Coffee & Treats in Hunters Creek

When John Ritter thinks back to 1948, he can almost taste the frozen treats he churned out during his after-school job at the local ice-cream parlor. Now, after a 35-year career as a film animator, he helps others to enjoy similarly sweet memories at Ritter's Frozen Custard. Here, friendly staffers handcraft each batch of frozen custard, an ultrapremium ice cream as smooth as a jazz record dipped in chocolate. At the counter, guests can sample the flavors of the day, which range from tart blueberry to gooey, crunchy mocha-almond fudge. Scoops of classic vanilla—along with more than 25 toppings—fill specialty creations such as brownie sundaes, hand-dipped malts, and freezer-ready ice-cream sandwiches.

From its quiet perch on Franklin Street, Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop slings premium fair-trade ice cream right alongside warm hand-rolled soft-pretzels from Auntie Anne's Pretzel. Friendly staffers fill cups with famous flavors such as Cherry Garcia, a smooth blend of cherry ice cream speckled with cherries and flakes of chocolate fudge. Phish Food infuses chocolate ice cream with marshmallow and caramel swirls, paying homage to the mellow tunes of the jam band Phish with fish-shaped fudge pieces that play eight-minute guitar solos. The shop was recently renovated to include an Auntie Anne's, whose pretzel professionals prepare a wide array of sweet and salty snacks, spiraling them into ornate knots with the delicacy of a grandmotherly sailor, and baking them to golden brown in full view of customers.

Mango Tango’s vibrant frozen dessert emporium welcomes guests and encourages them to mix and match healthy frozen creations thanks to a convenient pay-by-the-weight serving system. Six deliciously icy flavors, including classic tart, peach mango, and alpine vanilla, flow free from the store’s shining spouts to do battle with rumbling stomachs and spontaneously combusting tongues. Mango Tango’s topping selection brims with sugary, chocolaty, and wholesome bites. From blueberries to chocolate chips and cereals to gummy bears, customers can top their treats with as many extras as a cup can hold.

Unlike most coffee shops and all PTA meetings, Crescent's Coffee & Tea accents its selection of coffee and baked goods with beer and wine. This welcome addition simply goes further in the café's quest to add a refined touch to the familiar, along with filling mugs with certified fair-trade, 100% organic coffees and filling stomachs with fresh croissant sandwiches, paninis, and baked goods. As they gaze through the café's windows onto St. Cloud's historic downtown scenery, diners can tap into the free WiFi while they sip a warm cup of caffeine or raise a glass of white wine or beer to the live entertainment that pumps out free sounds every Friday night. Crescent's also hosts themed tea parties that pair mothers and daughters, nieces and aunts, or grandfather clocks and digital watches to socialize over steamy brewed beverages.