I scream, your kids scream, we all scream for ice cream… And maybe if you feed the kids ice cream, they’ll stop screaming. Discover the best dessert spots near you so you’ll know where to snag a sweet afternoon snack or celebratory goodie. Feel free to make our guide your new bucket list.
- Bendy’s Cookies and Cream
3029 Pump House Rd., Suite 109, Vestavia
220 Main Street, Suite 100, Trussville
Open Sun–Thurs: Noon–9 p.m., Fri–Sat: Noon–9:30 p.m.
“Scoop, eat, repeat,” is their motto—and I like how they think. This ice cream sandwich shop certainly knows how to combine two of the best things—ice cream and cookies. (Yummm!)
- Big Spoon Creamery
4000 3rd Ave. S., Birmingham
927 Oxmoor Rd., Homewood
(205) 703-4712
Sun–Thurs: noon–9 p.m., Fri–Sat: noon–10 p.m.
You’ll find all kinds of unique flavors of handmade artisanal ice cream at Big Spoon, made with ingredients from a local 4th-generation dairy farm, seasonal fruit, and herbs from their on-site garden. Chefs/Owners Ryan and Geri-Martha O’Hara are dedicated to bringing the Birmingham community their best, with sundaes, sammies, and flavors like “honey pistachio chip,” “sweet corn blackberry,” “goat cheese fig,” and “watermelon margarita sorbet.”
- Bluff Park Ice Cream
815 Shades Crest Rd., Birmingham
(205) 423-5055
Open noon–8 p.m. daily
This darling ice cream shop is a must-visit. They offer about 32 flavors to choose from each visit and over 100 delicious flavors that are rotated out all year long. You can’t get this gourmet, super-premium ice cream just anywhere—it’s shipped in all the way from The Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company in Madison, Wisconsin (a five-time LA International Dairy Competition Gold Medalist!). All-natural ingredients and more butterfat make for a creamy, rich ice cream you’ll keep going back for. Not to mention their non-dairy soy, gluten-free, kosher, and low-sugar flavor options… and Italian ice—so everyone can enjoy your afternoon treat!
- Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
1008 Vestavia Pkwy., Vestavia
5212 Caldwell Mill Rd., Birmingham
445 Main St., Suite 101, Trussville
(205) 408-8801
Open Sun–Thurs: 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sat: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Bruster’s is a classic. I mean, they have everything, from ice cream cones to sundaes, splits, blasts, shakes, freezes… and that doesn’t even include ice cream cakes and pies, or their specialty items. Personally, I love Graham Central Station, but the White Raspberry Truffle gives it a run for its money.
- Doodles
3238 Cahaba Heights Rd., Vestavia
(205) 527-1022
Open year-round noon–10 p.m.
Attention all dairy-free people! Doodles is the perfect place for you. Plus, enjoy the sugary sweetness of a sorbet or Italian ice without ingesting as much sugar as traditional desserts. All of their sorbets and Italian ice flavors are made with 100 percent natural ingredients and fresh fruit. Plus, they’re all customizable, so you’ll get exactly what you want!
- Edgewood Creamery & Mountain Brook Creamery
936 Oxmoor Rd., Homewood
2715 Cahaba Rd., Birmingham
Edgewood: (205) 874-1999
Mtn. Brook: (205) 870-0092
Open daily 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
These local creameries are nestled in the center of Mountain Brook Village and Edgewood. The staff is sweet, and the ice cream is sweeter. Snag you a fresh waffle cone and try one of their 56 flavors!
- Freezy’s Creamery
(205) 922-3634
4025 Helena Rd., Helena
Thurs–Fri: 3–8 p.m., Sat: noon–8 p.m., Sun: noon–6 p.m. (Closed Mon & Tues)
Anything you get, you’ll be happy at Freezy’s, whether it’s an Orange Julius shake or a scoop of Cookie Monster or an ice cream sammie. Bring your pup to treat them to puppy ice cream.
- Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
931 Jemison Lane, Mountain Brook
219 29th St. S., Birmingham
Mountain Brook: (205) 677-6261
Pepper Place: (205) 868-3416
Open Mon–Fri: noon–11 p.m., Sat–Sun: 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Jeni’s might just be my favorite ice cream stop… I mean, how can you not love Gooey Butter Cake?! Not to mention their quirky seasonal flavors and collabs. (I mean, “opaque” ice cream?!)
- K&J’s Elegant Pastries
2260 9th Ave. N., Birmingham
(205) 663-4827
Open Tues–Thurs: 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Fri–Sat: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Their shakes are iconic and almost the size of a house. Some have an entire slice of cake on top. And talk about Instagrammable… these shakes are masterpieces! They also sell cupcakes, cakes, and wedding cakes.
- Sunshine Creamery
3390 Morgan Dr., Vestavia
(205) 601-0230
Open daily 1–8 p.m.
facebook.com/Sunshine-Creamery
This locally owned creamery has ice cream (duh), ice cream sandwiches, sundaes, ice cream pies and cakes, and even hot chocolate and lattes. They also offer grab-and-go options if you want to keep some emergency ice cream in the freezer.
- Whole Scoop, The
1021 Brock’s Gap Parkway, Hoover
(205) 444-8000
Open Mon–Thurs: noon–9 p.m., Fri–Sat: noon–10 p.m., Sun: 1–9 p.m.
This family-owned ice cream shop is cozy, and the hand-scooped ice cream is delicious! Whether you get an ice cream cone, sundae, milkshake, malt, or ice cream slice, you’ll be happy.
