In some of the most hard-hitting, investigative reporting I have ever done for The Scout, I tasted various ice creams for sale at Ice Cream Shack. Located at 2313 NE. Adams St., Ice Cream Shack is a seasonal ice cream stand that is only open during the warmer months.
While Ice Cream Shack sells more than just frozen treats, it is best known for its ice cream flavor combinations called “wizards.” A small wizard, which comes in a 16-ounce cup, costs a little over $3, making it a good bang for your buck. I would not recommend buying anything larger than a small wizard if you are eating it by yourself.
What makes the wizards unique are their various, fun flavor options.
Just in time for the summer season, the following are some wizard flavors, ordered from “most heavenly” to “still pretty great,” that are worth giving a try:
Freight Train
Nine different chocolate candies, including Snickers, Butterfingers and M&M’s, among others, are mixed together in vanilla ice cream. This wizard is for the ultimate chocolate lover who can’t be limited to putting just one candy bar into their ice cream. The vanilla ice cream works well to tone down the overpowering taste of chocolate in this one.
Pro tip: Mix the wizard before you start eating, as all of the candy is at the bottom.
Puppy Chow
Adding plain Chex Mix and chocolate chips to vanilla ice cream creates the ice cream version of the guilty-pleasure snack, Puppy Chow. There is plenty of Chex Mix in the ice cream, so every bite of the wizard has a sugary crunch to it. However, there could be more chocolate chips mixed in to give the wizard a flavor more similar to actual Puppy Chow.
Pro tip: Ask for chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla ice cream to create a sweeter flavor.
Krispy Treat
Mixed with vanilla ice cream, marshmallows and Rice Krispies cereal, this wizard offers a decent amount of sweetness, which is complimented by the crunch of the Rice Krispies. The taste of the marshmallows is stronger than the taste of vanilla, which really makes the wizard taste like a Rice Krispy Treat.
Pro tip: The longer it takes you to eat this wizard, the mushier the Rice Krispies get, so eat quickly.
Strawberry Strawberry Cheesecake
That’s right, there are two strawberry components to this wizard. A mixture of strawberry ice cream, strawberries and cheesecake chunks are added to make this combination. The strawberry flavor is definitely the most overpowering part of this wizard, but the cheesecake adds a little smooth creaminess to the ice cream.
The best part about this wizard is that the strawberries are actually fresh. However, if you are looking for something with a similar flavor but fewer strawberries, try the Strawberry Shortcake wizard instead.
Pro tip: Ask for vanilla ice cream in place of strawberry ice cream to soften the strawberry flavor.
Oreo
If you are looking for a more classic ice cream flavor, try the Oreo wizard. Composed of vanilla ice cream and mashed Oreo cookies, this combination is perfect if you aren’t looking to try a flavor that’s too crazy.
Pro tip: Ask for double Oreo to balance out the vanilla ice cream.
