July 16th is National Ice Cream Day, and I want a sundae this Sunday in honor of the holiday. It’s no coincidence that National Ice Cream Day lands on a Sunday — that was very much a consideration when the Sunday sundae celebration first began.
The national observance of ice cream was real important in 1984 apparently: there was a resolution in both the Senate and House of Representatives proclaiming the entire month of July as National Ice Cream Month and furthermore, a specific day to be officially National Ice Cream Day: the third Sunday of July. President Reagan even made a proclamation saying, “Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert and snack food.” He went on to ask “the people of the United States to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
Welp, here we are 39 years later, in the middle of National Ice Cream Month, and this upcoming Sunday is the momentous Day of Ice Cream. If you want to observe these ice cream holidays with appropriate ceremonies and activities, then where can we get a satisfying Sunday sundae?
That pretty cone at the top is sofuto kurimu (soft serve ice cream) from Suzu’s Bakery in Downtown Champaign. Offering yummy baked goods all year round, Suzu’s also sells matcha soft serve in the summer, and the mochi and anko (sweet red bean paste) toppings are made in-house. Learn more about the Japanese bakery in Matt’s interview with the owner.
This cookie sundae is from Heavy Spoon, the fun ice cream, cereal, and waffle bar in Downtown Champaign. The colorful ice cream shop has a wide variety of toppings from breakfast cereals to candy. Read Matt’s review of Heavy Spoon and check out what Jess liked when she went.
Matt loves the ice cream at Grovestone in Champaign. In his review of Grovestone’s ice cream, he tried several flavors including this peanut butter cookie dough ice cream, which has ribbons of peanut butter, chopped chocolate, and cookie dough chunks.
Jarling’s in Champaign sells great ice cream sundaes in waffle baskets. I always order mine with cold fudge because Jarling’s cold fudge is so good.
My kid and I love the made-in-house Mexican ice cream at La Michoacana in Urbana. There are so many flavors (and lots of toppings!), and every flavor has been delicious. Take a look at what Matt thought of the chocolate ice cream and more in his review here.
There’s lots to love about El Oasis’ gancito ice cream since it has chocolate-covered cake filled with strawberry jelly and cream mixed into homemade vanilla ice cream. The shop offers Mexican ice cream, popsicles, Mexican yogurt, tres leches, tortas, and more. El Oasis is located in the same plaza as La Mixteca and San Miguel Panaderia. For more about the desserts here, read Matt’s review of the Urbana dessert shop.
If you don’t mind a drive, then head out to Sidney Dairy Barn for ice cream. The seasonal ice cream shop serves cones, waffle bowls, sundaes, tornadoes, shakes, and freezes.
The Main Scoop in Mahomet and the Main Scoop in Monticello serve tasty ice cream flights and ice cream sundaes with toppings.
Don’t forget about the ice cream food truck Main Street Creamery, based out of Fisher, Illinois. I love their salted caramel ice cream, which has sea salt fudge and chopped cashews.
Where do you like to get ice cream? Let us know in the comments on our socials or send us an email, and watch for our resident Dessert Expert Matt‘s ice cream round-up article coming later next month.
