Kansas City is found in the heartland of America. And you know what else lives in the heartland of America? Cows. And do you know what those cows produce? Creamy and delicious milk. Creamy and delicious milk that turns into creamy and delicious Kansas City ice cream. Bless you, cows.
Having been born & raised in Kansas City + coming from a long line of ice-cream-lovers, I feel qualified to write on this topic. I’ve highlighted 5 of the very best places to get ice cream (and frozen custard) in the greater Kansas City area. But I didn’t stop there! I make sure you know which national chains you can expect to find + listed a few bonus frozen desserts you should check out, too.
Even with all of that, I am SURE there are other amazing ice cream shops in Kansas City that I haven’t discovered yet. Definitely leave a comment at the end if your favorite place isn’t listed here– I’d be happy to check it out. Like, I would take one for the team and do that research if it’s important to knowledge and science and future generations.
Best Frozen Custard Shops
Sheridan’s Frozen Custard
First up, let’s talk about Sheridan’s Frozen Custard!
Jim Sheridan opened up Sheridan’s Frozen Custard in 1998 in Overland Park, and my life has never been the same. For those of you thinking in your minds “how is frozen custard different than ice cream?” I have some information coming at you: The answer is that frozen custard is denser (fewer air pockets) and smoother than traditional ice cream and… oh baby baby. There’s nothing quite like it.
Snicker’s concrete from Sheridan’s Frozen Custard
You can choose between a vanilla or chocolate custard base, then pick from a massive and overwhelming list of toppings/mix-ins. My go-to is a vanilla concrete with snickers mixed in. Full menu can be previewed on their official website HERE.
Sheridan’s has excellent concretes (custard with the toppings well-mixed in), ice cream sundaes, shakes, smoothies and even frozen custard pies. Their seasonal flavors are always really fantastic, too. For example: they are currently they are featuring a strawberry shortcake sundae and a key lime pie concrete…drool.
You should order: Anything seasonal, a Buck a Roo Sundae, or a concrete with your favorite fruit or candy mix-in
KC Locations: Liberty (602 South 291 Highway), KCMO (Crown Center), KCMO (6248 NW Barry Road)
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Second, let’s talk about Andy’s Frozen Custard. With 85 locations total, this frozen custard joint is fast-growing and very popular. Admittedly, Andy’s it’s not unique to Kansas City. Andy’s is a regional chain that you can find all over central & southern Missouri and into Arkansas as well.
I wanted to despise Andy’s when it first came to KC because it was (in my mind at least) a competitor to Sheridan’s. But rest assured there is room in your heart (and stomach) for both of these creamy custard shops.
There are 10 locations spread throughout the Kansas City metro area, so you should have no trouble finding a shop near you. Check the store locater on their official website HERE for more details.
You should order: James Brownie Funky Jackhammer (peanut butter + brownies = perfection)
KC Locations: Overland Park (95th & Metcalf; 112th & Nall, 135th & Nall, 159th & 69 Hwy), KCMO (Wornall Road, State Line Road), Independence, Olathe (135th & Pflumm), Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit
Best Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Shops
Sylas and Maddy’s
The first hand-dipped ice cream shop on our guide is Sylas and Maddy’s. This ice cream shop is pure fun. The franchise began in Lawrence, KS (home of the KU Jayhawks) on Mass Street in 1997. Two years later they opened a second location in Olathe, KS. Both have been very successful!
The best way I know how to describe Sylas and Maddy’s is this:
Trader Joe’s and Baskin Robbins got together… and this is their offspring. Sylas & Maddy’s has the overwhelming number of flavors and options that Baskin Robbins boasts (more actually- 44 flavors are out at any given time) PLUS the whimsical charm and personalized touch of Trader Joe’s decor (like hand-drawn chalkboard labels, for instance).
You should order: Mahomes Magic (tastes like Samoa cookies smashed into creamy butter pecan ice cream…and it is divine), Gold Dust (Snickers and Oreo and Caramel, oh my), or the incredibly creamy Strawberry Cheesecake
delicious creamy ice cream from Sylas and Maddy’s
KC Locations: Lawrence (1101 Massachusetts St.), Olathe (11925 S. Strang Line Rd.)
Betty Rae’s Ice Cream
Next up on our list is Betty Rae’s. Opened in 2015, it’s a relatively new kid on the block.
Sylas and Maddy’s may be whimsical fun, but Betty Rae’s takes it all to the next level. There aren’t QUITE as many flavors to choose from, but the flavor combinations themselves are very unique and unexpected.
In fact, if you are in the mood to drool over ice cream flavors, you should definitely hop over to their official website and read the descriptions. I’ve already added several flavors to my mental To-Eat list upon this most recent reading (I’m coming for you, Strawberry Pretzel Crunch!!).
It’s a huge tragedy that I’m always busy devouring the ice cream and head-counting sugar-hopped little kiddos– I have no photographic evidence of this deliciousness. Please take my word for it.
One of the most fun ways to experience the Betty Rae’s River Market location is to take the (free!) KC Streetcar downtown. You can hop on at Union Station (or whichever stop you are closest to) and get off at the River Market West stop.
take the KC Streetcar down to Betty Rae’s next time you’re at Union Station!
You should order: Goat Cheese, Apricots, and Candied Walnuts; yes, that is all one flavor. not 3 separate. (unless goat cheese is a hard pass for you, then obviously don’t order it; but honestly this was one of the more flavorful and memorable ice cream flavors I’ve had in eons).
KC Locations: Waldo (7140 WORNALL RD), River Market (412 Delaware), COMING SOON TO OLATHE!!!
The Golden Scoop
Last but not least on the list of ice cream shops, let’s talk about The Golden Scoop. This ice cream shop is a newer discovery for me. I was blown away at how CREAMY all of the flavors were. I was very pleasantly surprised, but I shouldn’t have been- the reviews for this place speak for themselves.
Heads Up: Unlike most traditional hand-dipped ice cream shops, all of their flavors are already portioned out into individual to-go containers with lids. This makes it super portable, which is great– because Meadowbrook Park is just a few minutes away! Grab & go treat!
The best part? They have a great purpose (in addition to making delicious for-scratch frozen delicacies).
“The Golden Scoop is an ice cream and coffee shop with a purpose. We create jobs for very talented individuals who happen to live with developmental disabilities…Unlike any other ice cream shop in town, our Super Scoopers are involved in every aspect of what we do: from marketing and merchandising to creating ice cream flavors and serving our community. The Golden Scoop is proud to provide innovative, meaningful and paid work for our employees.”
You should order: Golden Crunch (think: Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal but creamy cinnamon ice cream); Also, I’m not a coffee gal, but others rave about Coffee Toffee too.
KC Location: Prairie Village (9540 Nall Avenue)
Non-Regional (National) Chains:
You can also find lots of familiar brands when hunting down ice cream in Kansas City.
Here’s a small sampling of what you can find all over the Kansas City metro:
Cold Stone Creamery– home of my beloved cake batter ice cream referenced HERE! (6 locations)
Baskin-Robbins – 31 flavors to choose from and the best ice cream cakes around (7 locations)
Culver’s – delicious fast food offerings PLUS frozen custard makes this a one stop shop (8 locations)
Freddy’s – another dinner/dessert stop but this time with steakburgers and frozen custard (15+ locations… aka you are probably pretty close to one at any given moment you are in the KC area)
Other Favorite Frozen Desserts
I can’t write an article about great ice cream in Kansas City without a quick shout out to the slightly related (cousins?) of ice cream in the area.
Bingsu @ the Leafy Korean Dessert Cafe in South Overland Park
Image by kkam50 from Pixabay – this is NOT from the Leafy Korean Dessert Cafe, just a visual example of bingsu 🙂
This cafe has the privilege of claiming to be the first Korean Dessert & Bingsu Shop in the KC area. This is a recent addition to the area, but very well-reviewed (and with good reason- it’s the closest thing I’ve had to my beloved Korean Sulbing since leaving Korea).
You should order: Injulmi Red Bean for a classic Korean flavor or anything fruity for tamer taste buds
Location: 7406 W 121st St. Overland Park, KS
Pineapple Dole Whips @ Hawaiian Bros Island Grill
Hawaiian Bros pineapple Dole Whip
Attention all Disney lovers: This is not a drill. Repeat, this is NOT a drill.
TRUE Pineapple dole whips are available to the masses at last. And you don’t have to pay park admission at Disneyland or trek out to the Polynesian on the monorail. You can just drive to your local Hawaiian Bros!
To quote their official website, this is one FAST growing Ohana! You can now find a location in 8 different states!
And the value is fabulous. You get twice the fresh tangy pineapple goodness for half the cost.
KC Locations: Lawrence, Lenexa, Overland Park, Shawnee, South Overland Park, Belton, Blue Springs, Independence, Kansas City (Barry Road), Kansas City (Ward Parkway), Lee’s Summit, North Kansas City, St. Joseph
In Creamy Conclusion…
Where did I miss? What ice cream shop do you love in Kansas City?? What is your favorite flavor from the stops listed above??
Leave a comment below!
P.S. Kansas City isn’t the only city with ice cream that I love. I confess my undying love for ice cream in other places on my blog, too:
2 thoughts on “Guide to the Best Kansas City Ice Cream Shops”