Ah, summer. The perfect time for ice cream, popsicles, and other frozen treats. The summer heat can feel unbearable sometimes but the long stretches of sunshine and frozen desserts still make summer my favorite season. (Though, I think we can all agree that the best time for ice cream is always.) So I hope you enjoy this guide! I’ll be updating the Frozen Desserts in the Triangle guide as I discover more treats in the area.
Parlour Slings Ice Cream and Baked Goods 7 Days a Week
Everyone who mentions Parlour to me always does so with a smile on their lips. To say they’re a beloved ice cream shop in Durham is stating it lightly. You can often find a line out the door. They are open 7 days a week and house-made baked goods to go with their ice cream. I love that Vietnamese Coffee ice cream! During my last visit, I tried their vegan coffee chocolate ice cream as a sandwich, and IT WAS HEAVEN.
The Parlour
117 Market St, Durham, NC 27701
theparlour.co
Taiyaki in Durham by Sugar Koi
Taiyaki is finally here in the Triangle! Sugar Koi brings this Instagrammable Japanese treat to the Triangle, and Instagrammers like myself rejoiced! I tried their Green Tea and Vanilla soft serve swirl. I wish the green tea flavor was stronger, but I’m still so thankful that they’re even here! It’s something different to make your summer days more fanciful. FYI, they do not currently have vegan options.
(If you’re curious where to get Taiyaki in Houston, check out my Houston instagrammable dessert post.)
Sugar Koi Ice Cream
905 W Main St SUITE 20-H, Durham, NC 27701
sugarfishicecream.com
Warm Ice Cream Sammies from Andia’s
If you follow Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream on Instagram, you’ll find that Andia is always experimenting with specials. From bubble tea affogatos to fun flavors like rice pudding ice cream. She’s also so sweet to host themed family nights like having Disney princesses and comic book superheroes hang out at the shop! Her ice cream flights are GENIUS🍨🍧. Perfect for when you’re feeling indecisive. There are vegan-friendly two fruit sorbets and at least one coconut milk-based flavor on rotation.
Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream
10120 Green Level Church Road #208, Cary, NC 27519
andiasicecream.com
Two Roosters source milk and cream from local dairy farmers who raise happy cows.
Two Roosters sources all their milk and cream from Homeland Creamery in Julian, NC and the NC State Dairy in Raleigh, NC. Pictured is their popular sea salt cookie dough flavor. They offer flights too for those who want to eat the world. They change out their monthly “guests” flavors and in August one of their guests is Croissant with Chocolate Almond Crunch, a collaboration with Layered Croissanterie. I can’t wait to go try!
Two Roosters
tworoosters.com
Rock in Rocking Chairs at Maple View Farm
Ice cream on a dairy farm with a porch with rocking chairs? I mean, can you get more quaint than that? You can buy farm-fresh milk and cheeses at Maple View Farm while also enjoying a cone. Maple View Farm has a selection of up to twenty flavors at a time, and they have a long list of accolades and awards won through their years of operation.
Maple View Farm
6900 Rocky Ridge Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278
mapleviewfarm.com
Design Your Own Rolled Ice Cream at Raleigh Rolls
I never tire of watching my ice cream being made/rolled in front of me Thai ice cream style. At Raleigh Rolls at the Morgan Street Food Hall, you can choose from established flavors from their menus or be an ice cream artist and invent your own flavors! If you want to try my latest creation, I had them create a banana and fruity pebbles ice cream. (I thought it was perfect!) They also have freshly pressed waffle taco shells to make your Taco Tuesdays sweet.
P.S. I featured Raleigh Rolls on my cereal treats guide.
Raleigh Rolls
411 W Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603
raleighrolls.com
Churros Sundae at Viva Mexican Kitchen
Also featured on my cereal guide, is this beautiful and ridiculous churros sundae from Viva Mexican Kitchen. This churro sundae dessert served in a Fruity Pebbles rimmed goblet took my dang breath away! I expected it to be too rich for me based on appearances. I’m happy to report that I was so wrong, and we scraped the whole goblet clean.
Viva Mexican Kitchen
4075 Davis Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560
vivamexicankitchen.com
Bittersweet is the perfect boozy date spot.
The dessert cocktail bar that is Bittersweet is such a great date spot. Their dessert menu always has something with ice cream on it. Pictured is the S’mores Sundae that is torched house-made marshmallow cream, Valrhona dark chocolate brownie, and vanilla ice cream.
Bittersweet Raleigh
16 E Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601
bittersweetraleigh.com
Vida Dulce’s offers Mexican Frozen Desserts
It’s mangonada season! Have you had a mangonada? They’re a traditional Mexican frozen treat, usually made with chopped fresh mango or mango purée combined with the salty, spicy and tangy flavors of tamarind and chamoy. If mangonadas don’t tantalize you, try one of their paletas or rolled ice cream at Vida Dulce in Cary.
Vida Dulce
836 E Chatham St #104, Cary, NC 27511
vidadulcenc.com
Will you accept this Gelato Rose from Amornio?
There is Amorino in Houston and I never made it there to try their pretty gelato roses. One of the first happy discoveries I made when I first moved to the Triangle and feeling homesick for Texas, was that Amorino has a location in Raleigh! It was one of the first times I thought to myself, You’re making this move a bit more gloomy when it doesn’t have to be at all. Buck up, kid. And I did, with a gelato rose. You can pick your flavors and these gelato slingers will give you the prettiest, delicious rose, topped with a macaron.
Amorino
137 E Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
amorino.com
Taiwanese Style Shaved Ice at Meet Fresh in Chapel Hill
Meet Fresh is a global franchise hailing from Taiwan aiming to bring Taiwanese shaved ice desserts to the international stage. I’m pleasantly surprised that Chapel Hill is a chosen location for a couple of the beloved Asian corporate franchises (see Bonchon in my Chapel Hill guide.) They are tucked away in Meadowmont Village, and definitely worth a trip. If you are looking for an easy introduction, get the strawberry and mango shaved ice pictured above!
Meet Fresh
407 Meadowmont Village Cir, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
www.meetfresh.us/
Shaved Ice at Shaka
I realize that this makes me a bad adult, but one of my favorite ways to stay hydrated in the summer is inhaling snow cones. My favorite snow cones are made with finely shaved ice and I’m so thankful that in my town of Carrboro, I can enjoy all sorts of flavors at Shaka!
And whew, there you have it. My guide to frozen desserts in the Triangle for now! As always, I’ll be updating this guide as I continue to cool down with more frozen treats in the area!
Next on our list of Frozen Treats to Try
Pincho Loco Ice Cream in Durham
Fresh Ice Cream in Raleigh
Did I miss any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
For more about the Triangle, read my Ultimate Guide.
Check out Instagammable Desserts from Houston and Charleston.
Follow my eating adventures and happenings on Instagram. You can also see what is catching my attention in the food world on Twitter and Facebook.
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