Nine Ice Cream Sandwiches to Try in Melbourne This Summer
The best ice cream sangas Melbourne has to offer.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, a time when it's socially acceptable to eat as much ice cream as humanly possible under the guise of "staying cool". And while ice cream on its own is delicious, it's almost always better when surrounded by crunch and more sugar — in other words, as an ice cream sandwich.
To help you eat maximum ice cream this summer, we've put together a list of our favourite ice cream sandwiches in and around Melbourne. So if you do one thing during the warmer months, make it a culinary tour of the city's most creative and delicious ice cream sangas.
BILLY VAN CREAMY
Starting as an organic gelato truck rolling around Melbourne, Billy van Creamy opened at bricks-and-mortar store in Fitzroy North two years ago. A passion project from two Perth-born brothers, Billy van Creamy is all about making authentic and ethical ice cream by hand. With their permanent digs sorted, the boys started to experiment with some new inventions, including one of our favourite collaborations of all time — the BillyBing. A scoop of gelato sandwiched by two dark chocolate Butterbing cookies, the sweet sanga can be found at their store and their still-functioning truck. Let the Billybing addiction begin.
MILKCOW
Soft serve might seem like the something reserved for children and late-night Maccas runs, but Milkcow is out to prove that it's still cool. The South Korean soft serve joint creates epic desserts centred on the icy treat, and its latest creation has taken Melbourne by storm. It's a watermelon wedge filled with vegan and dairy-free watermelon ice cream and sprinkled with Himalayan pink salt. If that wasn't enough, the seeds adorning the outside are made from chocolate chips. Your Instagram followers will thank you for sampling (and snapping) this treat, available at both the St Collins Lane and Swanston Street stores for a limited time.
MY TWO MUMS
The two talented ladies behind My Two Mums have created some of the best ice cream sandwiches going around. Rolling around Melbourne in a bright blue truck, the ladies source local, free range and organic ingredients to create eco-friendly and delicious ice cream sandwiches. Cookie flavours include M&M, pistachio and cardamom, and of course classic chocolate chip, while ice cream can be anything from strawberry to choc mint, white chocolate to raspberry, depending on the day. Head to My Two Mums' social pages to find the truck and choose your very own flavour combo.
HUXTABURGER
While it may be better known for its epic savoury creations, burger-haunt Huxtaburger also creates a pretty divine ice cream burger. For only six bucks you can enjoy a vanilla ice cream patty rolled in Huxtacrunch (crushed pastry flakes) and drizzled in your choice of chocolate or caramel sauce. It's then encased in a slider-sized brioche bun. While it might not be a classic ice cream sanga, it's still a pretty great way to cool down on a hot summers afternoon. Available at Huxtaburger stores across the city.
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
You'll have to venture out of the city for this one, but it's well worth the trip to Templestowe. Falling somewhere between badass breakfast and divine dessert, Down the Rabbit Hole's waffle ice cream sandwich is held together by a lemon and blueberry semifreddo. Held together by two gingerbread waffles and finished with tangy lemon curd, blueberry gel and crunchy meringue, the Maxi John is an ice cream sandwich on steroids — and it's certainly not for the faint of heart.
CODA
While it might not be the first venue that springs to mind when you hear "ice cream sandwich", Coda, hidden away on Flinders Lane, actually makes one of the city's best. A creation from head pastry chef Kay-Lene Tan, the chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich contains banana sorbet and is served with salted caramel pearls. It might be a little fancier than your average ice cream sanga, but it's certainly worth making a reservation to sample this delectable dessert.
BISTRO MORGAN
If, when it comes to ice cream sangas, you share the mentality of a 16-year-old, Bistro Morgan's offering may be just for you. Founded by teenager Morgan Hipworth, this South Yarra doughnut emporium serves ice cream sandwiches that you can essentially build from scratch. It's pretty simple – first you pick a doughnut, next choose an ice cream and finally you add any mix-ins or drizzles your heart may desire. While it sounds easy, it's certainly not boring, with doughnut flavours ranging from Hershey's cookies and cream to strawberry jam and drizzles including Fruit Loops and Gaytime crumbs.
THE MEATBALL & WINE BAR
The only way to finish a meal at the Meatball & Wine Bar is with one of its famous Whoopie Macs – a Meatballs twist on a classic ice cream sammie. First you choose your cookie – pick from ginger, chocolate, lemon shortbread or pistachio meringue — then select either salted caramel, fig and almond, cherry or chocolate and hazelnut. And voila — an ice cream sandwich will be delivered to your table before you can say "whoopie".
CUPPA TURCA
Once you've tried a Turkish-style ice cream sandwich, you may never go back to a "regular" one. Using stretchy Turkish ice cream, or dondurma, Northcote cafe Cuppa Turca serves the icy treat between two slices of crispy hand-rolled baklava. It's then topped with hot pink Persian fairy floss. For those who are after something a little less extra, there's a more tame version served between two thin wafers. Whichever sandwich you pick, order it with a cup of coffee made on hot sand – a true Turkish delight.
