For ice cream lovers, it doesn’t get much better than a seriously sweet scoop of handcrafted ice cream. But what if we told you there was a place in town where you could get an exceptionally smooth and creamy scoop made to order right in front of your eyes? Say hello to Cloud Nine Creamery, Westfield Southcenter’s first liquid nitrogen ice cream shop. If you’re ready to give this latest science experiment turned dessert craze a lick, read on for the scoop.

photo: Cloud Nine Creamery

How It Works
The fun begins the moment you walk up to Cloud Nine’s floor-to-ceiling glass wall. Peer through the glass and feast your eyes on the scientist-like clouds of fog billowing over the counter, onto the floor and out of the shop’s door thanks to the infusion of liquid nitrogen. Once inside, this is where the fun really begins. Start by selecting your base: milk, yogurt or vegan coconut and your container: waffle bowl, cone or cup. Then, choose your flavor. Cloud Nine offers 18 different flavors, including Strawberry, Raspberry, Lychee, Coconut, Mint, Cherry, Green Tea, Vanilla, Cookie ‘N Cream, Double Chocolate, Cake Batter, Nutella, Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter, Butter Pecan, Coffee and Pistachio. Next, it’s time to add your mix-ins which range from candy and nuts to cookie crumbles and fruit. Choose from 27 different options, including popular kid faves like cookie dough, whipped cream, gummy bears, Nutella, brownies, strawberries, marshmallows, chocolate chips, Oreo cookies, peanut butter, sprinkles, Teddy Grahams and white chocolate or candies such as M&Ms, Snickers, Heath Bar, Kit Kat, Twix, Reese’s Minis and Butterfinger.

From there, your personalized concoction is handcrafted right in front of your eyes using the magic, err science, of liquid nitrogen. And once the fog lifts, your delicious and oh-so creamy concoction is ready to eat. Want to make your ice cream even sweeter? Add on a Sauce Syringe ($1 each or four for $3) and top your Cloud Nine creation off with chocolate fudge, sweetened condensed milk, cherry, caramel or seasonal flavors.

Brave the Element
Wondering how Cloud Nine ice cream gets so creamy and what liquid nitrogen has to do with it? That’s all thanks to some weird (and totally cool!) science. Standard ice cream is made by freezing batches in a freezer for approximately 45 minutes. This process tends to cause ice crystals to form — which makes ice cream hard and icy in texture. This is where liquid nitrogen at -320 degrees comes in. Since it’s so cold, it freezes the creamy base immediately on contact and makes the milk particles stay small and not form into ice crystals. The result? Creamier and smoother ice cream that stays colder longer.

Partnering with Local Businesses
Being a family owned and operated business, Cloud Nine knows the importance and value of working with local partners. And that’s why the shop has partnered with several Northwest businesses to help make the magic and science of its liquid nitrogen ice cream even sweeter. West Seattle’s beloved Alki Bakery provides goodies such as cheesecake, brownies and apple pie for Cloud Nine’s signature dishes (psst…look for future announcements about delish new treats that Alki is whipping up exclusively for Cloud Nine); Off the Waffle, from Oregon, brings the aroma of authentic Liège, Belgium waffle cones to Cloud Nine which are made from dough balls instead of being poured on a hot iron; NORPA, a cooperative of family-owned Oregon farms, provides all the organic strawberries, bananas and mixed berries; and Caffé D’arte offers its espresso for drinks (caffeinated and decaf) as well as for Cloud Nine’s signature dishes such as the Caramel Affogoto – a shot of espresso, fresh cream, caramel, whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel over the top.

Signature Dishes
Can’t decide on a custom mix? Let the Cloud Nine Nitros serve you one of their signature dishes (9 in total), including Chips and Cream (chocolate or vanilla ice cream with a side of French fries); Ube Famous (Ube cheesecake, coconut ice cream and a fortune cookie garnish); Cookie Monster (cake batter ice cream, Oreo cookie crumbs, cookie dough and a Oreo cookie garnish); Scout OG (mint ice cream, Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies and Chocolate Chunk Girl Scout cookies); The Big Apple (vanilla ice cream, Alki Bakery apple pie, caramel sauce, whipped cream and a cinnamon dusting); Banana Cream Pie (banana ice cream, fresh bananas, Nilla wafers, caramel sauce and whipped cream); Caramel Affogoto (double shot of Caffé D’arte espresso, ice cream, caramel sauce and whipped cream); and Triple Chocolate Brownie (chocolate ice cream, Alki Bakery brownie, chocolate sauce, chocolate chunks, whipped cream and a cocoa powder dusting). Seasonally, Cloud Nine plans to celebrate with additional signature dishes like s’mores, pumpkin and pineapple.

Special Grand Opening Offers
Cloud Nine is kicking off its first week of business with nine days of deals. Pick a day or come in for all nine. You won’t be disappointed!

Friday, February 16 – Grand Opening Golden Tickets  
Nine random winners will receive one year of free ice cream (one regular ice cream per week) if they are lucky enough to discover a golden ticket on the bottom of their cup!

Saturday, February 17 – Nine Early Birds
The early bird gets free ice cream. The first nine guests at Cloud Nine Creamery will receive a free regular ice cream.

Sunday, February 18 – Saucy Sunday
Get one free flavored sauce syringe to top off your ice cream purchase. Flavors include Chocolate Fudge, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Cherry, Caramel and seasonal offerings.

Monday, February 19– Nitro Upgrade
The only thing better than Cloud Nine Ice Cream is more of it! Get more on Monday when you upgrade your ice cream one size for free.

Tuesday, February 20 – Mix-in Mania
Go nuts, get fruity or satisfy your chocolate candy craving with one free mix-in when you buy a regular ice cream.

Wednesday, February 21 – Off the Waffle Wednesday
Experience the authentic, house made Belgium waffles at Cloud Nine when you get a free waffle bowl with any ice cream purchase.

Thursday, February 22 – Shake It Up
Ice cream bowls and cones are not the only items to get mix-ins. Shake it up by adding a free mix-in with any shake purchase.

Friday, February 23 – Date Night Bogo
Love and ice cream are made to share. Bring a loved one and buy one Strawberries & Cream Waffle and get a second one, for free!

Saturday, February 24 – Take a Chocolate Dip
On the ninth day of Cloud Nine’s grand opening, the Nitros will dip your waffle bowl in chocolate for free with any ice cream purchase.

Cloud Nine Creamery (located between Sears & and Din Tai Fung)
Westfield Southcenter
191 Southcenter Mall
Tukwila, Wa
206-466-4989
Online: cloudninecreamery.com and on Facebook

Have you tried liquid nitrogen ice cream before? What’s your favorite flavor? Dish in the comments below.

—Kristina Moy (all photos courtesy of the writer unless otherwise noted)

RELATED STORIES:

Scoop du Jour: Salt & Straw Finally Opens Two Seattle Shops

Seattle’s Coolest Ice Cream, Froyo & Gelato Shops

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at the City’s Best Candy Shops

Seattle’s Top Spots for Cupcakes

14 Shops That Rule the Seattle Doughnut Scene

Steamy bowls of pho, chicken tikka masala burritos, gourmet gelato popsicles and burgers piled high with produce—food halls offer options like these and much, much more. They are the perfect spot for families because they provide a break from meal monotony, offer something for everyone, and just might push the kids to try something new. We’ve gathered 15 of our favorite foodie spots that are totally worth a visit (or two!). See them all below.

Anaheim Packing District – Anaheim, Ca

Originally distributing the citrus fruit for which Orange County was named, the Packing District was converted to a community gathering space a few years ago with two levels of restaurants. Try some made-to-order fish and chips from The Chippy followed by gelato or sorbetto on a stick at Popbar. The chicken sandwiches from Sweetbird never disappoints. You can grab your eats and choose a spot at any of the communal tables or even swing in one of the wooden bench swings on the bottom level. Visiting without the kids? Definitely plan a stop at the super secret speakeasy The Blind Rabbit (if you can find it!).

Must Try: Snowballs from I Am (corn puffs with liquid nitrogen)

Online: anaheimpackingdistrict.com

photo: Kate Loweth

 

Do you have a favorite food hall that didn’t make our list? Give us the deets below!

— Kate Loweth

Snow may not be in D.C.’s weather forecast for a few months, but it’s definitely on the dessert menu. For an icy treat experience the whole family will love, head to Snocream Shavery, an inconspicuous food bus located in an Annandale, Virginia K-Mart parking lot. The coolest thing since the District saw liquid nitrogen ice cream, this is one sweet spot you’ll want to repeat.

Find It
You’d think that a pimped out antique school bus hawking Taiwanese ice cream would be a cinch to find, but this one is actually easy to miss if you aren’t looking closely. It’s located in a K-Mart strip mall parking lot, but not in front. Drive around to the left side of the center where you’ll likely spot the bus, a handful of cube benches and tables, and a small crowed gathering.

Pick It
A cross between ice cream and shaved ice, this dessert features soft ribbons of flavored “sno,” created by using milk, water, and out-of-the-box natural flavors (think: thai tea, mango, and honeydew). After freezing, a machine shaves ribbon-like bands from the ice into your cup. The one-size option is $7 and comes with two toppings (there’s everything from Fruity Pebbles to grass jelly) and one drizzle of condensed milk, caramel, chocolate, or white chocolate.

Eat It
While you might want one all to yourself, the serving size is large enough for two kiddies to share. How it works: After climbing on the bus, you place your order (note: it’s an extra $1 to mix flavors). You give the friendly staff a name (Starbucks-style) and wait outside the bus near the front-side driver’s window for your name to be called. While there is no seating on the bus, there is some outdoor seating and a bunch of parking if you’d like to sit in the car with the bambinos on a cool night. Bonus: When the sun goes down, fun glow colors are lit and it’s like a party on a bus.

Snocream Shavery
4221 John Marr Dr. (Annandale, Va)
202-656-6144
Online: snocreamcompany.com

Have you been to Snocream yet? Tell us your favorite flavor combinations in the comments below. 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

Photos: Ayren Jackson-Cannady

If this is your first time hearing about the “Puffle” craze, you are in for a treat! Instagram streams from across the globe recently filled with this eye-catching sweet, and the moment we realized the shop is a short drive from LA, we had to try it out.  Is it as magically delicious as it looks?  See, and hear, for yourself…then hop in your car (or on your broom) and cool down with made to order ice creams and Puffle cones at Santa Ana’s Cauldron Ice Cream.

photo: Erin Harris

The Hype, The Craze, The Close, The Re-Open
With all the enticing pictures popping up just as temps were peaking, we had to try it out ASAP, and were greeted with a waiting crowd of hundreds of people and a nearly two-hour wait for an ice cream cone. Fortunately for everyone else, Cauldron took this pure insanity as a sign that they needed to overhaul their system in order to meet the raging demand and reduce wait times. The ice cream shop was closed to customers for one week and celebrated its grand re-opening on August 31, so now you won’t need to grumble about how long it takes to get your Puffle.  So rejoice and get in a nice short line to enjoy this made-fresh treat.

photo: Cauldron Ice Cream via facebook

Think Of It As Edible Bubble Wrap
“What they heck is a Puffle,” you ask? Based on a popular Hong Kong treat, it is an egg waffle that resembles large format bubble wrap, almost the reverse of a typical waffle. It looks like something out of a children’s storybook, or perhaps Willy Wonka’s factory, and it wraps beautifully around a couple of scoops of ice cream, essentially creating a two-in-one dessert. The cones are made to order and served warm (melting alert!), so be sure to grab plenty of napkins.

The ice cream is also following the latest ice cream trend (see local shops Creamology, Creamistry, Ice Cream Lab, etc.) of making and freezing your order before your eyes, using a creamy base, fresh add-ins and a blast of liquid nitrogen.  Freezer burn, farewell.  Plus, the smoke effect coming off the machines is super cool.

photo: Erin Harris

To Puffle Or Not To Puffle?
Next question: “Soooo…is it worth the hype?” (And the drive…) The answer on the part of your kids will likely be an unqualified and resounding “YES!” After all, there’s something irresistible about desserts that are nearly as big as your face and look like something you’d only find at a state fair. Grown-ups, on the other hand, may find the combination of a thick Belgian waffle wrapped around a couple of scoops of intensely rich ice cream to be a little, um, much. Unless you are some kind of a waffle fiend, big people are better off ordering the ice cream on its own.

photo: Maria Cariza V. via yelp

Don’t Worry: There’s Stuff For Grown-Ups Too
The liquid nitrogen process produces ice cream that is exceptionally dense, smooth and rich in flavor, so it makes for quite the indulgence even without the waffle-cone-on-steroids that is responsible for the shop’s sudden success.

And, in keeping with modern gourmet ice cream trends, some of the flavors (which rotate monthly) have definitely been developed with discerning palates in mind, including Earl Gray Lavender, Sea Salt Caramel (above) and Vietnamese Coffee. At the other end of the spectrum are kid-pleasing options like Rainbow Road (made with Fruity Pebbles) and Cirque de la Crème (made with Circus Animal Cookies, below). Whether you go full Puffle or not, your sweet tooth is sure to be satisfied.

photo: Olivia H. via yelp

Harry Potter Fans, Wave Your Wands
FOr young witches and wizards waiting with baited breath for Harry Potter World to open in 2016 at Universal Studios (if only there was a spell to make time fly!), consider passing on the Puffle and getting this magical sipper. The Wizard’s Brew Float is butterscotch soda with fresh vanilla ice cream, and if it puts you in mind of Butterbeer from Hogsmeade, well, we won’t tell the kids this concoction isn’t exactly what Harry and friends drink.

photo: Cauldron Ice Cream via facebook

Cauldron Ice Cream
1421 W MacArthur Blvd.
Santa Ana
657-245-3442
Online: cauldronicecream.com

Have you puffled?  What’s your verdict: worth the drive or it’s all hype?

—Erin Harris

In case you needed another reason to smash together a chocolate, marshmallow and graham sammie—August 10th was National S’mores Day. No campfire needed to savor the final days of summer’s sweetness with one of these tasty treats.

Sprinkle’s Cupcakes
Only available August 18th through 31st, Sprinkle’s fans demanded “some more” and these delicious cupcakes have returned. You only need to brave the wilds of Lenox’s parking lots to enjoy these this graham cracker-lined Belgian dark chocolate cake filled with bittersweet chocolate ganache and topped with toasted marshmallow frosting.

Details: 3393 Peachtree Rd. NE, 404-846-1599, sprinkles.com

Sublime Doughnuts
Pop over to this delicious doughnut shop for a dozen and be sure to order up their popular s’more flavor. With chocolate icing, graham cracker crumbs and a marshmallow fluff center, this sweet treat is simply, well, sublime. Click here for our picks for Atlanta’s other best doughnut shops.

Details: 535 10th St. NW, 404-897-1801, sublimedoughnuts.com

That Pie Place
After sampling one of their savory selections, go halfsies and split the s’more pie. Filled with brownies, marshmallows, & graham crackers—this sweet treat is super rich so be sure to share.

Details: 6355 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Sandy Springs, 770-394-4743, thatpieplaceusa.com

High Road
This coveted creamery got its start by chefs for chefs and the culinary pedigree shows. A modest counter tucked inside the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, their spin on s’mores included delicious chunks of graham cracker crumbs embedded in ice cream.

Details: 209 Edgewood Ave. SE, 678-701-7623, highroadcraft.com

Flip Burger Boutique
Complete with bubbling liquid nitrogen, Flip’s burt marshmallow and Nutella milkshake is sure to wow your small fry and is a perfect accompaniment to their sweet potato tots and “haute dog.”

Details: 1587 Howell Mill Rd., 404-352-3547, flipburgerboutique.com

Looking to cook up the real deal? Click here for our guide to the best clamping and camping spots around ATL!

—Phebe Wahl

Photos courtesy of The Food Abides W., Cookie M., Nancy C., Kristin B. and Jessica W.