Make the most of the warm weather while you can—these desserts are best enjoyed with a side of summer sunshine!
Dessert is certainly not an afterthought in a city known for its deep culinary traditions, and sometimes there’s only one way to fight the heat…ice cream! Stay cool this summer with these over-the-top ice cream treats.
Fancy Pop S’more Bar at Pretty Cool Ice Cream
Pretty Cool Ice Cream’s tagline says it all: “We are a pretty cool neighborhood spot for ice cream novelties.” And their Fancy Pop S’more Bar brings the goods. First, they blend hand-toasted marshmallows into ice cream, then dip it in chocolate, and cover it in graham cracker crumbs and tiny toasted marshmallows. It’s like summer camp on a stick!
#TheCloud at STK Chicago
STK Chicago, the “not your daddy’s steakhouse” known for its chic vibe dining experience, serves up #TheCloud—a one-of-a-kind dessert featuring light and sweet angel food cake with white chocolate cremeux, topped with fresh-made strawberry ice cream and a fluffy cotton candy cloud (that is set alight table-side to reveal the scrumptiousness inside!). This unique, Instagram-worthy ice cream dessert is sure to help you beat the heat this summer and beyond.
Donut Ice Cream Sandwiches at Firecakes Donuts
Firecakes are donuts, get it? And here, they make them perfectly golden brown, fluffy, and in an array of classic and inventive flavors. Customizable ice cream sandwiches with the donut of your choice as “the bread” is what’s on the menu this summer (and anytime of year for that matter). Keep it simple with a honey-glazed donut filled with Tahitian vanilla ice cream and hot fudge sauce, or spice it up with some of their daily featured flavors. There’s no wrong way to go!
Housemade Gelato at BomboBar
Like something straight from Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, the creamy treats here will indulge your imagination as much as your sweet tooth. You’ll need more than a few visits to sample the gamut at BomboBar. Create sugary waffle cone combos worthy of your wildest childhood fantasies. Start with the house-made gelato options (made fresh daily from a personal recipe that Chef Fabio Viviani keeps under tight wraps). Tickle your tongue with flavors like Cookie Monster Dough, Coffee Caramel Crisp, and Pistachio, to name a few. Then sprinkle your scoop with Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Haribo Gummi Bears, and top it all off with a bomboloni (Italian hole-less doughnut) filled with the likes of salted caramel, sweet Nutella, or raspberry.
The Signature Gelato Flower at Amorino
Amorino’s Signature Gelato Flower is a worldwide sensation, consistently praised and featured on the Food Network, among other acclaimed shows and publications. Owner and franchisee, Lisa Gasparian, brought this gelato perfection to Chicago in 2015. Amorino’s use of superior ingredients and Old World mastery allow for a super smooth and consistent gelato that can be carefully constructed, petal by petal, with “as many flavors as you want.” The result is as beautiful as it is delicious—the perfect antidote to the summer heat.
The Sno-Ball at Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods
Ina Mae brings the Sno-Ball—a New Orleans staple of finely-shaved, fluffy ice coated in classic flavors, like Ultimate Peach Cobbler, Creole Cookies & Cream and Sugartown Spice or Nice—to cool off Chicago’s sweltering summers. Make it boozy or top it off with whipped cream or rainbow sprinkles for the full indulgence. You can even get a Sno-Ball out of their to-go window for the perfect treat to beat the heat!
The King Kong Sundae at Sugar Factory
The monster, world famous King Kong Sundae features 24 scoops of ice cream topped with chocolate and caramel sauce, whipped cream, waffle cones, giant unicorn pops, sparklers, assorted cakes, treats, and candies. They turn the music up, as your sundae arrives and the full available staff surrounds your table in a flurry of cheering and clapping. All eyes will be on you as you tuck into this famed Sugar Factory delight.
Chan-Wiches at The Publican and Publican Quality Meats
Executive Pastry Chef of One Off Hospitality’s Publican family—including The Publican and Publican Quality Meats—Erika Chan has whipped up her own version of the ice cream sandwich. Cheekily named, the Chan-Wiches start with two homemade oat-flour-honey cookies and thick hunks of ice cream wedged in-between, rotating in flavors from cinnamon and chocolate to spiced scoops. One of Chan’s favorite creations? Blueberry Cheesecake made with real cheesecake and local blueberries folded in, finished with a touch of homemade blueberry sprinkles. Visit The Publican to snag an individual sandwich, or buy a six-pack at Publican Quality Meats and squirrel it away for future indulgences.
The Wonder Years Milkshake at JoJo’s Milk Bar
When it’s one of the most popular shakes at JoJo’s, you know it’s good. The Wonder Years Milkshake is a smooth, decadent sipper with a base of Blue Moon ice cream, a collar of vanilla icing, mini marshmallows, sugar stars, and sprinkles, all topped off with cotton candy, candy ribbon, gummy hearts, and a candy-coated over-sized marshmallow. Adult guests can add a topper of High West Silver Whiskey to enjoy as a slightly boozy delight.
Sundae Service at Maple & Ash
“Revisit your childhood, make the ice cream sundae of your dreams.” Request the Sundae Service at Maple & Ash for an ice cream tower three scoops tall—chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Then take a trip down memory lane with ice cream toppings such as hot fudge, peanut butter sauce, whipped cream, and sprinkles. With no grown-ups to limit the fun this time around, you can up the ante with additional decadent topping options like pecan streusel, candied coconut, or Luxardo cherries.
By Andy Hume, contributing writer
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