Cool Down at 5 Great Ice Cream and Froyo Shops in Corpus Christi

During a hot Texas summer, the four food groups expand to five to include ice cream. Here are some of the great places we head to near Springs at Corpus Christi when we want a cool, refreshing treat.

How do you make ice cream even better? Add unlimited mix-ins from the 65 ingredients available at Marble Slab, less than a mile down the road from Springs at Corpus Christi. Choose from delicious options such as brownies, Pop Rocks, gummy bears and strawberries. Ice cream is made in-house, with flavors such as amaretto, chocolate birthday cake and cinnamon vanilla.

The froyo craze made it to Corpus Christi five years ago when Scoopz opened its doors not far from Marble Slab. The creamy, low-fat yogurt comes in a dozen different flavors such as caramel pretzel, cookies 'n' cream and cake batter. Enjoy as is, or add your favorite combination of more than 40 toppings.

La Palatera brings a south-of-the-border influence to their selection of ice cream and frozen treats. Paletas are refreshing ice pops on a stick made from cream or water bases. Other items include snow cones, freezes, milkshakes and fruity aguas frescas. If you're in the mood for a savory snack, La Palatera offers nachos, torta sandwiches and chili-cheese dogs.

Scoopy's is an offshoot of Snoopy's Pier, a family-friendly seafood restaurant that's been a Corpus Christi institution since 1980. Located just steps away with beautiful views of the marina, Scoopy's is a small café-style eatery specializing in desserts. Signature treats include Chocolate Barnacle, a sugar cookie topped with cookies 'n' cream ice cream, chocolate mousse and waffle cone pieces, and sticky rice with ice cream and caramel that lives up to its name.

A La Mode is a bit off the beaten path, but customers agree that it's well worth finding. The shop features artisan gelato, the Italian form of ice cream that's hand-made in small batches so it's always served fresh. Gelato contains only three to eight percent milkfat, which is less than half of what's found in traditional ice cream. As a result, varieties such as peanut butter cookie dough, pistachio and salted caramel are lower in calories but richer in flavor.

What's your favorite indulgent ice cream treat? Tell us about it in the comments!