What’s the best way to beat the heat? Getting your hands on a frozen treat.
As the dog days of summer bring soaring temperatures, you don’t want to be caught in the sun without something cool to take the edge off.
Luckily for you, Delaware is filled with many places that are serving up chilly drinks and desserts sure to keep you satisfied and feeling breezy.
Check out these sweet midsummer treats guaranteed to get you through the rest of summer.
The orange dreamsicle, Delmar
Delmar’s Old Mill Crab House is known for its hearty menu of seafood dishes. What you might not expect is their plunge into the drink world, offering a variety of crafty cocktails.
One of their most requested items is the orange dreamsicle, a top selling mixed drink overflowing with notes of summer nostalgia.
The orange dreamsicle is a frozen cocktail consisting of blended vanilla ice cream, orange vodka and Old Mill Crab House’s special blend of orange flavoring. It is then topped with whipped topping, a cherry and an entire orange dream ice cream bar.
If the kids start to shoot you daggers over the arrival of your decked-out drink, no worries. The orange dreamsicle comes in a kid-friendly, non-alcoholic version as well and is served year-round.
8829 Waller Road, Delmar, (302) 846-9000; https://www.oldmillcrabhouse.com/
Boozy milkshakes, Smyrna
Why choose between a tasty spirit and drinkable dessert when you can combine them? Painted Stave Distilling in Smyrna offers boozy milkshakes on Saturdays during the summer, with flavors rotating each month.
July’s flavor was cacao-nib and vanilla bean-infused Painted Stave vodka, Cowgirl Creamery chocolate ice cream and chocolate chips with chocolate swirl.
August’s boozy milkshake will be a concoction of vanilla bean-infused Painted Stave vodka, fresh peaches and Cowgirl Creamery peach ice cream.
Other flavors they’ve offered include peanut butter cup, mixed berry and cookies & cream.
The distillery was originally home to a single-screen, first-run movie house called the Old Smyrna Theater before it closed in 1975. After housing a plumbing supply business, Painted Stave Distillery officially opened the place for operation again in 2013.
If you don’t have time to enjoy a milkshake on-site, they offer larger versions of their boozy milkshakes in a to-go version that will be served frozen and ready to drink by the time you get home. Pick-up is available on Saturdays only.
West Commerce Street, Smyrna, (302) 653-6834;https://www.paintedstave.com/
Strawberry cheesecake pop, Middletown
At Pop In Artisan Pops, they have added a unique twist to a childhood classic sure to satisfy customers of all ages.
Taking inspiration from Italian frozen treats like gelato and sorbetto, and Mexican/South American ones such as paletas, the shop has created a variety of gourmet popsicles in a range of fruity, creamy, specialty and boozy flavors, with waffle pops on the menu, too.
Their creamy strawberry cheesecake pop is a gluten-free popsicle made with milk, cream, sugar and cream cheese, with strawberry slices throughout. Dipping the pop in cookie butter and enjoying it with Nilla Wafers or graham crackers is recommended.
The rotating menu includes flavors for the 21+ crowd such as a boozy Tito’s blue lagoon pop, made with Tito’s vodka and blue curacao, a boozy rum raisin pop with rum-soaked golden raisins, or a little red-head girl waffle pop served with fresh strawberries, whipped cream and strawberry sauce.
Some of their fruity, creamy and specialty pops come in flavors of pink lemonade, mango, pineapple and mint, apple pie, almond pistachio, peaches and cream and banana hazelnut fudge.
17 Wood Street, Middletown, (302) 696-2596;https://www.popinpops.com/
Strawberry colada, Bear
Nothing says sweet summertime quite like sipping a frozen drink on the water. If these are the vibes you’re looking for, Grain H2O is the place to be.
The C&D Canal eatery is mixing up a strawberry colada made with stateside vodka, summer strawberry puree and Oasis ice cream mix that has been whipped in a frozen mixer. For a final touch, the drink is topped with whipped cream.
Grain also has a drink called Matt’s raspberry lemonade rum crush if you want something else to sip on. This cocktail includes Bacardi raspberry rum, lemonade, seasonal raspberry puree, and a splash of club soda and sprite to top it off.
For those of you closer to the Grain On the Rocks location in Lewes, check out their specially featured key lime coladas!
3006 Summit Harbour Place, Bear (302) 440-4404;https://meetatgrain.com/
Moonshine slushies, Dover
Looking for something to awaken your palate? Double D Tap House in Dover is serving up moonshine slushies sure to pack a punch.
The slushies are made using moonshine from Feebs Distilling in Milford and come in a variety of rotating flavors including apple, peach, brandy and watermelon strawberry.
Double D Tap House is currently offering a kiwi & strawberry juice, a slushy made with Feebs’ strawberry moonshine, and a blueberry juice, a slushy made with blueberry moonshine from Feebs. Each slushy is garnished with candy, and this month’s topping is a fun mix of rainforest frog gummies.
137 Jerome Drive, Dover,(302) 566-7344;https://www.ddtaphouse.com/
