Sweet Cow Ice Cream

Founded in Louisville, this sweet shop takes handcrafted ice cream to the next level with locally sourced ingredients, small-batch practices, and a frequently rotating flavor board featuring two dozen creams, including four inventive sorbet and non-dairy options. Scoops come in cones—we love the pretzel—or compostable cups. Six metro Denver locations. 

Little Man Ice Cream

This LoHi joint operates out of a 28-foot ice cream tin and keeps things cool with an ever-changing selection of dairy and vegan creams and sorbets—all handmade a block away. Non-dairy options, which include vegan rocky road and chocolate salted Oreo can also be configured into floats, splits, and sundaes. Every scoop of ice cream purchased is matched with a scoop of rice delivered to developing countries. 2620 16th St., Denver. 

Sweet Action Ice Cream

Sample the inventive, delicious offerings at this award-winning Baker neighborhood creamery. Surprising flavors—green tea black sesame, for example—accompany the classics; what’s earned Sweet Action it’s reputation and cult-like following, though, is a penchant for accommodating vegan and lactose-free visitors with soy- and coconut-based scoops in flavors like vegan mint chip and coffee and donuts. Sorbets are non-dairy crowd pleasers, too. 52 Broadway Blvd., Denver. 

Liks Ice Cream

This family-owned creamery prides itself on its artisanal, micro-batch process and its original recipes. Since opening its doors in Capitol Hill in 1976, and its newest addition in Conifer, more than 400 flavors have been invented and featured on Liks’ rotating chalkboard menu—and a heaping scoop of those have been dairy-free. Two sorbets are featured daily, with assortments changing throughout the week. Two metro Denver locations. 

Sweet Cooie’s

Step inside Sweet Cooie’s and you’ll think you jumped into a Wes Anderson flick. The whimsical designed ice cream shop is home to vegan flavors like horchata, chocolate, peanut butter Oreo, chocolate salted Oreo, and sorbet options like lemon lavender poppy, blackberry pineapple, and raspberry peach. 3506 E. 12th Ave., Denver. 

High Point Creamery

Owners Erika and Chad Thomas are committed to using fresh ingredients, and serving up unique flavors along the way. High Point features rotating vegan flavors like cucumber lime sorbet and mango sorbet perfect for the warmer weather, but we’re a stickler for the coconut creme brûlée, sweet coconut with pops of crunchy brûlée chips. Three metro Denver locations.