Sweeten Up Sandwich Month With These Ice Cream Sandwiches

Fun fact: August happens to both be the "Dog Days of Summer" and National Sandwich Month, so it makes perfect sense to combine the two sentiments and celebrate summer’s most iconic dessert: the ice cream sandwich. Here are some of Chicago’s best: 

 

Firecakes: There's an indulgent behemoth at Firecakes that is pretty much the opposite of classic nostalgia. Unless you grew up eating doughnut ice cream sandwiches, that is. Made by splitting glazed doughnuts across the middle and filling them with different flavors of ice cream and chocolate sauce, it’s a one-two punch of comfort food at its most decadent. 

Nonna's: In other non-traditional ice cream sandwich news, some of the prettiest dessert 'wiches in town can be found at Nonna's. The Italian lunch spot sweetens up their menu for the summer with this gorgeous dessert option, featuring ice cream sandwiches in offbeat flavors like stracciatella. 

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: In terms of ice cream sandwiches, it doesn't get much more precious than the sweet sandwiches at Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. The Columbus, Ohio-based scoop shop features beautiful and unique flavor combos, most of which are served between huge macarons instead of typical cookies. Examples include the orchid vanilla sandwich with vanilla bean ice cream and black currant jam on purple almond macarons; the chocolate hazelnut with dark chocolate ice cream and roasted hazelnuts on hazelnut macarons; and salty caramel with Jeni's signature salty caramel ice cream served on almond macarons with chopped smoked almonds.

Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen: Flavors skew classic at Doc B’s, where gelato cookie sandwiches come in comforting flavors like chocolate and vanilla on perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookies. 

Amorino: Ice cream sandwiches are downright dainty and adorable at Amorino, as the Parisian gelato shop peddles macaron ice cream “sandwiches” in vivid flavors like mango, pistachio, caramel, chocolate, and coffee. 

- Matt Kirouac