The Scoop on Southern Ice Cream
- Cheré Dastugue Coen
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
This summer favorite has taste sensations throughout the South.
Updated July 2025
We love when public relations companies do a roundup of their clients. This month, in honor of it being National Ice Cream Month, Mindy Bianca Public Relations has collected some fine Southern ice cream establishments to visit. So, although we can’t take credit for this list, we know you’ll appreciate suggestions on where to get America’s favorite summer dessert.
Cow Tracks Moo Pie
Happy cows lead to fantastic ice cream, and Chaney’s is proof of that. Vanilla goes full-on Southern indulgence here, because Cow Tracks Moo Pie is anything but understated. Chaney’s homemade Cow Tracks ice cream is the real star of the show, with a creamy vanilla base that’s then loaded with chunks of Snickers candy bars and a caramel swirl. As if that isn’t total perfection – brace yourself – it’s then scooped on top of a warm and gooey skillet chocolate chip cookie. What could make this concoction even sweeter? Being able to see the adorable Jersey cows that are on site, providing their fresh milk for the farm’s tasty ice cream. They’re just a moo away from the scoop shop, and visitors can meet the herd on a farm tour while seeing the cow-to-cone magic in action. Vanilla is never plain here … it’s pasture-raised perfection!
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Milkshake
At the original Yard Milkshake Bar in Gulf Shores (the same sweet shop that scored a “Shark Tank” deal and launched a nationwide craze for wild milkshakes) this limited-time special starts with a scoop of vanilla blended with pineapple puree in a vanilla-iced jar rolled in crushed graham crackers. It’s piled high with whipped cream, more graham cracker crumbs, a pineapple puree drizzle, a scoop of Pineapple Upside Down Cake Cookie Dough and, of course, finished with a cherry on top.
Born from a beachy brainstorm, The Yard is proving vanilla can go from basic to buzzworthy with the right mix of flavors and fruit.
Matilda Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream
The Carriage House at Houmas House
Homemade vanilla bean ice cream takes the literal cake here at The Carriage House with a chocolate Matilda Cake inspired by the famous cake from the Matilda movie. Served with a luscious raspberry sauce, this dessert pairs a Southern classic with a touch of Hollywood magic, casting vanilla ice cream in the perfect supporting role.
Biscoff Cookie Butter Sundae
Known more for Louisiana’s famed snowballs than sundaes, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is serving up a tasty surprise at Central Sno. This treat starts with creamy vanilla ice cream that’s layered with crumbled Biscoff cookies and rich cookie butter, then topped with whipped cream. In a region where shaved ice usually reigns supreme, this twist on vanilla is a dish worth celebrating.
Affogato
Vanilla gets a bold wake-up call at Smiley’s with a house-made vanilla soft-serve custard affogato, served with a pour of velvety nitro cold brew. This cool, caffeinated combo is simple, sophisticated and sippable, proving that even the most classic flavors can be buzzworthy. In addition to its soft-serve ice cream, Smiley's Kustard serves frozen yogurt, root beer floats, juice bars, smoothies, coffee and tea. On site families will enjoy a gemstone mining sluice and miniature golf course.
Bear Cone
This National Ice Cream Month, take your vanilla to new heights ... Smoky Mountain heights, to be exact, with the Bear Cone, a whimsical treat found at Dollywood theme park and its resorts, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. This adorable cone, inspired by the black bears of the Smoky Mountains, pairs perfectly with Dollywood’s soft-churn vanilla ice cream. With several topping options available, the Bear Cone turns classic vanilla into a mountain-sized treat worth roaring about.
Cake in a Cup
Queen City Creamery is serving up a birthday party treat you don’t have to share thanks to Cake in a Cup. Layers of house-made vanilla frozen custard, rich fudge, cookie crunchies, chocolate frozen custard and a sizable swirl of icing come together in one perfectly proportioned treat. It’s a creamy, crunchy celebration of vanilla that’s all about treating yourself … no candles required!
Visit the Scoop Shop at 152 Baltimore St. or pick up the Creamery goodness at various locations in Maryland.
Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by ice cream lover Cheré Dastugue Coen. There are very few flavors she doesn't like.
Need some ice cream right now!