Sugar Magnolia

Ripple turned the store front into more seating for the restaurant. I loved being able
To stop by and get the awesome treats. Last time I checked you can still get the home made ice cream at Ripple, but it wasn’t on the menu last time I walked by.

I saw this listing in Unilocal and just HAD to try an icecream sandwich. The pumpkin icecream with gingersnap sandwich was very yummy. I was a little surprised, however, that the sandwich was so rock hard when I go it from the freezer. I realize it IS coming from the freezer, but I had to wait a bit before eating my sandwich, which isn’t a big deal. Just a tip.
Although the sandwich I had was really good, I only give this place 3 stars because the girl behind the counter wasn’t very friendly, which made it awkward since the store is so small. There was no place to sit either. She told us the restaurant behind the small entrance was closed. I’m not sure if the restaurant were open if there would have been seating. It wasn’t nice out, so dessert wasn’t as fun since we had no place to sit and just had to keep walking in the drizzling rain and fog. I’d definitely have given the place 4 stars had there been someplace to sit and the service was better.
I would still come back for some yummy homemade icecream sandwiches, but when the weather is nice so I wouldn’t mind strolling about with my sandwich in hand.

Every DC resident should visit Sugar Magnolia. It’s in a great part of town and their handmade ice cream sandwiches are amazing (Try the vanilla chocolate chip cookie one!).

I love this place! They have some really interesting flavors (especially during the summer). Their ice cream flavors rotate, so I make sure to duck into this tiny ice cream bar every once in a while to see what flavors they’ve cooked up.
They had samples of their truffle brownie and caramel blondies and those were delicious as well. The only drawback is that the prices make me wince. This is definitely a special-​occasion treat for me.

Its really 3.5 stars.
I tried the homemade ice cream sandwich. While they had some interesting choices, I stuck to the safe side and tried the chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream. I suggest letting the ice cream melt a bit because at first you can’t get a bite with cookie and ice cream because its pretty thick. It was clearly fresh and both cookie and ice cream were good.
I did try the salted caramel ice cream before deciding to get the sandwich and I was not impressed. Too salty and not enough taste of the caramel. So my vote is just stick to the ice cream sandwich.

3.5 stars.
They were out of chocolate sorbet, so I tried the salted caramel. I was underwhelmed by the flavor, but enjoyed the texture. Price point reasonable for what it is. Also nice not to be overwhelmed by choices.

I went to go try the ice cream sandwiches and I was definitely pleased! My boyfriend got the chocolate wafer with salty caramel and I got the chocolate cookie with the vanilla ice cream. Both were very good, although we decided that the chocolate cookie with vanilla ice cream was better. The reason for this is that the chocolate wafer with salty caramel ice cream is very subtle and the flavor does not really hit you until you are almost done with each bite!
The only frustrating thing is that I went at around 3:00 and there was a sign on the door stating that they were «off to the beach» and would not open until 5:00 pm, there was no indication of this on there website. I had to return hours later in order to fulfill my ice cream sandwich craving! That said, I will likely return to try some of there gelato :)

Great addition to CP! I like a place that does one thing and does it well.
We got the Chocolate Gelato — holy chocolate-​ness. It was super intense and was even better as it warmed up. In general, my only comment is to not keep the stuff so cold. Also had the Goat Cheese Berry. I’m always up for something different. It had a great flavor and was fresh and light.
The real winner however was the cone. No vacuum packed cardboard here — they make ‘em fresh on-​site and they were the best I can remember ever having.
It was my second visit and I keep meaning to get an ice cream sandwich! Maybe next time…

I was contemplating a sandwich for lunch when I came across Sugar Magnolia. Ice cream sandwiches! That’s like knocking out lunch and dessert with one go!
I got the chocolate wafer with salted caramel ice cream sandwich to eat on the go. At first, I was perplexed by the somewhat strange ice cream-​to-​wafer ratio, which left a good ¾ inch of loose wafer over the coned scoop of ice cream (
). You may have to nibble off the top/​bottom wafer at your starting point to reach the ice cream, but don’t nibble around the entire sandwich! The cookie is harder than most ice cream sandwiches, and as you eat and the ice cream melts, the hard cookies will push the ice cream right up to the edges.
As for the flavor, the first taste of the ice cream revealed a pleasantly surprising burst of saltiness, which very nicely complemented the sweetness of the ice cream and cookies. As I continued, I wished that it was the cookie that was salted caramel and the ice cream that was chocolate, as the coldness of the ice cream quickly numbed my tastebuds to the saltiness and made the ice cream taste similar to vanilla.
Overall, the ice cream is good. The cookie is good. The blondie that I sampled at the counter while waiting for my change was fairly normal. I felt that the ice cream melted more quickly than normal, but I have a suspicion that this may have a little bit to do with the near 100 degree weather. If you like the store-​bought ice cream sandwiches with the soggy cookie, this may not be your thing. But if you’re willing to pay $ 3.50 for a flavorful cookie crust and house-​made ice cream, stop by Sugar Magnolia if you’re int he area!

I’m still trying to determine whether I’ve lost my sweet tooth, or if desserts are now just that bad, but this is one place that’s I’ve crossed off my must visit list, and will probably never return to again.
I ordered something cheese flavored (it was most likely goat cheese if I remember correctly) which was a unique flavor, but the texture of the ice cream had me quite confused. I couldn’t tell if the icy texture of the ice cream was freezer burn, or if it was trying to be Taiwanese Snow Ice. I’m going to go with the former, though I also had some ice cream at Equinox the other day that reminded me of Snow Ice as well, so I don’t know what’s up with «ice cream» nowadays.
I also ordered an ice cream sandwich. It’s a sad day when I can’t remember the flavors I ordered. It was really that forgettable. The ice cream was some sort of berry flavor. I think it was blueberry. Blackberry? Who knows. On a positive note, I remember the texture of the ice cream in the ice cream sandwich was more like ice cream and less like snow ice.
When I first heard about this place I thought they were going to scoop ice cream I chose and put it in the cookies I chose to make a custom ice cream sandwich. I’m assuming they might do this if asked, but finding a freezer full of pre made ice cream sandwiches was not what I was expecting. I would also prefer the former method so the cookies would be softer when paired with the ice cream.

(3.5 stars, rounded up) I had been meaning to stop by Sugar Magnolia from the moment it opened, but I was a little out of control with my food intake for awhile so I decided to wait it out a bit. I finally stopped by yesterday to snag myself an ice cream sandwich and scope out whatever else they offered.
The little shop is tiny which makes sense since it’s a small section of Ripple, but it was charming. We were greeted by a friendly staff person who pointed us to the ice cream sandwiches, baked goods, and the ice cream by the scoop that they just started offering. They had some really interesting flavors but I had my sights set on an ice cream sandwich so that’s what I focused on.
I went for the coconut macaroon and coffee ice cream and the hubster grabbed a chocolate chip and vanilla malt. The coconut macaroon (which was gluten free, btw) was the perfect texture for the ice cream sandwich — I just wished my ice cream was creamier. The chocolate chip would have been great if the cookie wasn’t so ridiculously hard and the ice cream didn’t melt so fast.
I noticed that SM also had premade sandwiches with really delicious-​sounding flavor combinations in their beverage fridge. I’ll definitely be back to try their other goods — glad that they are in the neighborhood to satiate my sweet-​tooth!

I was totally underwhelmed by this place. I got a lavender sponge cake/​strawberry ice cream sandwich, and it was… boring. Unremarkable. You couldn’t taste any lavender in the cake at all– tasted like basic yellow spongecake. So disappointing. And the strawberry ice cream didn’t taste any different from the kind you buy at the supermarket. For nearly $ 4, I expected a lot more. The 99 cent ice cream sandwiches from 7 – 11 are more satisfying. Won’t be back.

What a nice little find! My friends told me about this place with homemade ice cream sandwiches in Cleveland Park, and I was skeptical… how hard can it be to make an ice cream sandwich, I thought… and why would I want to spend nearly $ 4 on one…
Boy, did I underestimate these. This tiny little joint offered 5 or 6 different varieties, including vanilla ice cream between chocolate chip cookies, strawberry ice cream between lavender sponge cake, salted caramel/​toffee ice cream on chocolate wafers, peanut butter cookies and chocolate ice cream, and bacon/​maple ice cream on waffles.
I opted for the salted caramel concoction… YUM! The ice cream, which was homemade, had little chunks of toffee in it, and the softness was perfectly complemented by the slight crunch of the chocolate cookies. It was clearly pretty fresh, no freezer crystals or anything, and you could tell the cookies and ice cream were both very high-​quality. The sign said something about locally sourced ingredients, but mostly it was just mad, mad tasty.
I sampled the chocolate chip/​vanilla classic… the cookies were wonderful. One of my friends got the bacon/​maple/​waffle combination, and none of us particularly enjoyed it. The chunks of bacon in the ice cream were just a little bit too strange, and the musty maple aftertaste combined with what tasted like liquid smoke created an altogether not-​so-​pleasant experience.
Apparently they switch up their flavors on a daily basis. This would be a great place to hit up in the summer! A nice alternative to the now-​ubiquitous «fro yo» joints around, at any rate…

Haiku #17:
Of all the sweet shops
Trendy cupcakes and froyo
This one takes the cake
I like Sugar Magnolia because it’s simple, not too pretentious, and the sweets are good. Plus they are unique. This isn’t just another mediocre cupcake or froyo spot (plus there isn’t a ridiculously long line!). It also doesn’t try to be anything more than it is – a few dessert options behind the glass (cookies, brownies, etc.), some ice cream sandwiches, coffee, and a fridge with pop (that’s soda for all you confused East Coast folks). Today’s recommendation from the friendly staffer? «Get the oatmeal raisin cookie!» Typically a fan of good oatmeal raisin cookies, this one is definitely a cut above, chalked full of golden raisins.

Stop in for an ice cream sandwich on a hot day… or even a cold & rainy day, like today.
I was super excited to try this place as soon as it opened, and heard they had a ginger, beet ice cream sandwich, which I did– but I wanted to wait to review it until I had sufficiently tried a handful of their ice cream sandwiches. Unfortunately, the ginger beet ice cream sandwich was the most disappointing (the sandwich could really be enhanced with some crystalized ginger bits in the cookie– which, as a ginger nut, I was really hoping for… also, as a beet fanatic– more earthy beet flavor would play off the spicy ginger cookie so well)…oh well. Fortunately, both the chocolate peanut butter sandwich and salted caramel toffee sandwich are divine. I want that peanut butter cookie recipe so badly! The flavor is so amazing my friend said she would eat a shoe if it was between the two peanut butter cookies… yes, it’s that good. The caramel toffee sandwich is also really tasty (I guess I wish there was a tad more salt and/​or toffee bits, but it is spectacular and a close second to the peanut butter).
Also, every time I have visited, there has been a sample tray of these scrumptious, chewy blondie bars that I would buy if they didn’t have the sample there. Everything is really affordable, the counter girl has always been super friendly, and it really is the perfect addition to CP– firehook is good for breakfast and coffee, but this a whole different level of fresh deliciousness (anyone who has enjoyed Ripple will enjoy this quaint shop). Sadly, all three evenings I have visited, it’s been empty, so I hope this store is able to stay in business.

My sisters and I split the coconut macaroon and coffee ice cream sandwich and let me say, the only reason I didn’t give 5 stars was b/​c it’s the only thing I’ve tried here, but if everything is as good as this ice cream sandwich, I may have to make the trip out to D.C. for these suckers. Wait a couple minutes for the cookie to become soft enough to bite into and then enjoy– the coconut macaroons are delicious on their own and the coffee ice cream is light and complements the coconutty rich cookie.

Outstanding ice cream sandwiches, made with inventive ice cream flavors — less than 2 miles from my home… this spells trouble!
After dinner in Cleveland Park, my husband and I popped in here for dessert. As luck would have it, there were little samples of their oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies at the counter. Both were excellent — buttery, tender, and had the perfect balance of crisp/​chewy texture.
My husband had the chocolate wafer sandwich with coconut + coffee ice cream. So good — he only offered me one taste, but I couldn’t resist swiping an extra bite!
I had the ginger cookies with beet ice cream and yum. The beet flavor was pronounced without being overwhelming and went very nicely with the ginger snaps.
The sandwiches were around $ 3.50 a pop and worth every penny.

About time Cleveland Park got a proper dessert place! Sugar Magnolia is a promising new addition to CP as a cute on-​the-​go dessert stop attached to the front of Ripple. I’d been eyeing this location ever since they’d started setting up, from the little countertop to the bright giant pig statue to the window decals, and was stoked to see that it’d finally opened.
While the place is small, they have a nice variety of gourmet ice cream sandwiches to choose from. I opted for the one with bacon. of course. The Waffle with Maple Bacon ice cream was a delicious steal at $ 3.50 a pop. The waffle was just the right amount of chewiness and not too sweet, which was a great balance for the flavorful maple and bacon. Bonus points: real bits of bacon in the ice cream! I also had a bite of my friend’s chocolate cookie with peanut butter ice cream which had a far crunchier cookie and sweet ice cream. Tasty!
Sugar Magnolia also has regular savory sandwiches and other baked goods, but it’s clear that the ice cream sandwiches are the star here. Still, I’d like to return and give their other menu items a try.
The one reason this place is missing a star is that their ice cream sandwiches are prepackaged, so the freshness of their cookies is easily drawn into question. I’d be far more impressed if they prepared it for you on the spot, given the sort of local fresh farm-​to-​table theme that Ripple (the restaurant) takes part in. Nonetheless, the sandwiches are a nice special treat for that night out.

Opening day at Sugar Magnolia, and the bf brought home a gluten-​free brownie and ice cream sandwich with peanut butter cookies and Valhrona ice cream. Wow, both items were amazing, and totally on the mark.
Normally, I would never choose a gluten-​free baked good over a brownie with glutenous goodness. But, here, the brownie made with almond flour was dense and flavorful. The peanut butter chocolate ice cream sandwich was even better. A perfect mix of salty, crumbly peanut butter cookie hugging rich creamy chocolate. I can’t wait to explore more of what Sugar Magnolia has to offer.

Wow — just when I thought ice cream sandwiches couldn’t get any better, Sugar Magnolia kicks off a whole new level of delicious. If you’ve been to Ripple, the restaurant shark to Sugar Magnolia’s remora, you know that they’re all about offering sustainable and locally-​harvested ingredients in an upbeat atmosphere. So it should be no surprise that Sugar Magnolia, which opened this morning, has similar principles and just-​as-​delectable food.
Their storefront, on that little parking strip off Connecticut between Macomb and Ordway, is immediately adjacent to Ripple’s, and the inside is bedecked with various ice-​cream making accoutrements, in the form of wall-​mounted mixing blades and a whisk-​as-​light-​fixture dangling on a long red cord from the ceiling. Small bags of treats and freshly baked brownie bites adorn white cake plates on the glass counter, and row after row of cookies lie within the display case. But the real gems are to be found in the freezer.
A few of the seasonal selections currently available are:
maple bacon ice cream served between two waffles (yes, please!)
ginger cookies with roasted beet ice cream
peanut butter cookies with valrhona chocolate ice cream
meringue with salted caramel ice cream
I’m pretty sure they managed to get all of my favorite flavor combinations in there, and I was curious about the beet ice cream, so I took one of each, plus an extra maple-​bacon-​waffle for immediate consumption. I will say this: Every. Bite. Scrumptious. No skimping on the bacon here, and the waffle came flecked with vanilla bean. Plus the mapleness of the ice cream was potent, adding a nice sweet kick to the already sweetly savory bacon.
The staff was courteous and helpful, quickly filling my order, and just as quick to invite me to try a nibble of brownie. You can bring multiple sandwiches home in specially designed cases that keep the sandwiches intact, though until they work out a dry-​ice conveyance system, it’s best to bring your own insulated bag — or just eat everything immediately.