10 Cool Texas Ice Cream Stops Perfect For Hot Days
When Texas heat cranks up, nothing beats a creamy, cold scoop of ice cream. The Lone Star State boasts some incredible ice cream shops that’ll cool you down faster than jumping in Barton Springs. I’ve scouted the best frozen treats from Austin to Houston and beyond that’ll make you forget about the scorching temperatures outside.
1. Amy’s Ice Creams (Austin & Houston)
Legendary for their theatrical ice cream tossing and mind-boggling flavor selection. The Mexican Vanilla remains their signature after 30+ years in business.
I once watched a scooper throw my ice cream six feet in the air before catching it perfectly in my cup!
2. Fat Cat Creamery (Houston)
Small-batch heaven using local dairy and seasonal ingredients. Their cat-themed flavors like Milk Chocolate Stout and Waterloo Strawberry Buttermilk sell out lightning-fast.
Brown butter cookie cups make their ice cream experience next-level delicious.
3. Booza (Houston)
Middle Eastern-style ice cream with elastic, chewy texture unlike anything else in Texas. Stretched and pounded with wooden mallets before serving, this centuries-old treat defies melting even in Houston’s humidity.
Watch mesmerized as they pound and stretch your dessert!
4. Flower & Cream (Houston)
Instagram-worthy scoops with edible flowers and artistic presentations. Their Earl Grey & Cookies flavor converted me from a tea-hater to obsessed fan.
Each flavor gets paired with unique toppings that enhance rather than overwhelm the base.
5. Connie’s Frozen Custard (Houston)
Old-school drive-in serving silky-smooth frozen custard since 1991. The extra egg yolks create a richness that regular ice cream can’t touch.
Their hot fudge concrete with pecans remains unchanged for decades—because perfection needs no improvement.
6. Cosmic Ice Cream Co. (Houston metro)
Space-themed nitrogen-frozen creations with galaxy swirls and pop rocks that literally explode in your mouth. The flash-freezing process creates the smoothest texture imaginable.
My nephew swears the Meteorite Mint makes his tongue tingle for hours!
7. Treats of Mexico (Houston)
Authentic Mexican paletas and helados with flavors like tamarind, mango-chile, and corn. Family-owned since 2008, they refuse to water down traditional recipes for American palates.
Their avocado ice cream converted even my most skeptical friends.
8. Clear River Ice Cream, Bakery & Deli (Dripping Springs, Hill Country)
Worth the drive from Austin for their lavender honey ice cream alone. This Hill Country gem makes everything from scratch, including mix-ins like brownies and cookie dough.
The lavender comes from nearby farms, creating a true taste of Texas terroir.
9. Amy’s Ice Creams (Dallas area)
Dallas locations maintain the same quirky energy as their Austin counterparts. The Sweet Cream base with crushed Heath bar remains my go-to after 15 years.
Pro tip: Ask for the “crush’ns” mixed all the way through, not just on top.
10. Sugar Pine Creamery (Plano/Farmers Branch metro)
Asian-inspired flavors like black sesame, ube, and pandan that transport you straight to Southeast Asia. The texture falls between gelato and traditional ice cream—impossibly creamy without being too rich.
Their seasonal durian flavor sells out within hours despite the notorious smell!