Create Your Own Ice Cream Flavor At This One-Of-A-Kind Sweet Shop In Nebraska
There’s something kind of magical about ice cream, don’t you think? People of all ages and from all walks of life love this frozen confection. It comes in about a million flavors, and everyone has their favorite. But what if the ice cream of your dreams isn’t sold in any stores? There’s one Nebraska business that will let you design your own, from the base to the mix-ins to even the packaging.
eCreamery Ice Cream and Gelato is known nationally - more on that later - but has only one store. It's located in Omaha's historic Dundee neighborhood.
The bright and cheerful ice cream parlor is filled with the aromas of sweet cream, rich toppings, and so much sugary goodness that you'll hardly be able to wait to dig in.
There are 16 creative flavors on offer every day. They're mixed up in small batches right there in the store, so you know you're getting the freshest treats possible.
As the name suggests, you can find ice cream and gelato in the case, but there are also many flavors of sorbet and even non-dairy, almond-based ice cream. There's something to please everyone!
Try a free sample or two to find your favorite, then decide on your toppings from a long list of available ingredients. Or just eat it as-is; either way, it's always tasty.
The menu also features sundaes and other delicacies with the toppings already determined, so all you have to do is name the size and your choice of ice cream flavors.
There's often a line to order, but it typically moves quickly. After you get your treats, have a seat in the cozy ice cream parlor or take your treats outside to enjoy on one of the many benches along the Dundee streets.
In fact, Warren Buffett and Sir Paul McCartney famously visited eCreamery in 2014 and ate their ice cream on the bench right outside of the shop's door.
For a truly unique ice cream treat, eCreamery also lets you design your very own ice cream flavor. Start with a base of ice cream, gelato, or sorbet and add in the toppings and flavors you desire. All of the ice cream - standard flavors and custom ones - are made in the ice cream parlor's kitchen.
What kind of treat will you dream up? Biscotti ice cream with caramel swirls and cappuccino crunch? Go for it! Key lime gelato with white chocolate chips and graham cracker crumbs? Delicious! Avocado ice cream with peanut butter swirls and gummy bears? Ugh, why would you do that to ice cream? Well, it's your flavor and you can make it really weird if you want to.
You can even choose the name for your new flavor. If you're giving a gift, you can name it for your recipient. You can even call it "Back Off, It's Mine" or almost anything else you choose. Your custom label will be printed and applied to your freshly-packaged pint.
There's a catch to creating your own tasty ice cream flavors, however. You can't just walk into the eCreamery store and have them mix up a few custom pints for you on the spot. You'll have to order ahead, and the minimum order is four pints.
If you just can't decide on your own concoction, opt for one of eCreamery's special flavors. They mix up special flavors for graduations, holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. Every year during the College World Series in Omaha, they create a different flavor for each team!
You definitely don't have to live near Omaha to enjoy these custom treats. Order your favorite flavors online and you can have them shipped anywhere in the US. Your ice cream will be packed with dry ice and carefully transported to your doorstep, still frozen and delicious.
There's a freezer full of pints in the shop where you can pick up one of the flavors previously featured in the case. There's no guarantee your favorite will be in there, but you can always try something new!
And for those times that you really need some inventive ice cream but can't make it to the little parlor, don't fret. eCreamery flavors are sold in Omaha-area Hy-Vee stores.
If you're thinking that this whole "ice cream made to order" concept sounds familiar, that may be because eCreamery has gotten some pretty big press since starting out in 2007.
Owners Becky App and Abby Jordan took their idea to the investors on Shark Tank and have been featured in so many magazines and TV segments that it's hard to keep track of them all. Now eCreamery is known and loved all across the country.
The ice cream speaks for itself, and that's why it's garnered such a loyal following. Even more than a decade after it began, the concept is still wooing ice cream lovers in Nebraska and beyond.
Are you ready to try this creamy, delicious treat yourself? If you’re in Omaha, you can visit the eCreamery ice cream parlor at 5001 Underwood Ave, Omaha, NE. Follow their Facebook page for news, specials, and more. Check out their website for online ordering and tons more information – and be sure to check out this page for the daily in-store flavors.
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
