Need a frozen treat for National Ice Cream Day? Here's 14 cool spots in Oklahoma

I scream, you scream, we all scream for National Ice Cream Month in July. Plus, with National Ice Cream Day coming up on July 16, don't forget to make plans to visit one of the great places across Oklahoma City serving up delicious frozen treats.

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, 4 gallons of ice cream, or roughly 20 pounds, are consumed by the average American annually, and it has a $13.1 billion annual impact on the U.S. economy.

Whether soft serve, sandwiches, or by-the-scoop is your speed, Oklahoma City is sure to find a spot in your heart, just do your best to avoid a brain freeze. You could head to Baskin Robbins, Marble Slab Creamery, Cold Stone Creamery or even Braum's for hand-dipped ice cream, or you can opt to visit one of the city's other many ice cream gems.

Here are 14 places for delicious frozen treats on National Ice Cream Day and beyond.

1. Boomtown Creamery, three metro-area locations

Boomtown Creamery just turned one and they did it in style by opening two additional locations. Now people across the city can grab a scoop or a flight at either of the shop's OKC locations and their Edmond spot is serving the north side of the metro. As an added bonus for Moore residents and Normanites, the South OKC location is just minutes from the Moore city limits, making it a convenient stop for south side visitors to grab a scoop or pint of their hand-crafted flavors and one-of-a-kind collaborations. Boomtown will have a special new flavor, exclusive merch designed by Shopgood, special sundaes just for National Ice Cream Day on the 16.

• Locations: 605 NW 23 Street; 10740 S May Ave., Suite 116; and 17 E Fifth Street in Edmond

• Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

2. Wondervan Pops, mobile

The only fully mobile operation on the list, Wondervan Pops serves up a selection of fruit and ice-cream based popsicle creations from restored vintage vans at events across the city. Check out the calendar at https://www.wondervanpops.com/calendar to find out when one of the vans will be cruising to a location near you or stop by the Scissortail Park Farmers Market every Saturday where Wondervan is a standing vendor. You can even book a van, pushcart or freezer chest full of their pops for your own party or event.

• Contact: 405-401-4305; wondervanpops@gmail.com

3. Baked Bear, four metro-area locations, plus a food truck

The San Diego-based chain smooshes signature-recipe ice cream between fresh-baked cookies and brownies to make their "monstrous ice cream sandwiches."

• Locations: 731 Asp Ave, Suite B, Norman; 1224 W Danforth Road, Edmond; 5906 SE 15 Street, Midwest City; and 2121 S Yukon Parkway, Suite 175, Yukon

• Hours: Midwest City: Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. All other locations: Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

• Food truck inquiries: 602-703-3326; foodtruckokc@thebakedbear.com

4. Roxy's Ice Cream Social, two metro-area locations

Roxy's offers traditional ice cream classics like floats and sundae and also has cookie sandwiches. With 14 flavors that stay in the shop's case and eight flavors that rotate seasonally and vary by location, there are plenty of options to choose from to build a dessert that will make you smile.

• Locations: 1732 NW 16 Street and 6150 NW Grand Blvd.

• Hours: Noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

5. Capitals/ Cities, two metro-area locations

Two sides of the same coin, Capitals and Cities are sister shops. Capitals is the Oklahoma City location, while Cities can be found in Edmond. Soft-serve ice cream is blended with toppings to make signature mixes or creations of your choice. Choose from store specialties like the Mount Scott, with chocolate ice cream, cocoa puffs, graham cracker and toasted marshmallow or the Great Salt Plains, with caramel, pretzels and pecans. You can also choose from a variety of mix-ins including various fruits and cereals, cookie dough, cookies, peanut butter and more. Plus, if you make it a shake you can even add cold brew.

Locations: 1006 N Hudson Ave., Suite 100, Oklahoma City; and 23 W 1 Street, Suite 100, Edmond

Hours: OKC: Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Edmond: Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

6. Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe, 1039 N Walker Ave.

While Kaiser's won't be open on the 16, you can stop by the day before to get your fix at the classic soda fountain in the form of a malt, ice cream soda, sundae or more.

• Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

7. Tizo's Pops & Ice Cream, 5125 S Western Ave.

If you're looking for ice cream and popsicles with authentic Mexican flair, Tizo's is the perfect stop for you. The shop is the brainchild of a family that began making Mexican-style paletas and ice cream creations in Aguascalientes, Mexico in 1973. Choose from a variety flavors and combinations that include pops dipped in chamoy, chocolate and pecans, and even marshmallow that is then set aflame.

• Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

8. Bibi's Ice Cream, 1316 W Memorial Road, Suite 102

What could be better than pizza and ice cream? Not much, which could be why Provisions Concepts linked up their craft ice cream spot, Bibi's, with their craft pizza spot, Birra Birra, and put them side by side in Chisholm Creek. You can even order Bibi's ice cream for dessert right off the Birra Birra menu.

• Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

9. Sweet Sips and Sticks, 333 W Boyd Street, Suite 110 in Norman

Have you ever dreamed of turning ice cream into an over-the-top dessert creation? Sweet Sips and Sticks may be just the place for you then. Head in and choose your ice cream and then add a variety of toppings, from cookies and doughnuts to candy and cereal. Treats can be made as wild sundaes or shakes.

• Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday

10. Yonutz, 1001 W Memorial Road, Suite 103

What started as ice cream smashed between doughnuts will upgrade to the option to enjoy ice cream concoctions beginning on National Ice Cream Day when Yonutz launches its new smashed ice cream menu and create-your-own menus. On the 16, the first 50 customers starting at 2 p.m. will be treated to a complimentary Create Yo! Own SMASHED Ice Cream treat.

• Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Want custard? Here's where to go

What's the difference ice cream and custard? The egg yolks - they make for what is often a richer and creamier treat. So while there may be some discussion as to whether you should call it ice cream, it's definitely a delicious frozen dessert so we're including the next three entries.

11. Spark, 300 Oklahoma City Blvd.

Spark keeps it simple with vanilla, chocolate and a monthly flavor. Their location on the north end of Scissortail Park and the fact that they also have burgers and fries makes for a winning combination and an easy family picnic at the park, complete with dessert.

• Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

12. Rusty's Custard Factory, 301 East Main in Norman

Norman-based Rusty's offers most of the ice cream-based treats you can imagine in multiple varieties. A menu made up of different splits, floats and freezes, concretes, sundaes, malts and shakes, cones and more awaits your crew at the shop that's been serving Norman since 2001.

• Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

13. Andy's Frozen Custard, Three metro-area locations

This national chain has rotating flavors often crafted with whatever fruits are in season or just pick your favorite mix-in and create your treat of choice. Choose from concretes, jackhammers, sundaes, shakes, malts or old-fashioned sodas. Plus they also offer Italian ice pops for those in your party not interested in dairy-based desserts.

• Locations: 5801 Northwest Expressway; 15200 Penn Crossing Court and 1200 E 15 Street, Edmond

• Hours: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to Midnight Friday and Saturday

Honorable Mention: Big Dipper Creamery

Though outside the Oklahoma City metro, there's a great option for ice cream if you're in Oklahoma's other big city. Stop by Mother Road Market, 1124 S Lewis Ave in Tulsa, and grab a cup, cone, pint or cookie sandwich from Big Dipper Creamery.

• Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Where to go for National Ice Cream Day 2023