With the weather heating up in the Ann Arbor area, nothing is quite as refreshing as a scoop of ice cream or an ice-cold shake. Luckily, there are a multitude of creameries in Ann Arbor and surrounding areas such as Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Dexter, and Saline. If you’re looking for something to do this summer — try an ice cream crawl! Rate your favorite scoops and determine an ultimate winner for the summer season.

Blank Slate Creamery

300 West Liberty Street, Ann Arbor

Dive into this deliciously creamy, all-natural ice cream at this popular area creamery chain. Not only can you opt for full dairy, but there are also sorbets and nondairy options available to ensure everyone leaves with a sweet treat. Flavors change throughout the seasons, with the current summer lineup featuring browned butter cookie dough, vanilla caramel blondie, lemon bar, and cherry crisp. Gluten-free flavors are just as delicious, with decadent variations such as blueberry pancake, balsamic strawberry, midnight chocolate sorbet, and Vietnamese cinnamon. Patrons can leave with an order of their flavor of choice in a cup, cone, or even in a pint (which comes with 2 complimentary waffle cones). Don’t forget the sprinkles!

Michigan Creamery

302 South State Street, Ann Arbor

This creamery has an array of treats that make for the perfect summer dessert! From coffee, ice cream, and gourmet chocolates — there’s something for everybody on the menu at Michigan Creamery. All products are proudly made in Michigan, so you can rest assured that you’re supporting a local family-owned establishment. The menu features traditional ice cream waffle cones, shakes, smoothies, sundaes and take-home pints! Popular flavors include classics such as cookies and cream, mint chip, and of course Superman!  Michigan Creamery offers options for everyone including frozen yogurt, sorbet, sherbert, non-dairy options and a rich and creamy soft serve custard.  Having a party?  Michigan Creamery has you covered there as well with Sundae Bar options and delicious Ice Cream Cupcakes!  Don’t be afraid to choose additional toppings such as chopped peanuts, hot fudge, Oreo, and more to make your personalized delicious concoction. Go all out and order your scoop(s) in a homemade chocolate-dipped waffle cone bowl!

Washtenaw Dairy 

602 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor

Washtenaw Dairy has been proudly serving its high-quality dairy products for over eight decades. They can do it all, from milk and cheese for local businesses to ice cream sundae bars for upcoming parties. Their ice cream has proven so popular that it’s not unusual to find a line out the door on a summer evening. Swing by on your ice cream crawl in the Ann Arbor area and sample unique flavors such as Pirate’s Treasure (caramel ice cream with Oreos and M&M’s), Blue Moon (citrus almond flavored), and Michigan Pothole (chocolate ice cream with fudge and chunks of chocolate “asphalt”). The dairy ensures that they have an array of nut-free flavors on the menu, so you won’t be excluded from this delicious summer treat because of a nut allergy.

Dexter Creamery

8106 Main Street, Dexter

If you love to customize your ice cream with toppings, then Dexter Creamery should be at the top of your summertime bucket list! The creamery boasts over 70 toppings, allowing you to create a sundae that’s truly unique to you. Choose from 38 flavors of premium “MOO-ville” ice cream, which has been named best in the nation by the North American Ice Cream Association for two years running. The high butterfat content gives this ice cream a rich mouthfeel that’s complemented by flavors such as java chip, tiramisu, birthday cake, and moose tracks. The shop also sells self-serve frozen yogurt, milkshakes, and an array of fruit smoothies and brewed lattes using freshly roasted espresso beans.

Luca Pastry

3354 Washtenaw Avenue C, Ann Arbor

Luca Pastry is a family-owned and operated Italian bakery in Ann Arbor, with two other locations in Canton and Livonia. The bakery specializes in cakes, cannolis, macarons, and cookies but their gelato shouldn’t be slept on! Not only can you swing by for a scoop, but you can also order a gelato cake! Some of the popular variations include chocolate pistachio, vanilla bean, and tuxedo. Upgrade your next celebration with this decadent take on an ice cream cake, with beautifully piped icing and tasteful decor. There’s a free parking lot for customers, though it can get a bit crowded during rush hours so keep that in mind next time your sweet tooth strikes.

Spad’s Twisters

901 South Main Street, Chelsea

Spad’s Twisters has been serving up some of the best soft serve around since 2002. The ice cream shop has various locations around Michigan, with the Chelsea spot slinging fan favorites like the Trash Can Sundae with vanilla ice cream, Oreos, cookie dough, M&M’s, Reese’s, and whipped cream topped with gummy worms. Want to keep it classic? The banana split features three mounds of soft serve, with fruit toppings, nuts, and bananas. Spad’s Twisters is also known for its mocha ice shake, which combines vanilla soft serve, cappuccino flavoring, and hot fudge for a sweet treat fit for any coffee lover. This location has outdoor seating, so enjoy your ice cream under the sun before it melts!

Zingerman’s Creamery

3723 Plaza Drive #2, Ann Arbor

If you love the texture of gelato, then Zingerman’s Creamery specializes in traditional recipes and methods that take advantage of the highest quality milk from small regional farms. Choose from flavors such as cheesecake, strawberry, maize & blueberry, pistachio, and bold dark chocolate. The velvety lemon curd gelato uses curd sourced from Zingerman’s Bakehouse. The creamery also features sorbets on the menu, as well as rotating seasonal flavors like eggnog, peppermint, harvest pumpkin, and more. Grab your treat by the pint so you can enjoy it at home. Zingerman’s is proud to offer free curbside pickup for cheese, gelato, and more! You can’t get more convenient than that on a busy summer day.

Ice Cream Time

1240 Ecorse Road #5912, Ypsilanti

The menu at Ice Cream Time is long, meaning you may have a tough time deciding which mouthwatering flavor you want to try. The ice cream shop has soft serve, cones, sundaes, slushes, shakes, Frappuccinos, smoothies, flurries, banana splits, and more! You can even pick up a dog-friendly treat, ensuring everyone in the family gets a refreshing cup on a hot day. If you don’t know where to start, try the Turtle Sundae or a scoop of the chocolate chip cookie dough. Novelty treats include fudge nut bars, dipped cheesecake bars, drumsticks, and frozen bananas with nuts. Don’t forget to order your cone with extra sprinkles, which adds a rainbow pop of color to any scoop! On “not-too-tall” Tuesdays, kiddos 36″ and under get a free soft-serve ice cream cone, so enjoy this weekly tradition all summer long.

Candy Coated Creamery

1076 North Huron River Road, Ypsilanti

If you’re looking to mix up your dessert routine and try some truly unique concoctions, Candy Coated Creamery has you covered. Specialty desserts feature the ice cream nachos, which are miniature waffle cookies covered with your favorite ice cream and your choice of topping. The C3 Trippy Dippy isn’t for the faint of heart! This shareable dessert includes three scoops of ice cream, cheesecake, two chocolate chip cookies, and waffle nacho chips. The creamery has vegan flavors, such as coconut, blueberry, and black cherry, and sweet treats like gourmet cupcakes, cookies, and specialty popcorn. If you’re new to Candy Coated Creamery, you can’t go wrong with the Oreo Overload or the Strawberry Crunch shake.

Milk & Froth Ice Cream

328 South Main Street, Ann Arbor

Milk & Froth was first launched in Detroit using a foundation of clean, simple ingredients. The decadent artisanal ice cream flavors coming out of this creamery are sure to impress even the youngest customers. All ice cream is made in small batches and is free of artificial flavors, colors, and chemical stabilizers. Popular dairy flavors at Milk & Froth include chocolate hazelnut with bits of toasted hazelnuts and malt cherry chocolate with ribbons of Michigan cherries and chocolate shavings. Love matcha? The matcha pistachio uses ceremonial-grade tea with clusters of pistachios. Non-dairy, vegan flavors include roasted strawberry, peppermint patty, and coffee & cream. If you want to upgrade your ice cream experience, make sure to add Milk & Froth to your Ann Arbor area ice cream crawl.

La Piña Loca

3980 Platt Road Suite C, Ann Arbor

One of the specialties at La Pińa Loco is the La Piña Casual, which features pineapple ice cream, chunks of pineapple, mango, and strawberry, as well as chamoy, Tajín, pina paleta candy, and peach rings. The ice cream shop also serves up milkshakes in both classic and traditional flavors like chocolate, banana, Maria cookie, Gansito, and pecan. Pair your sweet treat with something savory, such as street corn or spicy chicken tamales. You can even order a virgin pina colada! Skip the line and order online or opt for delivery if your order is $15 or more.

Cap’n Frosty Ice Cream

9245 Bernice Drive, Pinckney

Enjoy the drive to Pinckney, where you’ll be able to dig into some of the area’s best ice cream. With friendly customer service and some of the best flavors around, you won’t regret making the stop. Hand-dipped flavors are rotated throughout the year, with popular options being Better Brownie Batter with rich fudge swirls and bits of real brownies and the gluten-free coconut chocolate almond with roasted almonds. Mint fans rejoice because Cap’n Frosty has both green mint chip and green mint grasshopper. Kiddos will go wild for the whimsical Llamalicious, packed with purple sugar cookie chips and pink frosting. The ice cream shop keeps two flavors in the rotation of their no-sugar-added ice cream, which can include strawberry, chocolate, turtle sundae, moose tracks, and more. Additional menu items include sherbets, sorbets, and even a vegan and dairy-free oat vanilla frozen dessert.

Whistle Stop Ice Cream Caboose

2385 East Grand River Avenue, Howell

Nothing says summer like a trip to the ice cream caboose! Whistle Stop recently celebrated over three decades of serving ice cream. The ice cream shop is known for their premium soft-serve ice cream, as well as frozen yogurt and over 20 different hand-dipped ice cream flavors! New summer options include a dairy-free dole whip flavor. There’s a drive-thru option, so you can keep all the kiddos buckled in the car for the ultimate convenience. Treat the little ones to a fun sundae, such as the Dirt Cup sundae with gummy worms or the Cookie Monster sundae with googly eyeballs and a chocolate chip cookie. The menu also includes glaciers, ice cream sandwiches, flavor burst combo cones, and more exciting treats.

Mickey’s Dairy Twist

703 West Michigan Avenue, Saline

Mickey’s is open year-round but the treats taste especially good on a warm summer day. Servings are generous, with some patrons reporting that they end up with leftovers that freeze well and taste just as delicious the next day! The establishment is notoriously kid-friendly, even going as far as to decorate ice cream with sprinkles and edible eyes. If the options seem overwhelming, try the upside-down banana split or the peanut parfait. The hot fudge cream puff sundae is both light and decadent at the same time. Other dessert options at Mickey’s Dairy Twist include floats, sundaes, frozen yogurt, flurries, and even a Dole Whip soft serve cone! Don’t forget, this is a one-stop shop. Grab dinner, such as $3 cheeseburgers and hotdogs and $7 shrimp and fries, to go along with dessert.

UniTea

522 East William Street, Ann Arbor

Not only can you satisfy all of your bubble tea cravings at UniTea, but you can also indulge in tasty soft serve! Flavors are kept super simple, yet are bold and delicious. Try mango or matcha or get them swirled. Add toppings such as crystal boba, rainbow jelly, fortune cookie, fresh fruit, or even fruity popping boba for a unique texture and burst of flavor. The menu also includes an egg waffle and ice cream combo, with patrons having the choice between Hong Kong-style or Vietnamese-style (pandan and coconut) waffles. Other dessert options at UniTea include flan and a brown sugar tofu treat.

Start Plotting Out Your Ice Cream Crawl! 

With so many delicious ice cream flavors to sample, gelato to savor, and waffle cones to compare — you’d better get started on your Ann Arbor area ice cream tour ASAP! Whether you want to get creative and try unique flavors or stick to the tried and true chocolate, ice cream is something that never disappoints.