We’ve officially reached the time of year where going outside puts everyone in a bad mood. It’s 100 degrees and the UV is at a 10, and yet good old-fashioned dry heat feels like a thing of the past. In Austin’s muggy new reality, our limbs might as well read “MOSQUITO BUFFET,” and leaving the A/C feels like getting slapped with a gust of Shrek’s sit-down air. 

We could all use some sweet relief. 

From Round Rock to San Marcos and all of Austin in between, these tried-and-true drive-throughs, food trucks, and markets sling sweet treats in a flash: a quick hit of sugar, stat, before you snap. 

Credit: Asahi Imports

Asahi Imports

Next time you stop in for onigiri at this beloved Burnet Japanese market, make sure to save room for dessert. Beyond packaged portions of frozen delights like mochi ice cream, the grocer sells soft serve on weekends with rotating flavors including matcha black sesame swirl. 

Credit: Bananarchy

Bananarchy 

This one’s outside the box. This long-running business, with food trucks on South First and in the Space 24 Twenty area in West Campus, dips frozen (and ethically sourced!) bananas in your choice of chocolate, vanilla, or peanut butter, then finishes them off with all sorts of toppings. Their treats are decadent, sorta-kinda healthy, and, according to Bananarchy’s tagline, revolutionary. 

Credit: Gaby Deimeke / Buddy's Burger

Buddy’s Burger

Buddy’s Burger is a local small business with a drive-through, which means you can get a classic and convenient fast-food meal without supporting an evil corporation. They’ve got hand-spun shakes in a buncha flavors – Oreo and coffee bolster the usual vanilla/chocolate/strawberry trifecta – and locations in San Marcos, Round Rock, and North Austin. 

Credit: Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs

Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs 

What’s the difference between a snowball and a sno-cone? Snowballs are the more delicious ones. Tucked behind Airport, this stand generously pours more than four dozen flavors of syrup over fluffy, finely shaved ice – not the thick crunchy kind – and even allows you to add soft serve, pickles, or cheesecake to the equation. Get an order of nachos to balance sweet and savory.

Credit: Liz Harroun / Gati

Gati 

“Ice cream for all” is a rallying cry everyone can get behind. Gati blends simple ingredients, often from their sister restaurant Thai Fresh, into small batches of gluten-free and vegan ice cream. Their creamy coconut base creates rich, refreshing flavors that even dairy digesters will love, whether at their original location on Holly or their new spot in Hyde Park.

Credit: MilkMade

MilkMade

Mother-daughter duo Jacalyn Helms and Erin Mindell Cannon emphasize quality and sustainability at their freshly launched North Lamar trailer. They churn both dairy and dairy-free ice cream in small batches, offering flavors like Michi Crunchy Chili Oil Sweet Cream and super-cinnamon-y Mexican Chocolate alongside classics including vanilla and strawberry. Grab a scoop after dinner at Michi Ramen – the truck’s in the alley behind.

Credit: OMG Squee

OMG Squee 

OMG Squee sells mochi donuts, matcha, milk tea, and, last but not least, its famed taiyaki sundaes, which stuff housemade soft serve inside the Japanese fish-shaped cake with additional toppings and fillings. This hot-pink Eastside shop is both a celebration of Asian culture and once-and-for-all proof that gluten-free desserts can be delicious. 

Credit: P. Terry’s

P. Terry’s

Whether you’re en route to the watering hole or heading home, there’s a P. Terry’s on the way. With several hand-spun milkshake flavors to consider (always ask about the shake of the month) and speedy drive-through times to boot, this roadside staple will bring you sweet tooth relief with record timing and retro reliability.

Credit: Sno-Beach

Sno-Beach 

Since 1993, sweaty swimmers and trail walkers have been cooling off at Sno-Beach. This sno-cone staple, started by a pair of “retired” grandparents, has an extensive menu of mouthwatering flavors, toppings, and add-ons. This Barton Springs tradition is hardly a secret, but even a long line moves fast.

Credit: Sweetness

Sweetness 

After a long day at the office or when in between bar crawl stops, this Downtown creamery can cure your cravings with classic flavors. Grab a scoop in a cup or cone, or get your ice cream shake- or malt-ified for a sweet slurp on the go beneath the city lights.

Fast Freeze 

Quick, delicious licks wherever your sweet cravings hit

This article appears in July 17 • 2026.

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Carys Anderson moved from Nowhere, DFW to Austin in 2017 to study journalism at the University of Texas. She began writing for The Austin Chronicle in 2021 and joined its full-time staff in 2023, where she covers music and culture.

Caroline is the Music and Culture staff writer and reporter, covering, well, music, books, and visual art for the Chronicle. She came to Austin by way of Portland, Oregon, drawn by the music scene and the warm weather.