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Andrew Thomas Lee
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Deep in the dog days of Texas summer, there’s no better escape than a trip down the freezer aisle at Central Market. While you can always find traditional tubs here (we have nothing but love for you, vanilla!) — this Southlake staple curates frozen desserts like it’s an art form. To help you navigate, our team has done the truly hard work of taste-testing the finest and most unique options that the experts at CM have scoured from around the country. Here are some of our top picks you won’t want to miss.
A cult favorite for a reason, Ohio-based Jeni’s, founded by James Beard award-winning cookbook author and ice cream maker Jeni Britton, brings bold, nostalgic flavors with unexpected depth. Southlake shoppers can scoop up popular picks like Brown Butter Almond Brittle or dig into seasonal stunners like the Root Beer Float, which earned high praise from Southlake Style’s marketing and sales director Nicole Tesoriero: “I wasn’t expecting it to have so much real root beer flavor! So good,” she says. With rotating flavors and a super-premium texture, it’s a reason to visit the frozen section on the regular.
What started as a Brooklyn food truck is now a freezer-aisle favorite — and for good reason. Known for its ultra-creamy French-style base and unconventional flavors, Van Leeuwen delivers decadence in every pint and bar. The Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bars are a must-try, blending silky texture with crunchy coating and bursts of real fruit. Even staff writer Tim Glaze was floored by how good they are. “I’m not the biggest fan of strawberries, but these are delicious.”
Rooted in Indian tradition and crafted in Dallas, Kaurina’s offers a South Asian twist on frozen dessert with their ultra-creamy kulfi bars and pints. Unlike standard ice cream, kulfi is denser and slower to melt, with a luxurious texture that’s more like frozen custard than soft serve. The flavors are where it really shines, especially the Malai Cardamom Cream, which gently teases the taste buds with its delicate infusion of warm spices and floral sweetness. According to Southlake Style office manager Kelly Rose, “This is a pure delight. I did not expect that much of a yum factor with the cardamom.” The Mango is another standout, bursting with bright, tropical flavor that instantly transports you to a sunny day. Family-owned and made without eggs or preservatives, Kaurina’s is proof that tradition never goes out of style, especially when it tastes this good.
Greek-inspired by way of Seattle, Hellenika brings a Mediterranean twist to traditional ice cream. Made with a creamy cultured base, these pints pack a rich tang that’s perfectly balanced by inventive flavors like Honey Lavender and London Fog. If this editor had to pick a favorite, it would be their Lemon Curd Cultured Gelato, hands down. It’s a grown-up treat that feels like a summer vacation in every spoonful.
Part illusion, part indulgence — and totally TikTok-worthy. These viral bars, created by six-time James Beard Award finalist Cynthia Wong, look exactly like fried chicken drumsticks but are actually vanilla ice cream coated in crunchy white chocolate and cornflakes, complete with a chocolate “bone.” While Goldbelly sells a bucket of 9 for $110, if you’re lucky enough to catch them in store before they sell out - yet again - you can get individually wrapped drumsticks for less than $5. They’re worth every penny. Just trust us on this one.