Ice cream dreamin'

As the temperature increases, so does the desire for our fave frozen treats. Check out our top eight picks for Chicago's most uniquely delicious chilly treasures. Is it summer yet?

1) Annette's - 2009 N. Bissell

There is something nostalgic about a walk-up, locally run ice cream joint, and that is exactly what you'll get when you come to Annette's Italian Ice. 

You also won't get bored no matter how many times (a day) you decide to drop by. The menu is packed full of different ice cream flavors (Annette's personal favorite is Eskimo Kisses, while I go for the hard-to-find Key Lime Pie variety). Not to mention there is frozen lemonade, fat-free frozen yogurt, frozen bananas and, of course, their homemade, 100 percent natural Italian ice. They all carry a price of $3.00 for a small, but keep in mind that Annette's is cash only. 

As for what sells best? "It all depends," said Annette, the owner who was manning operations when I walked up. "Days like today [65 degrees and sunny] we sell more ice cream.  On days where it hits the 90s, we'll sell more Italian ice."  No matter what the temperature, this seasonal spot always seems to draw a crowd.  However, don't let that deter you; the line moves fast enough that you still may not have picked out a treat by the time you hit the counter.

If you are itching to try some Italian ice, Annette's recommends Lychee, which is reminiscent of rose and grape. 

When you're heading out the door to grab a treat, don't leave Buddy at home; Annette's carries Dog Paws ice cream.

2) Scooter's Frozen Custard - 1658 W. Belmont

Chicago may be a foodie town, but there is one spot where it seems to fall flat—frozen custard. Scooter's is the oldest frozen custard spot in Chicago, and their age is only seen by the amount of awards and recognition they have received throughout the years.

Ice cream's denser and creamier cousin, frozen custard, has the same percentage of butterfat as ice cream. However, it also contains egg yolk (pasteurized for health safety) and has less air beaten into it. 

Scooter's frozen custard in particular, beats around 20 percent air into its custard, compared to ice cream which can have up to 100 percent. This, along with being served at a warmer temperature, makes the product denser and creamier than ice cream.

Considering at any given time there are only two different flavors of frozen custard (vanilla and the flavor of the day), most of the variety at Scooter's comes from mix-ins.  The little kid in me squealed in delight when I saw "Worms in Dirt" which has Oreo pieces and gummy worms mixed into vanilla custard.

Scooter's may be a hike from campus, but it will surely be worth your time.

3) Original Rainbow Cone - 9233 S. Western *Editor's Choice*

If you are up for a little adventure, there is no better destination than the Original Rainbow Cone. Full of Chicago history and pride, this local favorite has been serving their one-of-a-kind ice cream treat since 1926.

While they do offer different flavors of ice cream, I recommend sticking to original.  What you'll get is a cone layered with chocolate, strawberry, palmer house (vanilla with walnuts and cherries), pistachio ice cream and orange sorbet. They're packed on in flattened layers for a reason; lick all the flavors at once for full effect.

There is something that has helped The Original Rainbow Cone remain a staple in Chicago for over 84 years: the price does not match the quantity, or the quality. At just over $3 for a small, you will get more than enough ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth for a couple of days.

4) Cloud 9 - 604 W. Belmont

This Asian treat is rarely seen in the States, which is why some unknowingly assume that the snow ice served at Cloud 9 is simply Hawaiian shave ice. But that would be doing this unusual frozen treat an injustice. Cloud 9 describes it as a treat that "has a fluffy texture much like cotton candy, and melts like creamy ice cream."

Cloud 9 has rotating flavors each month (April offers original, mango, strawberry and chocolate). Once you pick a flavor, you have the option of adding toppings—the pureed fruit sauce is a good healthy alternative versus chocolate or caramel. However, I recommend taking a taste before you go piling stuff onto it; this delicious cloud doesn't need anything extra.

5) Forever Yogurt - 931 W. Belmont

Belmont is quickly becoming the Mecca of frozen yogurt, but one differs from the rest in a particular way. Forever Yogurt, which is located conveniently by the Red Line (and has a train tracker located inside) is completely self-serve.

There are 14 flavors ranging from vanilla to Heath toffee to red velvet each labeled with calories and grams of fat per serving. However, while there are a couple non-fat options, there is only one non-dairy option, raspberry pomegranate sorbet. With so many flavor options, take advantage of the sample cups they offer before you get carried away mixing pistachio and cake batter.

Once you have filled your cup (there are 2 sizes to choose from), head to the condiment bar where you have 40 topping options. Most were typical items, but they do have mochi bits and some other interesting additions.

The novelty of the store is exciting, and the frozen yogurt is tasty (although my combination of cake batter and Heath toffee may have been a little sweet). However, since the cup is weighed by ounce, it can add up fast. My small size with two toppings ended up at $5.23, so Forever Yogurt may be best kept to a once-in-a-while splurge.

6) Gyood! - 2048 W. Belmont

For those who have missed out on delicious, creamy summer treats because of lactose-intolerance, this summer just got a whole lot better. Gyood! serves 100 percent lactose-free soft serve ice cream that can be served regular-style, or in the form of shakes (with non-lactose milk), gyoodsicles! (soft-serve with orange soda), ice cream sandwiches and more.

Plus this sweet treat won't bust your summer-time diet; a half cup serving is only 80 calories. Oh, and the best part? Gyood! delivers. That's right, ice cream straight to your door via grubhub. Of course, there is a minimum order of $13 for delivery and a charge of $3, but split the cost amongst a few of your friends and bring summer laziness to a whole new level. 

7) Starfruit - 2142 N. Halsted

Many people mistakenly assume that Starfruit serves frozen yogurt. In reality, they provide frozen Lifeway keifer, which is a fermented milk drink that contains 10 probiotic cultures (compared to yogurt's two). These priobiotics are friendly bacteria that, according to Starfruit, have been shown to help you come back to life after having a few-too-many the night before.

The set-up of Starfruit is very similar to frozen yogurt shops. There are 13 flavors, but most of the fun comes from the toppings. For the environmentally conscious, six of the 13 flavors are available in organic varieties. These six varieties include green kiwi passion fruit, and strawberries & cream.

Starfruit also offers the unusual goji berry as a topping, which has a mild tangy, sweet and sour taste and improves the libido of both men and women.

8) Paletas - No set location

One of the joys of ice cream trucks is that they always seem to come around at just the right moment. The same goes for paleta-carrying carts. And if you come across one of them, do not pass it up. Paletas are traditional Latin-American popsicles that come in either milk- or water-based versions and go perfectly with summer days spent outside.

Typical favorites of the milk-based variety are coconut and arroz con leche (think rice pudding in popsicle form).  On the other hand, the water-based varieties (they're vegan!) are often fruit juice-based and contain little pieces of fruit.

Growing up with these, I have always been a sucker for watermelon. However, if you happen to get a cart that has the cucumber and chile flavor, do not be afraid to try it, because at typically under $1.50 a piece, you can afford to be a little adventurous.