There is nothing better than stopping for homemade ice cream on a hot summer day, and tiny Pumphouse Creamery at 48th and Chicago in south Minneapolis is one of the best... not only winning local accolades but also named one of the best ice cream spots in the country by Food and Wine Magazine. Owner Barb Zapzalka is dedicated to producing quality all-natural and organic ice cream with locally sourced ingredients... the flavors are fresh, honest and innovative.
Their creative flavor combinations are some of the best, and as a nut lover I am delighted by how many flavors include nuts. They are known for their Sea Salt and Caramel with Praline Pecans. There is a subtlety in the taste... no artificially enhanced flavors here. Everything is made from scratch, even the caramel and butterscotch sauces and chocolate chips used in the ice cream!
I have found the texture to be grainier than in many ice cream shops, more like the texture of ice cream you make in your ice cream freezer at home... but have read comments on how creamy it is, so maybe I just haven't had the creamy flavaors.
What is a highlight of a stop at Pumphouse Creamery for me is their homemade waffle cones. I usually pass on waffle cones in most ice cream shops... find them too big and not crazy about the flavor and texture.Not so at Pumphouse... for me, their waffle cones alone are worth the stop! Made with whole wheat, rye, buckwheat and cornmeal flours; flax, sunflower, sesame and millet seeds; rolled oats, sugar, butter and eggs they have a complex flavor and crunchy texture that perfectly complements the ice cream. Don't be surprised by the size... they aren't the typical big size that can hold many scoops. These cones are about the size of a traditional sugar cone... perfect for a single scoop of ice cream.
Pumphouse Creamery is located in the Field neighborhood at 4754 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407, just a few blocks from Minnehaha Parkway. The corner of 48th and Chicago is always buzzing with activity, with plenty places to stop for something to eat before topping it off with ice cream... or stopping at the gift shop or hardware store. You will find it tucked in between Pizza Biga and Parkway Hardware.
Check out Minneapolis Nokomis area homes for sale to find out what is available nearby so you can walk to Pumphouse any time!
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - Minneapolis Nokomis Area Realtor