Polk's Top Ice Cream: Vote for Your Sweet 16 Favorites Now

Exploring the Sweetest Scoop in Polk County

When the sun beats down relentlessly and extreme heat warnings become a daily occurrence, there's no better way to beat the heat than with a scoop of ice cream. In Polk County, this sentiment has sparked a community-wide competition to determine which local ice cream shops offer the sweetest treat. The Ledger recently asked readers to vote for their favorite ice cream spots, narrowing down 22 contenders to a "Sweet 16" list. Now, it’s time to see which shops can make it through the next rounds of voting.

The competition is structured as a bracket-style contest, with the top 16 vote-getters facing off in head-to-head matchups. Readers are encouraged to cast their votes by 5 p.m. on August 19. The winners of each matchup will move on to the Flavorful 8, which will be announced on August 21. This process not only highlights the best of Polk County’s ice cream scene but also allows residents to have a say in what they consider the most delicious option.

Notable Contenders in the Sweet 16

Mootown Scoops vs. Cain's Snowballs

Mootown Scoops, a relative newcomer to Lakeland’s dessert scene, opened in May and quickly gained popularity for its unique croque glaces—warm French brioche buns filled with scoops of ice cream and topped with syrup and powdered sugar. On the other hand, Cain's Snowballs in Southwest Winter Haven offers shaved ice creations alongside ice cream and pizza pretzels. Their custom flavors, like the Orange Dream, blend orange creamsicle shaved ice with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk.

Mimi's Italian Ice vs. Topper's Creamery

Mimi's Italian Ice serves up both traditional Italian ice and dairy-free, gluten-free vegan options. Recent additions include English Toffee Crunch and dragonfruit flavors. Topper's Creamery, part of a Florida-based franchise, offers creamy custard-style soft-serve with over 20 toppings to choose from, including hot fudge, sprinkles, and gummy worms.

Andy's Igloo vs. Polk City Ice Cream Company

Andy's Igloo, a Winter Haven staple since the 1950s, has expanded beyond ice cream to include burgers, fried seafood, and homestyle dinners. Meanwhile, Polk City Ice Cream Company is known for its handmade premium ice cream, including creative flavors like guava and the original cotton candy burrito.

Lakeland Ice Cream Company vs. Sweet Haven

Lakeland Ice Cream Company boasts more than 60 hand-dipped flavors, making it a go-to spot for those who love variety. Sweet Haven, located in Winter Haven, offers New Zealand-style ice cream that blends fresh fruit with vanilla, creating a texture similar to soft-serve.

Delectable Delights vs. Shake Shoppe

Delectable Delights, a family-run shop in downtown Winter Haven, serves up ice cream alongside treats like chocolate chip cookies and brownies. They also offer sliders—ice cream pressed between two waffle cookies. The Shake Shoppe in Auburndale provides a wide range of shakes, sundaes, and banana splits, with plenty of toppings to customize orders.

Mayday Ice Cream vs. Auburndale Ice Cream Co.

Mayday Ice Cream, located inside The Joinery in Lakeland, offers creative flavors such as The Aviator, a chocolate and hazelnut Nutella ice cream with Biscoff cookie chunks. Auburndale Ice Cream Co., a sister shop to Lakeland Ice Cream Company, features hand-dipped premium ice cream and now shares space with a bakery offering cupcakes and cakes.

Frostbite Ice Cream and More vs. Mulberry Ice Cream Co.

Frostbite Ice Cream and More, serving the Frostproof community for over 20 years, recently introduced a limited-time bubblegum flavor. Mulberry Ice Cream Co. offers up to 72 hand-dipped flavors in cups, cones, and shakes, with colorful cone options available.

Ripples Handcrafted Ice Cream vs. Bright Ice Lakeland

Ripples Handcrafted Ice Cream, located in Winter Haven’s Bowen Yard, specializes in made-from-scratch ice creams and sorbets, including adventurous flavors like Bay Laurel. Bright Ice Lakeland focuses on whole ingredients and small batches, offering affogatos that combine espresso with ice cream or gelato.

This exciting competition not only celebrates the diversity of ice cream in Polk County but also invites residents to participate in choosing their favorites. With so many unique options, the final winner is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.