There is nothing better than a cold dessert on a hot Florida day! Strolling around Siesta Village or fresh off a day at the beach, you will certainly be able to find a dessert shop near you that will satiate your sweet tooth. Each location detailed below has distinct styles and tastes, catering to sweet cravings of all kinds.
Many dessert shops in Siesta Key are locally owned and hand-crafted, which further contributes to a feeling of belongingness and a shared experience you won’t be able to find on just any vacation. These top-rated shops range from flash frozen ice cream, fresh gelato, and high-quality confections like candied apples. Here is our pick of local dessert shops to satisfy your sweet tooth on Siesta Key!
Abel’s Ice Cream
Rated as Sarasota’s #1 location for Desserts on TripAdvisor, Abel’s Ice Cream serves a variety of ice creams and sweet treats that will keep you cool in the hot Florida sun. This location has achieved a #1 rating on TripAdvisor, Google, and Yelp for 8 consecutive years, displaying their commitment to quality products and excellent customer satisfaction. They recently were added to the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame membership as well!
Abel’s Ice Cream offers over 40+ flavors of Florida-made ice cream, which you can have served in a cup, regular cone, or chocolate dipped cone. Sundaes, classic banana splits, shakes, sodas, and floats are all offered here. Mix and match these custom flavors for your own creation!
Here, you can also indulge in a variety of sorbets as well. Sweet Shop USA products, delectable chocolate truffles and candies, are sold at this establishment. Abel’s Ice Cream also caters plant based non-diary frozen desserts, so there is an option for every person that walks through their doors!
Outside of your standard flavors, Abel’s Ice Cream offers top-rated, unique flavors, such as:
- Stellar Coffee – their signature flavor! Rich coffee ice cream layered with fudge and mini dark chocolate coffee cups incorporated inside.
- Butterscotch Bomb – butterscotch ice cream packed with butterscotch ribbons, brownies, heath bars, cookies, and peanut butter cups…absolutely delicious!
- Purple Daze – a Jimi Hendrix inspired flavor, which is black raspberry ice cream with black raspberry crinkle and dark chocolate black raspberry filled cups.
- Raspberry Truffle – Mrs. Abel’s favorite! Raspberry ice cream with raspberry ribbon and dark chocolate raspberry cups.
Family owned and operated, Bill and Norma Abel opened their ice cream shop in 2011 with a goal of bringing the best ice cream, chocolates, and gourmet treats to the Sarasota community. Their business quickly drew attention and a steady flow of regular customers in the Sarasota area. Abel’s Ice Cream has won over 40 national ice cream ribbons and the owners are on the national ice cream advisory committee!
Hours of Operation: Sunday to Thursday 12:00pm – 9:30pm & Friday and Saturday 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Located in Southbridge Plaza: 886 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota FL 34231
Kilwins Siesta Key
“Sweet in every sense since 1947!” Kilwins has over 150 franchise locations across the U.S. and in 26 states! Right on Ocean Blvd, Kilwins Siesta Key serves chocolates, made-in-store confections, and original Kilwins recipe ice cream all with a patio view of Siesta Village. Kilwins has earned a reputation for curating high-quality products served with a smile.
At Kilwins Siesta Key, you’ll find hand-crafted chocolates made in store, caramel apples, caramel corn and brittle, Kilwins original ice cream, sundaes, shakes and malts, and assorted chocolate dipped treats. Kilwins has a treat to satisfy every sweet craving you can imagine.
Curating a nostalgic, Americana feel, each store is trained to make many confections and chocolates daily to provide a premium experience to all guests. In Michigan, Kilwins even offers a Chocolate Kitchen where customers can take tours and see their favorite treats handmade.
Some of the many top items you’ll find at Kilwins is:
- “The Perfect” Caramel Apple – starts with a fresh, granny smith apple that is then hand-dipped in the made-in-store caramel. Kilwins’ original caramel recipe is cooked in a copper kettle and takes three hours to make. Caramel & chocolate apples have been a customer favorite for over 70 years!
- Kilwins Original Recipe Ice Cream – Kilwins started making ice cream in 1985 and perfected the recipe using only fresh cream and milk from family farms. Kilwins’ exclusive flavors offer:
- Blue Moon – Kilwins Kid favorite! Fruit flavored ice cream in an eye-catching blue color.
- Kilwins Mud – Vanilla ice cream layered with chocolate chips and Kilwins’ original caramel ribbons.
- Mackinac Island Fudge – Vanilla ice cream swirled with Kilwins’ famous Mackinac Island fudge!
- “The Perfect” Apple Pie – A Kilwins’ limited edition ice cream! Vanilla ice cream with cinnamon, caramel, baked apples, and pie crust pieces!
- Signature TUTTLE™ Nut Caramels – rich and decadent truffles with silky creams, nuts, and caramel.
Hours of Operation: Mon – Sun:12:30 pm-9:30 pm
Located at 5140 Ocean Boulevard, Siesta Key FL 34242
Olaf’s Siesta Village
Olaf’s Siesta Village was established in 1982 and is family owned! Nestled in the heart of Siesta Village, Olaf’s is a classic location that draws many residents and non-residents alike. With over 40 years of experience serving the community, Olaf’s has become a natural staple to Siesta Key.
Olaf’s Siesta Village has a wide variety of desserts from old-fashioned ice cream served in cups or cones, regular and specialty sundaes, milkshakes & malts, smoothies, floats, coffees, and fudge in a ton of different flavors! This location tends to rotate their menu to feature many different seasonal delights, which keeps drawing back customers year round.
There are more than 45 flavors of ice cream bases that are made locally in Sarasota from Yoder’s Southern Creamery. Check out these top flavors, exclusive to Olaf’s:
- Hurricane Charley, Caribbean Rum Raisin, Black Cherry, & Sea Salt Caramel Swirl
- Seasonal flavors include Key Lime Pie, Peach, Peppermint, Pumpkin Swirl, & Orange Pineapple!
Hours of Operation: Sunday-Thursday 11:00am-10:00pm & Friday-Saturday 11:00am-11:00pm
Located in Siesta Village at 5208 Ocean Boulevard, Siesta Key FL 34242
Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice cream
Featured in episode 414 of ABC’s Shark Tank, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream makes fresh ice cream using liquid nitrogen at negative 321 degrees to instantly produce a custom curated treat. The process of making the instant ice cream is a spectacle that Siesta Key adores.
The process starts with a base of your choice – custard, yogurt, low-fat cream, soy or rice milk). After that, choose from over 40 flavorings which could be a single flavor or a combination of multiple flavors. Choose your mix-ins such as candy or nuts. After that, the mixture is blasted with liquid nitrogen and the negative 321 degrees creates your custom ice cream of choice.
This made-to-order ice cream is a fan favorite and pairs perfectly with the hot Florida sun. In addition to this brilliant method, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream does also serve custom shakes, smoothies, italian ice, and cold brew coffee!
Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream offers “Sensations” which are pre-selected flavors and add-ins that you can order. If you wish to be a bit more creative, you can also build your own custom ice cream from scratch!
Some of the most popular “Sensations” range from the “Chocolate Conduction” (chocolate ice cream, fudge, brownie bites, and chocolate flakes) to “Tropical Turbine” (black raspberry and coconut ice cream with mixed berries and coconut flakes). Check out their menu for all the options!
The original Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream store is based in Utah and the chain has expanded to 16 different franchises across the U.S. This location does cater for events as well, if you are ever interested! They even serve and make ice cream cakes for special occasions. Whatever sweet ice cream treat you are looking for, you will certainly be able to build and customize it at Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream.
Hours of Operation: Daily from 1 PM – 10 PM
Located at 219 Avenida Madera, Sarasota FL
Siesta Village is barely a 3 minute walk away from most Siesta Key Dreams rental properties. Navigate the rentals on our website today and note that you can gain access to these delicious dessert shops easily.
