Beat the Arizona heat with a range of frosty treats in Gilbert. Tifa offers artisanal gelato made with fresh ingredients, while Peterson's boasts traditional ice cream cones in classic flavors. For something a little different, try a Drill’d ice cream from 212 Ice Cream Studio or an edible cookie dough sundae from Scoopwells. With so many delicious options, you won't have to worry about staying cool this summer in Gilbert.
4935 S Val Vista Dr #101

Tifa Chocolate & Gelato, a family-run Gelateria in South Gilbert, emanates a sweet aroma of warm sugar and chocolate that is irresistibly alluring. With a variety of silky-smooth seasonal gelato flavors like the perfectly balanced Lemon Cookie, the shop guarantees to satisfy customers' sweet cravings. Although new to the area, Tifa Chocolate & Gelato is quickly becoming a favorite among locals.
1397 E Williams Field Rd. #104
Swirl It Frozen Yogurt is a must-visit frozen yogurt shop. The self-service system allows customers to choose from a wide variety of options whether you prefer classic flavors like Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate or more unique options like churro and oatmeal cookie as well as a large assortment of frozen yogurt toppings, including strawberries, blueberries, boba, peach rings, chocolate chips, sprinkles, Reese’s Pieces, and cookie dough, making each experience unique. The staff is friendly and accommodating, the yogurt is delicious, and the price is fair making this a great place for families and friends to enjoy a refreshing treat. Don't miss out on this gem of a frozen yogurt shop.
2150 E Williams Field Rd. Suite 120
Frost at San Tan Mall is a Gelato lover's paradise, with an extensive menu of over 50 gelato flavors and 20 sorbet flavors. Additionally, they offer made-to-order gelato cakes, cold drinks, and hot chocolate. Highly praised for their diverse options, there is often a line outside their doors. If you're looking for a sweet treat, a visit to Frost is a must.
Peterson’s Ice Cream and Café
366 N Gilbert Rd

Summer nights in Downtown Gilbert draws crowds to the door of Peterson’s Ice Cream and Café’. With well over 50 classic and inventive flavors alike, the shop continues to stay true to owner Hans Petersons recipe of 18% butterfat ice cream. Not in the mood for a cone? They’ll gladly make you a classic sundae, milkshake, and even a refreshing root beer float at this neighborhood “scoop shop,” just like they’ve been doing since 1919.
1672 E Guadalupe Rd #101
With a growing national profile, Handel’s is still a family-owned business at heart. Started in 1945 by Alice Handel in Youngstown, Ohio, Handel’s list of house-made, hard-serve flavors is extensive and generally stays within the “classic flavors” boundaries—although they do have some unique offerings, like Graham Central Station and Buckeye, a nod to its Ohio roots. While predominately a classic scoop shop, Handel’salso has other frosty treats, including ice cream sandwiches and even Frosty Paws for the pups—all made in-house.
1034 N. Gilbert Rd. #3
While not your traditional scoop shop, Toasted Mallow is more traditionally known for their homemade marshmallows, making these ooey gooey treats since 2014. But sweet shake seekers will want to check out the unique handspun milkshake flavor combinations Toasted Mallow has created to beat the heat. The Circus Cookie shake, for example, is inspired by the classic pink and white cookie and is mixed in with vanilla ice cream, pink frosting, and their signature house made fluff, then topped with happy little sprinkles and a Circus Cookie. Nostalgia with a modern twist, these shakes are made for your next Instagram Reel.
3305 E Williams Field Rd.

For a fun and unique way to beat the heat this summer, head to 212, Gilbert's first Drill’d ice cream shop. Owner Tina Singh offers both premium dairy and organic vegan ice cream options, along with a variety of creative mix-ins and toppings for a personalized treat. Get drilling and create your own delicious and refreshing ice cream concoction. The limits are only your own imagination. And if you find yourself getting stuck, the 212 menu is filled with inspiration with their own creations that range from the straightforward Oreo 2.0, to the wryly named Cereal Killer, and even a Go Gilbert.
3000 E Ray Rd. Suite 106 (Barnone AZ)
At Cream of the Crop within the Barnone craftsman's community in the Agritopia neighborhood, ice cream is handcrafted in small batches highlighting fresh, seasonal ice cream flavors including vegan and gluten-free. Cream of the Crop prides themselves on producing their fresh cones (including Gluten-Free), cookies and ice creams using produce and products from Agritopia farm, making this a true Farm-to-Table Scoop Shop. Seasonal flavors like the fresh peaches in their Peach ice cream shine as brilliantly as if you hand-picked them from the tree yourself. Feeling adventurous, check out one of their more unique flavors like the Shake and Fries, a potato chip base ice cream with crushed Whoppers and French-Fried Potato Sticks!
325 N. Ash St. #101

Stepping into Scoopwells in Downtown Gilbert, you already know you are in a scoop shop of another kind. Focusing entirely to edible cookie dough, Scoopwells offers homemade recipes that are safe (and delicious) to eat and is perfect for those of us who ignore the warnings on the tub of Nestlé Toll House, bringing back the guilty pleasure from our childhoods. We went with the 50/50, the perfect balance of both worlds with your choice of two scoops of ice cream and two scoops of cookie dough (creativity is encouraged!). You can also indulge in custom made soft batch Ice Cream Sandies, which come in two sizes, mini and large. Perfect for parties and get-togethers!
1385 E Warner Ave.
Udder Delights, operated by Superstition Farms, stands out as a unique ice cream shop rejecting food colorings and false flavorings. They use fresh and local ingredients, creating new and unique ice creams every month using only their own locally sourced milk. With creative flavors like Baklava, an ice cream made with local raw honey, rose infused simple syrup swirled into house made pistachio ice cream, mixed with hearty chunks of Baklava from Phoenicia Grill, it’s Udder Delights collaborations like these that take their ice cream to a whole other local love level! For our non-dairy frosty treat friends, you can also find bright and beautiful sorbet here, made from fresh, locally sourced produce.
One thing is for sure, Gilbert has a wide variety of scoop shops and treat slingers that will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth and cool them down on hot days. While there are many options available, this only scratches the surface of what Gilbert has to offer and it's clear that our city is a go-to destination for anyone in search of a refreshing, cool and delicious dessert.
Foodie Fact: The Third Sunday of July is National Ice Cream Day

Every year, the third Sunday of July is celebrated as National Ice Cream Day. This day encourages individuals to indulge in one of their favorite desserts and savor the deliciousness of ice cream and is a day to celebrate all the different varieties of frosty treats. From classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, to unique blends like Strawberry Balsamic and Ube, National Ice Cream Day is the perfect opportunity to beat the Arizona heat with a sweet, cold treat.
A few cool favorites outside Gilbert:
6850 E Main St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

While not a traditional ice cream destination, ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho has one item that puts them on this frosty map. Tucked away in the iconic 50's themed hotel in Scottsdale, ZuZu delivers the Showstopper Milkshake, an oversized, over-the-top version of the classic frosty treat with a different theme every month. And the Showstopper is more than just a milkshake – the incredibly talented Pastry Chef's at ZuZu match each brand new themed shake with a local charity, and contribute $1 of each shake sold. With creative elements like full-sized cupcakes, cookies, popsicles, and even occasionally a whole slice of pie piled on top, this is one cool treat that you will definitely want to experience!
7051 E 5th Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Ohio-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has been serving up its premium ice creams for more than 13 years. Founded by Jeni Britton Bauer in Columbus, the ice cream brand has become a beloved delicacy in the area. With a focus on high-quality ingredients, Jeni's offers a range of unique flavors that have gained a cult following and all of Jeni's ice cream is made with grass-grazed milk from small family farms. The brand has expanded beyond Columbus and now has outlets across the US, including in right here in Phoenix. Of course, they have standard flavors like chocolate and vanilla— but more interesting are their creative flavors such as the Sweet Cream Biscuits and Peach Jam, a buttermilk based ice cream with chunks of crumbled sweet biscuits and swirls of Peach Jam from The Peach Truck from Georgia for a perfect bite of summer. If you need a cold treat to cool down, swing by the Scottsdale Jeni’s location for a scoop or grab a pint to enjoy at home. You definitely won’t regret it!
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