7 Metro Detroit Sweet Spots to Visit for Over-The-Top Ice Cream Creations

Indulge with these refreshing, decadent local desserts
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Going out for ice cream with family and friends is a staple summer pastime. Here are seven indulgent options that will turn your warm-weather outing into a memorably sweet event.

Garrido’s Bistro and Pastry

This European and Latin-American bistro is a bit of a surprising place to find the area’s most astonishing ice cream treat. Stacked a foot high, Pistachio Perfection, Strawberry Supreme, and Oreo are just a few of the extreme milkshake options offered. Each of them begins with a Belgium dark chocolate-rimmed glass. Sweet treats like ice cream sandwiches, crunch cakes, cake pops, and scoops of ice cream drizzled in fudge sauce and homemade whipped cream are then layered atop each glass. Garrido’s Bistro & Pastry, 19605 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods; 313-466-3042; garridosbistro.com

Traffic Jam and Snug

A Midtown staple since the 1960s, this cozy restaurant is known for its in-house bakery, microbrewery, dairy, and generous servings. The Carlotta Chocolatta Ice Cream Cheesecake on the dessert menu is no exception. Double chocolate cheesecake is swaddled in coffee-flavored ice cream, coated in bittersweet hot fudge, and dusted with ground espresso. Traffic Jam and Snug, 511 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 313-831-9470; trafficjamdetroit.com

Milkster Nitrogen Creamery 

Dedicated to organic, local ingredients, this creamery creates velvety smooth ice cream free of preservatives by flash-freezing sweet cream at -321 degrees as you order. Interesting flavors include the Ferrero Rocher, which is made from a base mixed with cocoa, Nutella, and Rice Krispies; and Biscoff Voyage, which is a local cream mixed with organic decaf coffee and Biscoff spread. Add-ons include cookie chunks, brownies, fresh fruit purees, and flavor syringes like guava-rosemary and mango. milkster.com for locations. 

Browndog Barlor 

Indulge in 21-and-over desserts at this downtown Farmington hot spot for tacos and burgers that also boasts a delicious bar and ice cream parlor — a barlor. At Browndog, you’ll unwind with boozy spiked shakes like the Salty Sailor, Mocha Under the Influence, The Dude’s Rug, and a Therapist Martini. In each concoction, an add-in like sparkling wine, spiced rum, coffee liquors, or vodka mixes with Brown Dog ice cream to make you one happy camper. Browndog Barlor, 33314 Grand River Ave., Farmington, 248-615-2955, browndogbarlor.com

Custard Hut

You don’t want to miss Custard Hut’s Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich. Take a giant scoop of rich, creamy custard in homemade flavors like tiramisu, coffee expresso, peanut butter, or strawberry banana. Then, sandwich it between two oven-fresh waffles and you’ve got one of best comfort foods metro Detroit has to offer. Topping options include toasted coconut, strawberries, crushed pistachios, and rich, hot fudge. The creation can also be dusted in powdered sugar. The Custard Hut, 25947 W. Warren St., Dearborn Heights; 313-278-5577 and 18435 Plymouth Rd., Detroit, 313-651-5188; facebook.com/thecustardhut  

Treat Dreams Dessert Emporium

Creating some of the most original and innovative ice creams and custom desserts in southeast Michigan, this parlor offers sundae concoctions with titles like A Unicorn’s Dream, Kookie Monster’s Dream, and Sundae Lovers Dream. Visitors can also indulge in bakery treats, ice cream cake, and macaron-topped cones. Plus, if you can’t decide on just one flavor, opt for an ice cream flight. Treat Dreams, 22965 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-544-3440; and 4160 Cass Ave., Detroit, 313-818-0084; treatdreams.com

Mangonadas Del Barrio 

Popular for its mangonadas (mango sorbet with chile-lime salt), fresas con crema (strawberries and cream), and cocteles de frutas (fruit cocktails), this Mexican shop also serves a killer ice cream treat called the Gansito Split. It takes the trifecta combination of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, but swaps out a sliced banana for a Mexican snack cake coated in chocolate and filled with jelly. The whole delicious mess is also drizzled in hot fudge and slathered with whipped cream. Mangonadas Del Barrio, 1210 Lawndale St., Detroit; 313-724-6074; facebook.com/lasmangonadasdelbarrio 


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