Everyone can agree that there comes a time when you have to ‘treat yo’self’ and pig out with some sweet treats. In Tuscaloosa, indulging in your favorite desserts has never been easier.
The real question is: what are you craving? Chances are, Tuscaloosa has a place that will satisfy your appetite.
Some of the most popular places for students to devour some dessert are Ingram Farms, Insomnia Cookies, The Baked Bear and Frost Bite. It seems ice cream is what the students of The University of Alabama can’t get enough of.
Ingram Farms is one of the destinations that is a little off the beaten path, but worth the
journey. Located on Watermelon Road, Ingram Farms not only has fresh produce, but is more widely known for their hand-scooped Blue Bell ice cream. Offering over 20 heavenly flavors, Ingram Farms is bound to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Towards the center of campus lies Insomnia Cookies, on University Boulevard. Open till 3 a.m., Insomnia is an ideal option to indulge in a late-night craving. Cookies, ice cream, brownies and even cookie cakes – Insomnia doesn’t mess around when it comes to dessert. Insomnia offers nine types of traditional cookies, as well as three deluxe. And if you are really hungry for something that fuses soft warmth with acute chill, go for your choice of ice cream sandwiched between two cookies or even brownies. Additionally, Insomnia Cookies delivers right to your door for whenever you’re not feeling up for the trip.
“An insomnia cookie is like a hug from your mom, warm and comforting”, said Alex Boarts, a junior at UA.
Similar to Insomnia Cookies is gourmet ice cream sandwich shop The Baked Bear. Although it celebrated its grand opening in April 2018, it seems they have already made a strong impression.
The Baked Bear in Midtown Village brings a variety of options to spice up your dessert: cookies, ice cream, brownies, and one-of-a-kind ice cream sandwiches using cookies, brownies, donuts or a hybrid. After creating your custom sandwich, choose from over 12 tasty toppings to really round off your masterpiece.
“My favorite dessert place in Tuscaloosa is the Baked Bear because it combines my two favorite desserts: chocolate chip cookies and ice cream,” said freshman Honors College student Colby Hirth.
The newest addition to Tuscaloosa’s dessert family is Frost Bite Ice Cream, located in between Downtown and the Strip on University Boulevard. Frost Bite has their own unique concept of ice cream, serving up this dessert flash-frozen by super-cold liquid nitrogen or rolled into tasty cylinders. The recipe starts with a liquid base of sweet cream or coconut milk, then the nitrogen, which is kept colder than -320 degrees Fahrenheit, freezes the liquid cream in seconds.Frost Bite Ice Cream is made to order, so each customer gets exactly what they want promptly after ordering. After choosing your ice cream, there are many choose to spice up your order by mixing in a number of ingredients, from candy bars and brownies to fresh fruits. If you are looking for a new 
twist on your dessert outing, Frost Bite is the destination.
After experiencing all the options, some students remain unfulfilled by the choices. Is there hope for yet another addition to the Tuscaloosa dessert family? Fret not.
Sam’s Cookie Dough is coming soon to 15th Street in Tuscaloosa. The store is withholding their exact location until closer to opening, the date of which is to be determined, but construction is underway.
Sam’s Cookie Dough will offer five different types of cookie dough, served in half pint and pint sizes, creatively packed into mason jars. The assortment includes chocolate chip, sugar, peanut butter, Oreo and brownie-chocolate chip. The shop also offers gluten and dairy free options.
“I’m a huge cookie dough fan and always buy the small ones at the store,” said junior Mary Allor. “I can’t wait for this place to come to town so I can stock up.”
To all cookie dough lovers: be on the lookout for this new spot and reference their Facebook page for updates on their grand opening. Until then, there are plenty of tasty options to satisfy your sweet tooth. 
