Wisconsin is home to all things dairy. We all know that Sconnies love their cheese, but ice cream definitely slides into second place. Whether it’s having a scoop at Memorial Union or walking down State Street in the dead of winter to get that ice cream fix, Madison certainly does not disappoint. Here are seven of my favorite places in Madison for frequent, much-needed ice cream runs.
1. The Daily Scoop
Made right on campus, you can’t get more authentic than The Daily Scoop. It is open daily and is located at Memorial Union, Union South, and Babcock Dairy Store. Try their supreme flavors: Badger Blast, Union Utopia, Mocha Macchiato, and Orange Custard Chocolate Chip (to name just a few…). If you really can’t decide what flavor to order, just go for the gold and do the Freshman 15 sundae, which is 15 scoops of ice cream with as many toppings as you’d like.
2. Chocolate Shoppe
The Chocolate Shoppe is another home-grown classic. I’ve probably broken the world record because I once went here five times in just one week. Some of my favorite flavors include: This $&@! Just Got Serious, Halley’s Comet, Yippee Skippee, Munchie Madness, and Zanzibar Chocolate. They also have a selection of milkshakes, sundaes, and even ice cream nachos.
3. Michael’s Frozen Custard
What is frozen custard? Truth is, I had no clue what the difference was between ice cream and custard til I came to UW-Madison. For those of you who still don’t know, the difference is that custard is made with egg yolks. It’s hard to compete with Mickey’s Frozen Custard. You can choose from several toppings including cookie dough bites, Oreos, hot fudge, caramel, and banana (just to name a few). They are also famous for their turtle sundaes.
4. Coldstone Creamery
Conveniently located on State Street, Cold Stone is always there. Chocolate Devotion is here for your chocolate cravings. Birthday Cake Remix is here for your sweet tooth. And of course, Peanut Butter Perfection is here for sweetness with a salty kick.
5. Kilwins
When you’re strolling down State Street and you catch a whiff of chocolate, it’s most likely coming from Kilwins. When you visit Kilwin’s, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store (literally). They make their ice cream from their original recipe, and it’s definitely a keeper. My personal favorite has to be their Toasted Coconut with chocolate flakes.
6. Rollicious Creamery
New to the Madison ice cream scene, Rollicious makes their debut at UW, following the rolled ice cream trend. You can watch the magic happen as they roll this ice cream right in front of you. With specials every day, you can venture out and try something new or you can design your own with premium toppings like coconuts, strawberries, and Oreos.
7. Dairy Queen
I had to include DQ it because it’s timeless. DQ is the way to go in Madtown if you’re craving some soft serve or a jacked-up Blizzard. That perfect soft-serve swirl can give you nostalgia and be the shining star of your Instagram.
You thought nothing could beat the cheese, but guess what? Madtown’s ice cream game is ever-so-strong. And why try just one flavor when you can try them all?