Get some one on one time with sweet ice cream sandwiches at Baked Bear, where ice cream sandwiches get personal. By the time the register is in sight, your greatest desires will be laid out in front of you in the form of a sandwich. Found between Trader Joe’s and an old power plant sits the small San Diego based ice cream sandwich shop, Baked Bear.

What started out as a passion for serving sweets between two childhood friends turned into a business that has attracted magazines such as Forbes, Eater, Thrillist and more. They have now opened locations in nine states. Recently opening in downtown Austin, the prime location. The delicious treats have attracted many to this rising ice cream sandwich powerhouse.

The door is somewhat hidden but opens up to ice cream sandwiches like no other.  The sweet smell of vanilla and freshly baked cookies wafted toward my mouth and made it water. The shop is painted blue and white with a bear logo on the wall which is perfect for social media pictures. The seating is rather sparse, with only a few chairs, but the grassy lawn out front is ideal for large crowds.

Baked Bear is made to run in a simple four-step process. First, I got to choose an option for the top and bottom of the sandwich from a wide variety of cookies, donuts, and brownies. Next is the ice cream where I had a choice between 13+ craft flavors. Once my choice of sandwich was pressed together with a massive scoop of original recipe ice cream, it was time to move on to toppings. The options ranged from Nutella to fruity pebbles; everything was equally unique and delicious. The fourth and final step was the hot press, which warms the sandwich so it feels as if it is right out of the oven. The price of the dessert was a little steep for a typical ice cream sandwich, mine was $5.20; however, this was not your typical ice cream sandwich.                                                                                                                                              

The cookies were warm and chewy without feeling as if you were consuming a cup of sugar with each bite. The ice cream in the middle of the sandwich was creamy and contrasted with them warm cookie flawlessly. The topping I chose, fruity pebbles, added a crunch to the dessert and made it even more appetizing.

Overall, Baked Bear is a fabulous place to cool off with friends after school, and is definitely a place I will return to.

This was 4.5 out of 5 Mr. Maroos