National Ice Cream Day is coming up on Sunday, July 20, and what better way to celebrate than with a brain freeze and a sugar rush?
Armed with spoons and an unshakable sense of duty, members of the Syracuse University News team hit up ’Cuse Scoops at Drumlins Country Club and sampled every specialty sundae so you don’t have to—though you’ll probably want to. From the rich, chocolatey depths of the ’Cuse Brownie to the citrusy cheer of Otto the Orange or the whimsical spirit of the Unicorn Sundae, the lineup at ’Cuse Scoops proves there’s a creation for every flavor fan on campus.
“Banana pie lovers rejoice! This creation was an absolute delight, starting with the unconventional base of banana pudding ice cream and loaded with nostalgic ‘Nilla Wafers and oozing with caramel sauce. I loved every single bite!” — Kelly Rodoski
Banana Pudding
“The chocolate-covered strawberry sundae was a super sweet treat, and it came with a surprise. I kept looking for (and spooning through to find) the expected traditional whole strawberry dipped in a hard chocolate shell—the kind sold as a specialty for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day gifting.
“That’s what my mind’s eye expected. Instead, the surprise was that the sundae itself was the chocolate coating—lovely chocolate hard ice cream topping tasty strawberry sauce that’s spread through the middle and bottom of the cup. It was a great combination, especially being topped with lots of fluffy whipped cream, luscious dark chocolate sundae dirt sprinkles and a cherry.” — Diane Stirling
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry
“This was a flavor sensation from top to bottom, a decadent treat for the taste buds featuring large amounts of brownie pieces, chocolate fudge sauce, chocolate ice cream, whipped cream and orange and blue sprinkles. With each spoonful, the sweet, chocolate layers continued to play off each other, culminating with a surprise extra layer of fudge and brownie pieces at the bottom. Outstanding!” — John Boccacino
’Cuse Brownie
“I’m a huge fan of any sundae served in a plastic baseball cap, and this one did not disappoint! You can never go wrong with orange sherbet—especially on Syracuse’s campus—and the ample blue and orange sprinkles took things to another level. The fact that this creation invokes the name of my favorite mascot, Otto the Orange, was a huge bonus. I’ll order anything with Otto’s name in it.” — Jen Plummer
Otto the Orange
“The Peanut Butter Explosion sundae proves again the enduring nature of a timeless pairing. The sundae has the perfect ratio of nutty goodness and chocolate decadence: the peanut butter is front and center with the hot fudge blending perfectly around the edges of each bite. The creamy ice cream with its caramel-like gooeyness and peanut butter sauce join forces for a delightfully cool and warm spoonful. The candy pieces add just the right touch of texture to top off this sundae of pure summertime bliss.” — Kathleen Haley
Peanut Butter Explosion
“There’s a lot of graham cracker and marshmallow flavor, complemented nicely by the crunchy chocolate pieces and swirls of hot fudge. The freshly roasted marshmallow topper is a great addition. It’s a cool way to enjoy a campfire favorite on a hot summer day!” — CJ Munoz
S’mores Sundae
“The ’Cuse Scoops unicorn sundae is a pretty princess birthday party—in a cup. With its pink pastel swirls and sugar cone ‘horn,’ this sundae is at the top of their Instagrammable offerings. The crunchy blue and pink candy swirled throughout added a fun element while working my way down the animated unicorn path. Surprisingly, the strawberry ice cream never came across as too sweet, belying its outward appearance. Overall, the unicorn sundae was an enchantingly fun treat for a Syracuse summer day!” —Amy Manley
Unicorn Sundae
’Cuse Scoops is open to the public at Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Rd., Syracuse. Hours are Tuesday-Friday from 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m.
All photos by Amy Manley, senior multimedia producer, Division of Communications
