Welcome to Sugar High, a series devoted solely to spotlighting the best ways to sate a sweet tooth in St. Louis. We'll sample the best the city has to offer at restaurants, bakeries and holes-in-the-wall, and provide some insight on how these confections are made along the way.
Since opening in 2011, I Scream Cakes (2641 Cherokee Street; 314-932-5758) has offered picture-perfect ice cream cakes using its own from-scratch, all-natural ice cream. Chef and owner Kerry Soraci, who moonlights as a tattoo artist at Iron Age Tattoo, makes one-of-a-kind, award-winning treats including everything from intricate, fully edible sculptures to gluten-free drumsticks, garlic ice cream, beer floats and even frozen treats for pups.
Her latest novelty creation features a collaboration with artisan pastry makers Vincent Van Doughnut: the "I Scream Sammy." Every Saturday morning starting at 11 a.m., you can create your own ice-cream sandwich by pairing a doughnut with a scoop of your choice.
See also: I Scream Cakes Gets a Second Wind
Soraci's ice cream eschews the standard premade base and instead takes a hands-on approach, ensuring that only natural ingredients -- free of chemicals, stabilizers, emulsifiers and artificial flavors -- are used. Organic dairy, eggs and sugar make up the foundation for her small-batch products, which rotate often and include everything from blueberry-cheesecake and pistachio-caramel flavors to fruity sorbets and beer-infused concoctions -- the "Figasus" made with 4 Hands Brewing Company's smoked-maple porter, for instance.
The selection of pastries to pair with I Scream's frozen treats will vary weekly and can include options such as blueberry-cheesecake and maple-pecan. Typically, only a dozen doughnuts are on hand, so get them before they're gone. A full "I Scream Sammy" costs $6, while a half-size portion costs $4. Sump Coffee is also available to complete the ice-cream-for-breakfast experience.
For more from I Scream Cakes, be on the lookout for its eye-catching "trucklet" at the Schlafly Farmers' Market, local bar tastings, specials events and more.
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