Champaign-Urbana's Favorite Ice Cream

Check out some of our favorite ice cream treats and desserts around Champaign-Urbana and beyond

It doesn’t have to be National Ice Cream Day — always the third Sunday in July — to celebrate all of the delicious treats and ice cream concoctions around Champaign-Urbana. It seems to be a treat that many in Central Illinois enjoy all year long.

Your summertime bucket list should include a visit to at least one (or all) of these ice cream joints in the Champaign-Urbana area. (We should note, the list includes places that serve ice cream, custard, gelato and frozen yogurt. As with all of our “favorite food” lists, we focus on locally owned restaurants around Champaign-Urbana and beyond. This list is in alphabetical order.)

So get ready to treat yourself and your taste buds this summer with Champaign-Urbana’s favorite spots to stop for ice cream!

How many can you check off your bucket list? While we don’t recommend consuming these all in one sitting, we won’t tell anyone if you do.

We’ve listed these in alphabetical order: places serving frozen treats in Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, Fisher, Oakwood, Farmer City, Tuscola and Sidney — even Paris and Normal.

Baldarotta’s Gelateria, 208 W. Griggs St., Urbana: We reviewed the Baldarotta’s Gelateria, and let’s just say that we weren’t disappointed. The gelato flights are great for those who can’t make tough decisions about what flavors to try. Unique flavors include blood orange sorbet, sea salt caramel, and apple bourbon crisp.

Cocomero, 709 S. Wright St., Champaign: Cocomero was the first self-serve froyo joint to hit Champaign-Urbana, and it still holds a special place in our hearts. We love the view of the Alma Mater from the store and it is a great place to start a summer stroll. Cocomero also features the widest variety of flavors and toppings you’ll find in town.

El Oa sis, 510 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana: The best part about this hidden treasure in Urbana is all of the fresh fruit and ingredients that are in the ice cream and popsicles. Fresh coconut is one of our favorites and it has the best in town. It offers more than 40 flavors of Mexican ice cream and ice cream bars.

Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, 101 W. Sale St., Tuscola: You can’t go wrong with a trip to Tuscola to eat at Flesor’s, whether for a meal or just for ice cream. This is the epitome of nostalgia that’s also worth the calories. This old fashioned soda fountain features its own homemade ice cream (flavors change seasonally) and serves everything from malts to phosphates to banana splits. (No froyo here, folks.)

Ice Daddy’s, 605 S. Lake of the Woods Road (truck) and 703 Eastwood Dr. (storefront), Mahomet: One reader says its ice cream “reminds me of a trip to Spain!” Find it at the location listed here for its “regular” weekly hours, and follow on social media to find out where it might be traveling.

Jarling’s Custard Cup, 309 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign: The lines around Custard Cup speak for themselves. Patrons can choose from a huge variety of snowstorms, sleets, and the always-popular cold fudge sundae, among others. We especially enjoy its weekly flavor specials. Try the cappuccino — it’s a must have! Custard Cup has always-bustling picnic table seating in front of the building as well as a popular drive-thru.

The Main Scoop, multiple locations: Located on Main Street in various towns — Mahomet, Urbana, Monticello and Rantoul — and inside “The Yard” in Urbana, The Main Scoop is a classic ice cream shop serving Capannari Ice Cream from the Chicago area. Standout flavors include Bordeaux Cherry, Peaches and Cream and Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel. The waffle cone smell will hit you when you walk in so make sure to opt for one of those with your order. Enjoy your treats in the shop with board games or while sitting outdoors on Main Street. Editor’s note: Owner Jessica Hanson has been busy!

La Michoacana Express, Urbana: Owned and operated by a Champaign family, this shop that opened during the pandemic features homemade ice cream as well as paletas (traditional Mexican ice cream pops), water ice cream, shakes, and sundaes. Our favorites include cookies and cream and mint oreo. Super fresh!

Michocana shake — A shake from La Michocana. Chambanamoms photo

Obie’s Arctic Chill, 102 S. Oakwood St., Oakwood: The first thing you notice about Obie’s Arctic Chill is the extensive ice cream and frozen treat menu. The second thing? The super-friendly service and excellent prices. Obie’s is located on Oakwood Street (the main drag) in Oakwood. You can get an ICEE, banana split, hand-dipped ice cream, soft serve ice cream, and much, much more. The prices are extremely reasonable, and the hand-dipped ice cream? Excellent. It has a drive-thru, a large and shaded pavilion with ample picnic table seating and on-street parking.

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, 4410 N. Lincoln Ave., Champaign: Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery uses its own goat milk to make milk-based flavors and all local fruits for its dairy-free sorbets. Goat milk offers a creamy and smooth texture to its gelato. Patrons can find a variety of flavors including vanilla, chocolate, salted caramel swirl, and other seasonal flavors such as local strawberry, red currant sorbetto, and honey-lavender. Be sure to stop by when it has open hours in the farm store (generally Saturday and Sunday afternoons).

Sidney Dairy Barn, 311 W. Main St., Sidney: The sign in front proclaims “The World’s Best Ice Cream,” and who are we to argue? This is homemade ice cream just like the kind your parents used to make when you were little. Its opening in March or April is darn near a community celebration. You can also find it in other locations around Champaign-Urbana in its Moo-Mobile.

And two more…

Beyond the immediate Champaign-Urbana area, we have two more favorites we think you should check out if you find yourself nearby (or, hey, hop in the car just for the ice cream, we’re not here to tell you what to do or not do).

Theo’s Microcreamery, 107 E. Beaufort St., Normal: This handcrafted ice cream is top notch. There are classic flavors, of course, seasonal flavors that rotate and some vegan options, too. Beyond those, you will find some “small batch” options available that definitely have that “specialty” flare you can’t find just anywhere.

Kurly Q, 309 W. Jasper St., Paris: Kurly Q offers over 50 flavors of soft serve ice cream in addition to soups, sandwiches, and sides. Its banana split is pretty fantastic, but it also offers sundaes, avalanches, malts, milkshakes, and more. If you happen to be visiting the sunflower fields in Paris, it’s a great stop to add along the way.

Know of ice cream that we missed? Email us and let us know who has your favorite ice cream around Champaign-Urbana and what makes it so delicious.

Champaign-Urbana’s Favorite Ice Cream

Check out some of our favorite ice cream treats and desserts around Champaign-Urbana and beyond

And two more…

Looking for favorite foods around Champaign-Urbana?