Any Texan knows that the best way to beat the sultry heat is by indulging in some creamy ice cream and with a state as large as the Lone Star State is, it comes as no surprise that there are a plethora of locally-loved creameries to pick from. Priding themselves on using the freshest Texas ingredients and hand-crafting some truly unique flavors (candied bacon anyone?), these ice cream artists are producing some of the best creamy desserts in the state of Texas, well really, in the United States. Yeah, they're that good.
Y'all, we have composed a list of the best places to satisfy that sweet tooth, so forget buying that extra fan or blasting your A/C, and instead, beat the heat with these cool and creamy ice creams from deep in the heart of Texas.
1. Galveston: La King's Confectionery
I've been enjoying Root Beer Floats and the Cinnamon ice cream flavor at La King's Confectionary since I was a child. Every trip my family would take to Galveston this place was, and still is, a must-stop for the best ice cream and hand-made candy in TX.
Since opening their doors in 1976, this confectionary has taken pride in serving Purity Ice Cream Co. ice cream, which is the oldest ice cream manufacturer in Texas dating back to 1889, and heirloom candy recipes that have been perfected over generations.
2. Austin and San Antonio: Lick Honest Ice Creams
With six locations in Austin and San Antonio, Lick Honest Ice Creams has quickly established itself as some of the most delicious and sophisticated ice cream shops in the great state of Texas.
Lick Honest Ice Creams focuses on local flavors and honest, real ingredients, and y'all, that makes this ice cream pure and lovely. They also offer dairy-free ice cream, which is great for those with special dietary needs.
Their menu changes according to the season, so there is always a new, fresh flavor to try, and they enjoy creating some interesting flavor combinations that will literally blow your mind.
My personal favorite flavor is their Brown Butter Brown Sugar Pecan ice cream which will explode rich caramel-y notes and pops of pecan goodness in your mouth. Try some of their more daring flavors like pink peppercorn lemon twist to spice up your sweet tooth.
3. Houston: Fat Cat Creamery
Made with local ingredients, Fat Cat Creamery makes each batch of their artisan ice cream with a devotion to the purest flavors they can find.
They also focus on environmentally sustainable packaging with care for Mother Earth and sustainability. Now that's something I can dig my spoon into.
My personal favorite flavors are the Love Potion, which is a white chocolate ice cream studded with pureed raspberries, and their Bourbon Pecan Pie ice cream which is as boozy and rich as it sounds.
All I know is when I take a trip back home to the Bayou City, this creamery is one of the first places I stop.
4. San Angelo: The Latest Scoop
What started as a passion and an ice cream food truck, has now blossomed into a brick and mortar store. The Latest Scoop takes fresh, local ingredients and transforms them into creamy, dreamy delights.
Based on a family recipe that was later perfected at The Ice Cream School at Pennsylvania State University, the ice cream coming out of The Latest Scoop is nothing short of perfection.
One of my flavor go-tos is their Mexican Vanilla, which is vanilla ice cream elevated by pure, rich vanilla beans, cinnamon, and chocolate.
Try some of their more unique flavors like their Lavender Blueberry, which will leave you wondering why no one else ever thought to combine these two flavors before.
5. Brenham: Blue Bell Creameries
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This wouldn't be a best-ice-cream-in-Texas list without mentioning good ol' Blue Bell ice cream.
Every Texan has their favorite flavor, mine is their Buttered Pecan, which with one bite incites memories of me and my grandmother sneaking scoops at night when I was supposed to be in bed.
Established in 1907, Blue Bell Creameries has been serving up some of the most nostalgic and scrumptious ice creams in the great state of Texas. Priding themselves on transforming the best ingredients they can get their hands on, into classic flavors like Cookies 'n Cream and Homemade Vanilla, Blue Bell ice cream is what every Texan uses to beat the sultry heat.
If you haven't made the trip to the Texas-ice-cream-mecca in Brenham, be sure to do it this summer for one dollar scoops of any of their creamy flavors and a tour of where this Texas classic got its start. Or better yet, if you live in any of these states: (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming) getting a taste of Blue Bell is as easy as going to your grocery store.
6. Fort Worth: Melt Ice Creams
Melt Ice Creams produces hand-crafted, unique, and inspirational ice creams with a desire to give back to the less fortunate—now this is an ice cream you can feel good about eating on a regular basis.
They make everything from scratch, including their sauces, which makes this ice cream parlor easily one of the best places to indulge in sweet treats in Texas. Their menu changes with the season ensuring the freshest, local ingredients and flavor-packed creations that you just can't taste anywhere else.
Be sure to try their Spring Sundae composed of lavender-infused whipped cream, puckery lemon sauce, indulgent white chocolate sauce, and crispy honeycomb candies. This sundae is the best way to beat the impending spring heat.
Or, try my favorite flavor, the Take Me Out to the Ballgame which is based on a stadium-loved little gem, Cracker Jack caramel-y popcorn, with salted caramel swirls for an extra touch of sweetness.
7. Corpus Christi: A La Mode Gelateria
Founded by two chefs who studied at Le Cordon Bleu and have competed in various competitions, including one on Food Network, A La Mode Gelateria prides itself on hand-crafted gelato made with local ingredients, fresh culinary inspiration, and the utmost expertise.
With flavors like Fruit Loops, which will immediately take you back to the Saturday mornings you spend as a kid watching cartoons, and more adult flavors like rich cappuccino and nutty pistachio, you will want your ice cream with a little extra a la mode at this gelato creamery.
8. Waco: Heritage Creamery
Heritage Creamery began with a family chocolate chip cookie recipe and a coffee shop, Common Grounds, but this love of caffeine and sweet treats eventually grew into a devotion to all things ice cream.
This locally loved creamery prides itself on transforming Waco grown and sustainable ingredients into artisan ice cream that will delight all of your senses.
With bold flavors like the Candied Bacon, which is composed of brown sugared bacon bits studded in a sweet cream stracciatella ice cream base, or their insanely indulgent duck fat caramel ice cream that makes the perfect base for a decadent root beer float—all your ice creams dreams will come true with one bite of these creamy scoops.
9. Dallas: Milk Cream
A true take on the ice cream sandwich, Milk Cream is serving up succulent scoops inside a warm and toasty donut—commence drooling. Locally loved and meticulously crafted, the ice cream that Milk Cream is serving up in nothing short of the sweetest in Dallas.
With some eclectic flavors with awe-inspiring bright colors, like their neon blue Cookie Monster ice cream, Milk Cream is an ice cream shop for all of your senses. Be sure to get your ice cream sandwich stuffed with the nostalgic-childhood-cereal of your choice for an extra layer of crunch that will satisfy your sweet needs.
10. El Paso: Alegre Ice Cream
Located just North of the Mexican-American border, Alegre Ice Cream is a Mexican-inspired ice cream shop that hones the flavors of the freshest, local ingredients into each bite on any of their sweet treats. Start with their ice creams and then work your way through their full menu of Mexican sweet treats.
Stop by for a taste of their hand-crafted coconut or signature vanilla ice creams, and get a waffle sandwich cookie or two as an extra treat. Be sure to try their coco popsicle dipped in farm fresh pecans to satisfy any Texas-sized sweet tooth.
Or, get a taste of Mexico right here in the Lone Star State with one of their aguas frescas, I suggest their Piña Colada flavor for a delightfully sweet pineapple and coconut combination.
