• The summer scoop on ice cream in Waco

    An ice cream cone outside Heritage Creamery

    Summer is in full swing — and with it, Texas’ notorious heat. One great way to beat that heat: a sweet treat like ice cream.

    Whether you’re a new Baylor student, an upperclassman returning to campus this fall, or a Baylor alum planning your next visit back, you might want to check out these Waco ice cream shops:

    * Heritage Creamery From the owners of Common Grounds, this boutique ice cream shop — located just across Eighth Street from campus — features high quality ingredients and local sourcing for an absolutely delicious (and unique) scoop.

    * Hey Sugar This bright-colored candy store on Austin Avenue features a variety of sweet treats, but the owners pride themselves on their old-fashioned ice cream. Grab a scoop and take a picture by the mural outside their shop.

    * Katie’s Frozen Custard Since 2002, Katie’s has been the Waco staple for frozen custard. Known for their specialty cyclones, Katie’s custard is sure to cool you down on a hot summer day.

    * Rollos Rolled Ice Cream From the creators of Poppa Rollo’s Pizza, Rollos Rolled Ice Cream serves unique Thai-style ice cream — flattened in front of you on a freezing cold pan (15° below zero!) and hand-rolled into a delicious treat.

    * Dr Pepper Museum When school is out for the summer, Baylor students and employees miss their Dr Pepper floats. Let us not forget these Baylor classics are also served up year-round in downtown Waco at our very own Dr Pepper Museum.

    * Health Camp A true Waco staple since the ’50s, Health Camp’s shakes and malts are a creamy summer favorite. With an overwhelming list of flavors to mix and choose from, you can’t go wrong with this treat.

    * Pokey-O’s Evolving from a food truck to its own permanent location just down the street from campus, Pokey O’s mixes fresh-baked cookies with ice cream to create the perfect ice cream sandwich.

    Sic ’em, ice cream lovers!