Saturday, July 19, 2014

Hot Licks Homemade Ice Cream

      We decided to review something a little different this stop.  Hot Licks Homemade Ice Cream www.hotlicks.net has been listed as the 4th best homemade ice cream shop in the nation by Fodor's Travel Magazine.  http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/americas-best-ice-cream-shops#!4-hot-licks-homemade-ice-cream 

     You probably don't equate really great homemade ice cream with Alaska, but this place breaks all the rules.  The interior of Alaska can reach some pretty high temperatures during the summer (92 is the record in 1993).  In fact last summer they experienced 39 days over 80 degrees.  It was, however, just in the 60s during our visit.  Believe me, Barb and I did not need Mother Nature's help to prompt our visit.   Thankfully there was only a small line when we arrived. 
     This place has been making homemade ice cream for over 25 years.  Their secret?  One batch at a time, just 40 quarts thus guaranteeing freshness and taste.  They may have as many as 30 flavors available on any given day, but probably not all of them.  They also have favors such as liquor, beer, honey sorbet, sherbet, frozen yogurt, and sugar free ice creams.  I asked, but they do not offer Reindeer.  These were the flavors available to us the day we stopped in. 

 
     We decided to play it 'smart' and share a Banana Split.  We chose a scoop each of Apple Pie, Arctic Refuge Wildberry Snap, and Sugar Free Chocolate Chip.  We decided on Walnuts, Hot Fudge, and Butterscotch for our toppings.  Of course the entire creation is lathered with whipped cream and cherries. 
 
     It is a good thing we decided to share as the Banana Split is a foot long!  The ice cream is delicious; not tasting hard or soft serve, but as if it had just come out of the homemade ice cream machine.....thick and creamy!  The Arctic Wildberry Snap is quite the taste sensation featuring a blend of Alaska Blueberry, Cranberry, and Crushed Ginger Snap Cookies.   It leaves quite the 'zing' in your mouth.  The price....$11.  It turned out to be the perfect treat for two of us.  Hot Licks also serves cones, sundaes, espresso ice cream drinks, Hawaiian shave ice, shakes, floats, and sodas.  Ice cream cakes and bulk ice cream are also available made to order with 48 hours notice.  There are two locations in Fairbanks. 



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