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.
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. Credit:Ashby's Sterling of Grosse Pointe / FacebookThe 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. Credit:The Custard Co./FacebookFrosty 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. Credit:Frosty Boy of Harrison Township/FacebookTreat Dreams
22965 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-544-3440 | 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. Credit:Treat Dreams/FacebookThe 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. Credit:The Custard Hut/FacebookFamily 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. Credit:Family Treat/FacebookThe 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. Credit:The Split/FacebookDoug’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). Credit:Doug's Delight/FacebookScreamers
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. Credit:Screamers/FacebookWally’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. Credit:Wally's Frozen Custard / FacebookMangonadas Del Barrio
1210 Lawndale St., Detroit; 313-724-6074
A southwest Detroit favorite is home of the Mangonada, a frozen spicy Mexican fruit drink, but it also offers some incredibly over the top frozen treats and ice cream options. Credit:Mangonadas Del Barrio/FacebookCold Truth
4240 Cass Ave., Suite 100, Detroit; 313-680-1199; coldtruthsoftserve.com
This Midtown soft serve joint offers out-of-the-box flavors like black sesame with strawberry balsamic drizzle, lavender, and black vanilla, but they always offer non-dairy options. Credit: Google MapsRay’s Ice Cream
4233 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak; 888-549-5256; raysicecream.com
Since 1958, Ray’s Ice Cream has been staying true to the retro soda shop vibe while serving out classic ice flavors like Mackinaw Island Fudge and Cherry Vanilla. Credit:Ray's Ice Cream/FacebookDairy-O
208 S. Main St., Clawson; 248-916-7700
Dairy-O is the ice cream shop of your childhood dreams. Serving up cones, sundaes, floats, coolers, flurries, glaciers, slushies, and smoothies, all of which can be topped and drizzled upon. Credit:Dairy-O / FacebookJim’s Frostie Treats
1528 E. Eleven Mile Rd., Royal Oak; 248-399-7919; jimsfrostietreats.com
Jim’s Frostie Treats has been a Royal Oak favorite since 1969, serving traditional soft-serve flavors, shakes, Dole whip, and more. Credit: Google MapsBob Jo’s Frozen Custard
4071 Fort St., Wyandotte; 734-282-6818
Bob Jo’s has been operating since the 1950s as a classic roadside custard and yogurt haven. There are 25 special flavors available as well as traditional faves like a vanilla-chocolate twist dipped in sprinkles. Credit:Bob Jo's Frozen Custard/FacebookDetroit Water Ice Factory
1014 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-888-9106; detroitwaterice.com
Ok, so technically Italian water ice isn’t ice cream, but the shaved ice treat from Detroit Water Ice Factory is the perfect way to cool off while enjoying Downtown. Credit: Google MapsThe Dairy Maid
31817 Utica Rd., Fraser; 586-294-1660
This family-owned shop is known for its drive-thru service, which can attracts a long line — but fans insist it’s worth the wait. Credit:The Dairy Maid/FacebookTaylor Queen Ice Cream Shop
25650 Ecorse Rd., Taylor; 734-776-9999
Not all royalty live in castles, some live in big red barns filled with delicious ice cream. Taylor Queen Ice Cream Shop, which specializes in specialty sundaes like the peanut buster, which is loaded with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, butterscotch, chopped nuts, whipped cream, and a cherry. Credit: Google MapsOberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store
32808 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-565-1071 | 6854 Rochester Rd., Troy; 248-250-9574; oberweis.com
Oberweis is a regional Midwestern chain mostly based in Illinois. Their motto? Stop when you smell the waffle cone. Credit: Google Maps
Born and raised on Detroit's Westside, Alex Washington is about as Detroit as they come. She judges your coney island order and serves a mean side-eye when anything across Eight Mile is called "Detroit."
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