Thomas More University

It’s finally getting warm, so we just had to find out: What are the best flavors at these NKY ice cream shops?

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA HEHMAN, LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

Almost every night, if the weather is above 70 degrees, my family and I play a game of “who is going to go get ice cream for everyone?”

The loser ultimately has to go get everyone ice cream. The trouble recently has been trying to find new places and new flavors. So, in the name of science and taste, I went on a quest to find the best ice cream flavors at local ice cream shops – and I’ve shared my findings with you!

Golden Gelato in Covington

Golden Gelato is perfectly placed in Covington on Pike Street. It’s an ideal stop after dinner from Agave and Rye or a little pregame snack before heading to Braxton.

Golden Gelato also serves sorbets, which are vegan friendly, and all of their sweets are made from scratch. This delightful little shop says they “combine the traditional Italian hot process with local ingredients honoring the dessert’s Italian origins and our Kentucky roots.”

Having had a fair amount of Gelato in Italy myself, this gelato lives up to their claim. They rotate their flavors daily but have a few core flavors that you can always find.

Luckily, the standout of their shop is one you can find year-round: Biscoff cookie is the winner of this shop. Biscoff cookies are the cookies that you are often given on airplanes (I always smuggle a few extra packets because they are just that good). This rich and thick gelato is sweet without being overpowering, and it’s topped with chunks of Biscoff cookie.

I suggest trying this flavor as an Affogato, another Italian tradition that pairs espresso and coffee. If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly alternative, the dark chocolate sorbet is the perfect option to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Schneider’s Sweet Shop in Bellevue

Walking into Schneider’s is like taking a step back in time. It has old general store vibes and early 2000s prices. It’s the closest thing to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory that we will get in this lifetime.

Although small, this sweets shop has so much to offer. Candy, cookies, chocolates, ice cream and even food – there’s something for everyone here.

I came here with the sole intent of getting a simple ice cream. I ended up leaving with ice cream, fudge and a whole box of miscellaneous treats.

The ice cream flavor was a toss-up. I sampled many before ultimately choosing chocolate chip cookie dough. (Peanut butter was a very close runner-up.) My friend chose a Schneider’s staple of what they refer to as an ice ball, a mix of ice cream and a snow cone.

I wasn’t quite sure about the ice ball combo; there seemed to be a lot going on and far too many options for an already indecisive person. So, I let her take that plunge: She chose vanilla ice cream and a cherry snow cone, and it was so refreshing. Although I loved my ice cream, her ice ball was the star of the show. Learn from my mistake and order an ice ball – you can choose any ice cream and any snow cone flavor but, in this case, classic vanilla seems like the right way to go. But if you want to do butter pecan with cotton candy, who am I to stop you?

Take the plunge: Get the ice ball.

Nomad in Bellevue

We’ve all seen crazy shakes take over the internet, with toppings literally stacked so high they look like a party decoration. These are mostly found in big cities and go for an average of $20 or higher.

Schneider’s ice ball. When I saw a local place making these at an affordable price that also had the option to add in alcohol, I knew this was a must

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