream Sandwich. The Fruity Pebbles treats ice cream sandwich is another highlight.
The shop has been a drive-thru and car delivery service only since the beginning of the pandemic.
The New Age of Ice Cream
1325 Shelby St., Indianapolis, 317-384-1093, instagram.com/newageoficecream
The Mexican ice cream shop features goodies made in-house. Ice cream flavors include cookie butter and tiramisu. Sauces are available in traditional fruit flavors, as well as in bubble gum and mint. Even the cones are flavored. Try orange cream, matcha or dark chocolate. Gelatos, homemade popsicles and even frozen treats for pooches are available.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on Twitter: @cherylvjackson.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis ice cream: Best local shops for National Ice Cream Day
