There are few tastier ways to stay cool in Scottsdale than eating ice cream. Fortunately, there are several excellent local proprietors of the dessert we all scream for, no matter what the outside temperature. Here’s the scoop on some of my favorites.
SUGAR BOWL
Opened in 1958, and still owned by the same family, this Scottsdale mainstay retains an old-school, ice cream parlor vibe (and a distinctive pink exterior). Menu favorites include the Camelback Soda and Pinnacle Peak sundae, but I usually gulp down a delicious shake or malt far too quickly. Hello, brain freeze!
SWEET REPUBLIC
Can ice cream be considered gourmet? Absolutely! Sweet Republic opened in 2008 and made ice cream an art form, with a distinctive flavor menu that changes regularly. Salted butter caramel is a favorite choice, as are Sweet Corn, Brown Butter Pecan and Honey Lavender. I haven’t tried them yet because my default choice is the Toffee Banoffee sundae, with Madagascar vanilla ice cream, bananas, salted caramel sauce and house-made almond toffee brittle.
FATTY DADDY’S
This relative newcomer to the local ice cream landscape is small in size but huge in flavors (24 in total) that are kept as natural and organic as possible. I find it hard to pass up the Cookie Cup, made with layers of ice cream that are topped with a fresh macaron and a toasted marshmallow. Individual flavors that top my list include Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Whisky Irish Cream.
Buzzed Bull Creamery
The scenic Scottsdale Waterfront is where you'll find Buzzed Bull Creamery, home to premium, made-to-order ice cream treats. Buzzed Bull harnesses the power of liquid nitrogen to hand-craft each ice cream and milkshake, giving you free reign to customize your dessert. For the adults, optional alcohol add-ins give your creation an added little kick.
