Inside the World's Most Creative Ice Cream Shops: Flavor Innovation Done Right
Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes
The most unique ice cream shops all around the US have one thing in common - innovation. Here’s where you’ll find one-of-a-kind flavors, unexpected combinations, and the most unique toppings. Before the Frolic, ice cream lovers only had one option in order to experience these flavors - and that was going to each of these shops. But, not anymore!
Frolic Ice Cream was engineered to bring these unique flavors right to the comfort of your own home. Just plug it in, choose a pod and the mix-ins of your choice, and in two minutes you can enjoy any ice cream flavor you can dream of.
Need some inspiration? Check out our do-it-yourself versions of some of the best ice cream flavors to exist, that can be found at the most unique ice cream shops around the country:
Inspired by Sugar Hill Creamery:
Based in New York, NY
Sugar Hill Creamery’s Version:
The Unicorn: A homemade birthday cake ice cream with gluten-free vanilla cake, royal frosting, and rainbow sprinkles added to a vanilla base to inspire a cake and ice cream dream.
How to DIY using Frolic:
Start with the vanilla base of your choosing - Frolic offers classic, lite, superlite, and even vegan vanilla bases to fit the needs of ice cream lovers everywhere. For your mix-ins, add in real cake pieces, frosting and some vanilla sprinkles to get that true cake batter feeling. Don’t have icing at home? Check out this recipe - it’s insanely easy to make yourself:
Inspired by Molly Moon’s:
Based in Seattle, WA
Molly Moon’s Version:
Yeti: A sweet cream ice cream base that's swirled with homemade vanilla bean caramel, chocolate chips, and homemade granola. Molly Moon’s homemade granola is made by mixing together pepitas and pepita butter, flax seeds, rolled oats, honey and a touch of salt before roasting it in the oven
How to DIY using Frolic:
Start with one of Frolic’s vanilla ice cream pods. Add vanilla bean and caramel syrups before spinning to infuse the flavors in the ice cream. Then, fold in a handful of chocolate chips and granola to get that yummy crunch. Don’t have any granola on hand? No worries - You likely have most of the ingredients to just make one yourself. Check out this simple granola recipe for some inspiration:
Inspired by Frankie & Jo’s:
Based in Seattle, WA
Frankie & Jo’s Version:
California Cabin: A whimsical smoked vanilla and pine ice cream with bold, delicious black pepper cardamom shortbread cookie throughout.
How to DIY using Frolic:
Start with the vanilla Frolic base and add pine flavors to recreate the vanilla-pine base, and then mix in black pepper, cardamom, and shortbread cookies to finish it off. Looking to make your own pine syrup? Here’s a simple recipe inspired by the Food Network that you can follow:
Inspired by Salt & Straw:
Based in Portland, OR
Salt & Straw’s Version:
Turkey Stuffing and Cranberry Sauce: A spiced ice cream, brioche bread pudding with turkey sausage, and cranberry sauce. The turkey stuffing in the ice cream is cooked with black pepper and roasting herbs - rosemary, sage, and thyme. Savory and spicy - every scoop is infused with cinnamon, brown sugar, and a streak of cranberry sauce.
How to DIY using Frolic:
Looking for something to make with your Thanksgiving leftovers this year? To a vanilla Frolic base of your choice, add your leftover stuffing and cranberry sauce, plus cinnamon and brown sugar for just the right touch of sweetness. Don’t have any cranberry sauce left from your meal? Not to worry - follow this simple recipe to make a fresh batch.
Inspired by Odd Fellows:
Based in New York, NY
Odd Fellows Version:
Miso Cherry: This ice cream pairs the umami notes of miso paste with the juicy, vibrant essence of candied cherries.
How to DIY using Frolic:
Start with one of the four vanilla bases that Frolic offers. Add miso paste and spin in order to achieve an ice cream that is sweet from the vanilla, but leans more savory from the miso. The goal is to get the umami flavor of the miso paste throughout the ice cream so that once you fold in the candied cherries (the final step), each bite will have the sweet and savory combo of your dreams! Here’s an insanely simple way to make your own candied cherries, they make all the difference!
Inspired by Fifty Licks:
Based in Portland, OR
Fifty Licks Version:
Lavender Salted Caramel: Locally grown lavender ice cream with an ample ribbon of homemade salted caramel.
How to DIY using Frolic:
Choose the vanilla Frolic base of your choice and add fresh lavender before spinning to infuse the fresh, floral flavor. Since the goal is to have a ribbon of homemade salted caramel running throughout, you’ll want to fold it into your ice cream after it spins (so that you don’t lose that ooey- gooey texture). For an easy sauce you can make with just a few simple ingredients you’re bound to have around the house, check out our salted caramel recipe:
Inspired by Lick Honest Ice Cream:
Based in Austin, TX
Lick Honest Ice Cream’s Version:
Fresh Mint and Chocolate Chunk: Fresh local mint is joined by chunks of house made chocolate ganache to perfect this crisp & refreshing classic.
How to DIY using Frolic:
Mint chocolate ice cream is a classic that while it’s easy to find, is extremely elevated when using best in class ingredients. Why buy the store bought stuff when you can use a vanilla Frolic base and local fresh organic mint. Want to elevate it even further? Use chocolate ganache rather than simply throwing in some store bought chips. It adds a rich ribbon of flavor and is so easy to make. Check out the below recipe to make your own in just a few minutes:
The Bottom Line
As an ice cream enthusiast, it can be tempting to jump in the car and set out on your tour of the US in order to taste all the unique flavors that are out there. And while that does sound tempting - gone are the days where that’s your only option. Instead of traveling the country, the Frolic machine brings endless flavor options to the comfort of your home.