Best Places to get Frozen Treats in Des Moines

Des Moines ice cream lovers rejoice! No, it’s not ice cream weather. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite frozen treats any time of year in Iowa. Whether you like soft serve or traditional, cup or cone, sprinkles or syrup, these frozen concoctions are sure to make you scream with delight.

1. Over the Top

Over the Top is Central Iowa's BEST handmade ice cream shop, offering over 30 super-premium flavors. There here are options for delectable chocolate, truffles, and candies. Take advantage of their indoor or outdoor dining, drive-thru service, and private party room for special occasions and birthday celebrations. 

2. Granny’s Sweet Freeze Shoppe

Among the mouthwatering treats they sell are smoothies, sorbet, frozen yogurt, ice cream, and smoothies. Granny's Sweet Freeze Shop is well known for its warm atmosphere and retro-style decor. The outside terrace is popular with customers in the warmer months.

3. Black Cat Ice Cream

Due to its unique and delicious flavors made with locally sourced ingredients, Black Cat Ice Cream is a well-known destination for ice cream lovers in Des Moines. They also provide vegan and dairy-free selections.

4. Snookies Malt Shop 

Established in 1986, Snookies Malt Shop is a well-known ice cream parlor and restaurant with a nostalgic aesthetic. It offers a variety of malt flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cotton candy, as well as more odd flavors like caramel apple, pumpkin pie, and caramel cotton candy. Also, they offer a variety of ice cream flavors that can be mixed and matched to create special malts and sundaes.

5. The Outside Scoop

Have you seen the town's The Outside Scoop ice cream truck, which has a brilliant pink color? The Outside Scoop specializes on gourmet ice cream that is produced by hand. The Outside Scoop makes all of their ice cream from scratch in small batches and serves it at their truck and two storefront locations in Indianola and Ankeny. You can stick to classic flavors like vanilla or strawberry, or you can try something new like Dutch letter, goat cheese with roasted cherry, or coffee toffee. 

6. Dairy Zone

Dairy Zone is a popular ice cream shop located in Des Moines, Iowa. One of their specialties is the "Tornado," which is soft-serve ice cream blended with various mix-ins to create a delicious and unique treat. You can choose from a variety of toppings, and have them mixed into their ice cream to create their own personalized Tornado.

7. Bauder’s Pharmacy

As a pharmacy turned ice cream and old-fashioned soda shop, you’ll go back to the future just to get some of these frozen concoctions. Their ice cream is delicious year-round. If you are  in the Des Moines area and looking for a sweet treat, it is be worth stopping by Bauder's Pharmacy to try their ice cream and other frozen concoctions.

8. Home Sweet Cone

Des Moines's Home Sweet Cone has ice cream fans in a frenzy. They frequently serve their ice cream with freshly made waffle cones and other baked desserts. They make a lot of effort to offer vegan and gluten-free options, so keep a look out for them.

9. Monarca Paletas

Monarca Paletas in Clive is the place to go if you want something different from ice cream. Monarca Paletas offers both cream-based and fruit-based options for their popsicles, giving customers a variety of flavors to choose from. If you want to give your dessert even more flavor, you can select to have it covered in chocolate or another flavoring.

10. Waukee Ice Cream Shoppe

Having trouble deciding between soft and hard serves? But at Waukee Ice Cream Shoppe, you're not required to. This beloved neighborhood staple provides a wide variety of ice cream in a parlor-like environment, including shakes, cones, and massive amounts of cookie dough. Although frequently busy, it is worth the wait. Right, a long line suggests either good ice cream or a sweltering day.  

11. Van Dee’s Ice Cream Shoppe

Enjoy soft ice cream and treats at Van Dee’s Ice Cream Shoppe at Johnston, they offer a variety of options to choose from, especially when it comes to satisfying your sweet tooth. So, if you're in the area, it might be worth checking out Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe for a delicious treat.

Conclusion:

Whether you prefer a simple or a complex ice cream sundae, you can find it in Des Moines. Whether you want to enjoy one on the patio in the summer or inside on a crisp winter day, you can find a frozen treat nearby. Be sure to check out some of these places for your next summer getaway!