Top 5 Ice Cream in Atlanta

Ugh, thank GOD that is over. Winter, I mean. I’m sure I’m one of the only people that think Georgia winter is awful, but then again, I’m a Floridian. And in Florida, ice cream is in season 12 months out of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I eat ice cream during the winter, but isn’t it so much more enjoyable when you’re strolling through the park in a tank top with the sun kissing your face?

Since spring has metaphorically “sprung”, I decided it was time I do a little bit more extensive research on the situation in Atlanta. Ya know, because ice cream and bikinis go so well together.

I’ve done the research, so you don’t have to. I searched far and wide, and I found the best. Here are my picks for the top 5 ice creams in Atlanta, in order from “pretty darn good” to “so this is what this is supposed to taste like.”

5. Queen of Cream

Queen of Cream’s claim to fame is that they make everything from scratch, right down to pasteurizing their own bases, which they only make small batches of. They use locally sourced dairy and real, local ingredients to flavor their ice creams, and it shows. I would venture to say that, due to using all natural ingredients, some of the flavors don’t completely punch you in the face like other store-bought varieties. Rather, their flavors are more delicate and sophisticated. I ordered the lavender honeycomb, cream cheese hummingbird cake, and “Twixie” (vanilla with dark chocolate-covered shortbread cookies and salted caramel) in a waffle cone topped with hot fudge. Honestly though, next time I go, I will order one flavor to enjoy all on it’s own. That’s the way to appreciate ice creams like these.

4. Morelli’s Gourmet Ice Cream

I really enjoyed Morelli’s for a few reasons. For starters, everything is incredibly rich and creamy, due mostly to the fact that they use a gelato machine rather than a standard ice cream maker. Secondly, their ice creams are super familiar. This is the place you bring your kid to, and you’ll both find something you like. I also really like Morelli’s because their flavors don’t taste like straight sugar (lookin’ at you, Jake’s). They actually taste like the advertised flavor. And although not everything is homemade, all the caramel stuff is. I got a double scoop sundae with peanut butter caramel crunch and salted caramel ice creams, homemade caramel sauce and homemade whip, inside a waffle bowl that was made to order. I wasn’t supposed to eat the whole thing, but I did.

3. I-CE NY Ice Cream Atlanta

I know, I know… It’s a New York shop. How dare they come into Atlanta and expect to be accepted?! I get it, and normally I would agree, but hear me out. This is some of the creamiest ice cream I’ve ever had, and to boot, IT’S NOT TOO SWEET. Rolled ice cream doesn’t become ice cream until right after you order it. All the magic happens on a sub-zero metal plate, where base is poured and mixed. This process limits the amount of air that goes into the ice cream, making it even creamier than gelato, in my opinion. “But Lindsay, there are other rolled ice cream shops in Atlanta, why not choose one of them?” To which I respond, do those other shops have taro flavored ice cream with CORN FLAKES added to it?! NOPE, SURE DON’T. It’s incredible. And it’s totally worth the trip to Buford Highway.

2. Butter and Cream

Butter and Cream was recommended to me by an old friend that I’ve more recently (and excitedly) reunited with. She said to me, “You’ve gotta go, Lindsay, and when you do, you have to get the Honeycomb Forrest”. So of course, that’s what I did. I went out to Decatur, I ordered the Honeycomb Forrest, swirled with honey and chunks of crunchy whole honeycomb, and topped it with a scoop of their OG Goodness for good measure. And, oh yeah, I topped all of that lusciousness off with some of the best hot fudge EVER and had my creation gently placed in a birthday cake waffle cone. My ice cream dreams came true. It’s also worth noting here that Butter and Cream is a small batch parlor and uses all natural ingredients as well. Somehow, though, the flavors are way more pronounced. There’s no overwhelming taste of sugar. Just an overwhelming taste of awesome.

1. Miller Union

WHAT THE WHAT, that’s not an ice cream parlor! That’s right, folks, restaurants make homemade ice cream too sometimes. And, surprise, amazing restaurants like Miller Union also have unbelievable pastry chefs that could churn unicorn ice cream in their sleep. At Miller Union, not only are they making the best ice cream in Atlanta, but some of the best I’ve ever had, not to mention the best ice cream sandwiches I’ve ever had.

The ice cream itself is so rich and creamy, the flavors are clean and pronounced without tasting artificial, and they don’t rely on adding sugar to achieve great flavor, they rely on fantastic ingredients and technique. This is a frozen treat that you can’t, and simply don’t want to make at home. You want to dine with this ice cream sandwich. Have a moment with this ice cream sandwich. You may even smoke a cigarette after eating one. That’s how good it is. Miller Union’s rotating variety of heavenly sammies is only available on their lunch menu, so plan to treat yo-self accordingly.

Now that I’ve eaten all of the ice cream in Atlanta, I won’t need to guess where to go when I have a craving, and neither will you. That’s it for this week’s top 5. Now it’s your turn to go out and show these shops some love for doing such a phenomenal job. It’s up to us to separate the good eats from the bad and show recognition and appreciation where it’s due. Now, back to my mid-week cleanse before my next food tour. What will be featured on the next top 5? You’ll find out soon enough. 😉