The essential Detroit area ice cream shops you should have tried by now
There’s nothing better than a hot summer day and frozen treat to cool you down. While there are some great chain places, nothing beats the smaller ice cream shops dishing out soft-serve and hard scoops on those scorching days.
From dipped cones and banana split sundaes to towering milkshakes and waffle sandwiches, you’re sure to scream for these frozen dessert shops.
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Ashby’s Sterling of Grosse Pointe
20081 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods; 313-886-2560; ashbysicecream.com
Since 1984, Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream has been raking in awards and dishing out the goods for their dairy treats. You can turn any of their ice creams into a delicious shake.
The Custard Co.
2801 Monroe St., Dearborn; 313-274-1750; thecustardco.com
The Custard Company carries a variety of frozen delicacies including cookie sandwiches, shakes, and their ever popular sweet bun ice cream sandwiches.
Frosty Boy
38650 Jefferson Ave., Harrison Twp; 586-465-3322
Conveniently located next to Lake St. Clair Metro Park, Frosty Boy is Harrison Township’s beloved frozen custard spot. They’ve got soft serve, Dole whips, sundaes, shakes, flurries, and banana splits, but most importantly, they offer pup cups so your four-legged friends can get in on the ice cream action.
Treat Dreams
22965 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-544-3440 | 4160 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-818-0084 | 621 E. 11 Mile Rd., Madison Heights
Treat Dreams rotates its ice cream flavors often, but don’t think you’ll only go and find chocolate or vanilla. You might walk in and see lobster bisque or zucchini bread on the menu. The shop just recently opened a Madison Heights location that is walk-up and drive-thru only.
The Custard Hut
25947 W. Warren St., Dearborn Heights; 313-278-5577
Who says your frozen custard only has to be served in a cone or a cup? At The Custard Hut you can get your favorite frozen flavor packed between two waffles.
Family Treat
2010 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-841-3522
Dipped cones, waffle cones, and sundaes are all classics you can find at Family Treats. If you just so happen to be hungry, you can grab a hot dog or a tac while you’re there.
The Split
532 E. Nine Mile Rd., Hazel Park; 248-571-2064
Just because it’s named The Split, doesn’t mean that’s all it has to offer. The Split not only sells sundaes, but also soft-serve cones, mochi, waffle stacks and more.
Doug’s Delight
1108, 23110 John R. St., Hazel Park; 248-307-7970
There’s nothing more Michigan than a Sanders bumpy cake and at Doug’s Delight you can get a Bumpy Cake Dougie (their version of a DQ Blizzard).
Screamers
44666 Mound Rd., Sterling Heights; 586-254-1414; goscreamers.com
Screamers is a family-owned ice cream shop founded in 2010. It might be younger than some of the other shops on this list, but it serves the same great ice cream flavors that we’re used to.
Wally’s Frozen Custard
22501 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-552-5038; wallysfrozencustard.net
Michigan loves Superman ice cream, but what about Superman frozen custard? If you’re lucky, it’s a treat you can get when you visit Wally’s Frozen Custard.
