Sugar Mama Desserts is a true labor of love that began at a farmers market 10 years ago when a pharmacist decided to quit her job and shift to creating ice cream full-time. Ingredients and fruit are sourced locally without the use of preservatives, and the shop is most well known for its 40+ sentimental and creative flavors, such as Caramal Passionfruit, Chocolate Malted Krunch and Malted Milk Double Chocolate. Henny Penny, one of the shop’s most eccentric flavors, is an unlikely blend of Hennessy and Chinese Haw Flake candies, while saffron rosewater pistachio is a mosaic of Persian flavors.

For some all natural, premium ice cream that comes in eccentric flavors, Sweet Fix Creamery is the way to go. With 16 percent butterfat, the ice cream’s texture is extra creamy and smooth. When it comes to variety, Sweet Fix isn’t afraid to get creative with its repertoire of 95 flavors — 26 of which are available at any given time. Banana Brownie, Frappuccino Almond Crackle, horchata, and Mexican hot chocolate are some of the most loved, and toppings like fudge, whipped cream, and marshmallow fluff are made from scratch. And if traditional ice cream isn’t your jam, their homemade Italian ice is a great dairy-free, fat-free, gluten-free, and vegan option.

For those craving Indian-inspired flavors, Nirvanaah serves a vast variety of desserts, including scoops, sundaes, cakes, shakes, and special concoctions. Though the shop’s offerings may all be vegetarian and egg-free, they’re still as rich, delectable, and flavorful as any desserts in the area. The shop sources its frozen treats from Kwality Ice Cream, a premier supplier of Indian desserts, with flavors that range from fruity to nutty. Visitors rave about the unique flavors they may not be able to find elsewhere — ice cream infused with fruits like fresh chickoo or sitaphal, as well as more traditional Indian sweets like the summertime drink, falooda, and mixed nut ice cream, rajbhog. 

In the heart of San Jose’s Vietnam Town, you’ll find Marco Polo, the home of handcrafted gelato infused with fruits or classic Italian flavors. With natural ingredients, customers can taste ripe fruit chunks mixed in the ice cream itself. The shop was founded in San Francisco more than 40 years ago by a chemist who studied the gelato creation process and wanted to churn gelato with an extraordinarily smooth and rich texture. Customers get most excited about Marco Polo’s special Asian-inspired fruity flavors like durian, pandan, and guava, though the shop’s nutty flavors like pistachio and arcobaleno are also a hit. 

Hailing from Southern California, SomiSomi has made a name for itself with its Korean dessert known as “ah-boong” — a crispy, fish-shaped waffle cone lined with dollops of filling and topped with creamy soft serve. The shops source milk from farms in California, though select flavors are lactose-free. The seasonal summer flavor, pink guava, has been a hit, and some of the most commonly ordered soft serve flavors include cookies ‘n cream and ube. For those looking for something a little warmer to pair with their ice cream, SomiSomi also serves taiyaki, fish-shaped pastries reminiscent of hot pockets, with a warm, toasted exterior and soft-mochi like filling in a variety of flavors.

Family-owned Yumi Yogurt first opened in San Mateo in 1985, offering relatively healthier froyo with fewer calories and less sugar than other frozen treats. Now, in the Santa Clara location, they’re carrying out that same mission with simple, silky frozen yogurt offerings in flavors that change daily. The chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, and cookie-based flavors are usually in high demand, and customers love the generous portion sizes. But for those who are looking for something sweet with a different mouthfeel, Yumi Yogurt also serves traditional ice cream scoops, as well as an assortment of drinks. 

In a bright green building on an unassuming San Jose street, you’ll find La Original Paleteria, a snack shop that offers a bit of a transcendent experience, with an ambience and flavors that make customers feel as if they’ve teleported to Mexico. Even with a full menu of Mexican specialty desserts, fans most frequently order the mangonadas — velvety mango ice cream topped with a generous amount of juicy mango slices, Chamoy sauce, and Tajin seasoning. La Original Paleteria also offers a variety of other fruity flavors like mamey and guava, or more chocolatey ones like Ferrero Rocher.

Willow Glen Creamery serves a Midwestern favorite at a quaint shop in San Jose. The shop is most well-known for silky frozen custards, which are churned and blended every day with vanilla and fresh bananas. Aside from their frozen custards, patrons also love the Marble Blackberry and Tin Roof Sundae ice creams, as well as the Irish mint and red velvet frozen yogurt flavors. And treats aren’t only for humans at Willow Glen Creamery. Dogs are always welcome, and they even get a free doggie yogurt treat when they visit. Since opening in 2002, the team has expanded to a second location in Campbell.

Tin Pot Creamery started in 2012 as an “Ice Cream of the Month Club” that was spearheaded by one of the shop’s founders. As she ideated and experimented with two new flavors each month, she began hand-delivering them to her neighbors in the Bay Area. When these sweet deliveries gained traction, Tin Pot Creamery was born. Even today, the shop emphasizes and prioritizes its hearty, homemade quality, focusing on the basics with a fun spin. One of the most common ice cream flavors, dubbed Cookie Monster, has swirls of cookie dough pieces and chocolate cookie crumbles, which are both made at the shop.

Sweet Retreat has been a long-time favorite ice cream and froyo spot for many South Bay locals. After the shop’s initial location was destroyed in a fire in 2016, the business thankfully recovered and now has two locations — one in San Jose and another in Morgan Hill. Every flavor scooped at Sweet Retreat is crafted from start to finish by the shop’s team without any premade bases or flavor pastes. Visitors can find 40 flavors being served at any given time, with 35 classic flavors and five rotating ones. Some of the most beloved orders include the mango banana froyo and the Oreo cookie ice cream.

Sweet Rendezvous is a family-owned store that sources ice cream from two top-tier local creameries — Marianne’s in Santa Cruz and Loard’s in San Leandro. Serving more than 52 flavors at the homey shop, Sweet Rendezvous offers a wide range of flavor options, such as ube and Persian Nutella. Blended with spices like cardamom and saffron, the Persian frozen desserts include a refreshing homemade faloodeh and a decadent saffron pistachio ice cream. And for those looking for some additional desserts, the shop also serves an assortment of European desserts, pastries, and candies.