If the cruel temptations of the Play-Doh Fun Factory taught the world anything, it's that mouthwatering creations are more gratifying when they're actually edible. Swoop spoon-first into a scoop of icy eats with today's deal: for $7, you get $15 worth of sweet treats from Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Co. This Groupon can be redeemed at any of the five DC-area locations on 11th Street, at Nationals Park, or in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, or Rockville; or at either Baltimore location, at The Colonade or Charles Plaza.

Gifford's claim to deliciousness is in the production of rich and delicious ice cream and sorbets. The company's overlarge butterfly net catches ingredients from across the world, such as Swiss chocolate and vanilla extract from Madagascar, which are then mixed at local Gifford's locations for fresh ice cream. Choose from a dizzying array of flavors, including pistachio, chocolate marshmallow, roasted coconut, and caramel toffee swirl, to name just a few. Traditional cups and cones stack up at $3.75 for a single scoop, $4.75 for a double, and $5.65 for a triple. Gifford's seasonal ice cream flavors shift with the tide of time, and include such tasty oddities as banana Bailey's & cream, blueberry pomegranate, and cantaloupe. Savor delightfully traditional sundaes in waffle shells ($5.50) and classic banana splits ($6.95), far preferable to other ice creameries' ultrafuturistic sundaes made out of spools of film and wool overcoats.

Gifford's is a Washington-area institution built on a surprisingly sturdy foundation of mouth-moistening iced cream. The shop has been serving up scoops of refreshing sweet stuff for the past 70 years, garnering a full senate's worth of fans such as President Eisenhower, Jackie Kennedy, and Goldie Hawn. Although ownership changed hands from the Giffords to the Hunt family in 1987, the Hunts were longtime customers and dedicated themselves to preserving the integrity of the Gifford's brand. With summer lurking on the horizon like a long-lasting embrace from a sweaty aunt, today's deal ensures that you and some loved ones or just you and your appetite will get to enjoy a delightfully cold treat.

Reviews

The Washington Post names Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Co. an Editors' Pick. Gayot rates it a Quick Bite, saying:

• The high-quality, high-fat ice cream is cranked on the premises---no wonder crowds line up out the door.

There are many Gifford's locations to choose from, with Yelpers giving the Bethesda location, the 11th Street location, and the Chevy Chase location 3.5 stars each:

• The ice cream here is awesome! My fav is the Butter Pecan. From the four flavors I've tried so far, they have all tasted like homemade ice cream. – Vanessa P., Yelp
• This is the place to go if you want to head out for a quiet nice of ice cream and a walk through the park. Their cookies n' cream is my fave and it's just a good old-fashioned, made fresh, family-friendly ice cream parlor. – Mel B., Yelp
• Hands down, best ice cream ever. – Stacie C., Yelp