Ice Cream in Edina: A Shortlist for Finding Your Favorite Flavor

Sure, we saw some snow last week, but nevertheless spring is unfolding in Edina, and Minnesota as a whole. The proof is everywhere.

One sign of the changing seasons, is the tapping of the maple trees—I love that people use them to create the sweet syrup that can only be accessed from mid-March through early April. More Edina joggers are out each morning, as temperatures mellow, the ice melts and the parks begin to thaw.

For me, the first sniff of greenery and warmth means just one thing: it's time to sample some ice cream. I like to ramp up my consumption in the spring so that when summer arrives, I'm in prime shape to regularly consume the tasty stuff and already know exactly where to go. In service of this column and my seasonal food urges, I sought out the best Edina ice cream options and came up with three solid contenders.

Freezing at 50th & France

Over on France Avenue, the makes its own ice cream and serves it up in red-and-white 50's style. When we visited, there were about 27 homemade flavors on the board, including raspberry yogurt and sorbet, and we were offered samples of as many as we could stand.

I had two scoops—one of green tea and one of maple nut—in a cup ($4.80). They also offer waffle cones, floats ($5.25), sundaes ($5.25/$6.25) and hand-packed pints ($5.75). Go now, while it's still quiet at this neighborhood favorite. Come summer a line will form that goes out the door and you'll be waiting much longer for your dairy prize.

Southdale Scoops

Doing some shopping in Southdale? The Cake Eater knows it's not local, and yet I still cannot resist the lure of . Those dudes from Vermont really know how to mix good stuff into their ice cream and yet still keep pressing for sustainability measures (fair trade coffee, bovine growth hormone-free products, etc.)

For a little pop-up shop in the center courtyard at the mall, they feature an impressive number of options, from fruit smoothies to frozen lattes to shakes and 20+ ice cream flavors plus a few fro-yo and sorbet selections. Take a quick break from shopping and slurp down a treat (a small is two scoops for $3.50 plus $.93 for a waffle cone) at one of the colorful tables set up around the kiosk. And if you are a foursquare fan, B&J's has a special deal for you at Southdale.

In the 'Hood

Over on Kellogg Drive, the is just waking up from a long winter's hibernation. On April 1, the store throws open its doors for happy treaters to come in and partake of the Cedar Crest Ice Cream (a Wisconsin company).

On the site of an old Baskin-Robbins, the place generally has 30+ flavors, shakes, malts, floats and pizza—definitely pleasing kids of all ages. They even host birthday parties in the back of the store. Order a personalized ice cream cake, pie or clown cone throughout the spring and summer until September 30, when they shutter again for the winter.

Caveats and Extras

To be clear, these are strictly my ice cream go-to's. If it's shakes and malts you seek, it's hard to deny the appeal of either or the . If you have kids, nostalgia, or both, perhaps the is the right destination for you (it's the only one owned by the corporate office, also in Edina).

If you've got another ice cream source for us, please let The Cake Eater know. We love getting suggestions for good places and foods.

And a little side note for those who love mini cupcakes—for their one year celebration on April 1, minis will go for $1 each (usually they are $1.50). Customers are limited to 12, so keep that in mind.