Ice cream season

Five local shops satisfying your ice cream cravings

By Claire Nunn on April 30, 2020

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! With days beginning to warm up, so is the intense craving for a delicious, cool, sweet treat. Let's be honest, we're always craving ice cream, but the craving always intensifies in the summer months.

So we've set out to find the best local ice cream offerings. We don't know about you, but we definitely plan to indulge in decadent scoops all summer long.

Ice Cream Social

This family-owned business in Tacoma is whipping up handcrafted scoops with ingredients sourced from some of Tacoma's favorites. These favorites include ingredients from Valhalla Coffee, Mad Hat Tea and Spooner Farms. Combine these flavors with other natural ingredients and you get decadent handcrafted flavors that are worth splurging for ice cream any day. 

If that doesn't convince you, we will leave you with this flavor list: Salted Caramel, Almond Poppyseed, Valhalla Coffee, Roasted Banana, Cookies and Cream and so many more. 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, icecreamsocialtacoma.com

Bliss Small Batch Creamer

Located in University Place, Bliss Small Batch Creamer is your one-stop shop for anything ice cream related. Ice cream cones, cakes, milkshakes and yes, vegan ice cream. That's right, this ice cream shop boasts several vegan flavors on their menu including Vegan Matcha, Vegan Bumbleberry Crisp, Vegan Cookie Butter and so many more. But don't worry, if vegan isn't your style, there are regular flavors aplenty. 3556 Market Place W, University Place, icecreambliss.com

Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream 

Located in Federal Way, this place is a bit of a drive, but if you haven't had nitrogen ice cream before, let us tell you, it's worth the drive. Using nitrogen to freeze the ice cream allows for a creamier end product and for all ice cream to be customized to the consumers desired flavor combination. 

We know it's probably not difficult to convince your kids to want to get ice cream, but throw in a nitrogen cloud resembling a science experiment and they will be really EXCITED! 31653 Pacific Hwy. S, Ste A, Federal Way, subzeroicecream.com

Gabe's Old Fashioned Ice Cream 

Located in Puyallup, this ice cream shop is bringing back old fashioned ice cream in the best way possible. All their ice cream is made in their store using an old fashioned oak churner, resulting in the most decadent ice cream flavors. We're talking candied pecans in a homemade rich butter ice cream base and pure peppermint ice cream base with chocolate chip morsels. Don't believe us, check it out for yourself all summer long.  11012 Canyon Rd. E, #5, Puyallup, gabes-icecream.com

Sofie's Scoops Gelateria

Located inside The 222 Market in downtown Olympia, Sofie's Scoops Gelateria has a small batch from scratch mentality. Meaning all of their gelato is made in small batches in-house with the freshest local ingredients. Located inside The 222 Market allows you the opportunity to grab oysters at Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar, or bread at the Bread Peddler and then head to Sofie's for a delicious scoop of gelato, or a pint to take home. 222 Capitol Way N, Ste. 116, Olympia, sofiesscoops.com