Bear necessities
Northwest San Antonio scoops up wild custom ice cream sandwich shop
If the rising San Antonio temps have you in air-conditioned hibernation, it’s time to make your way out of the den. A new ice cream sandwich shop is soon opening in the Shops at La Cantera, and it's sure to make the South Texas summer more bearable.
On July 2, San Diego-based chain The Baked Bear announced it is opening its first Alamo City outpost with a ribbon cutting at 7 pm on July 12. Located at 5900 La Cantera Pkwy., Ste. LS3320, the concept focuses on build-your-own frozen treats.
The Baked Bear was founded by childhood friends Shane Stanger and Rob Robbins in 2013. Since then, it has steadily grown to 25 locations, including shops in two other steamy Texas cities — Austin and El Paso.
The menu provides endless possibilities. Guests start by choosing a scratch cookie or brownie “bun” from a list of options that includes cookies and cream, red velvet, snickerdoodle, and gluten-free chocolate chip. Tops and bottoms don’t have to match. If customers want to shun symmetry, that’s their business.
Once the foundation has been picked, customers must consider the merits of 13 ice cream flavors, ranging from kid-friendly scoops, like birthday cake and vanilla, to more sophisticated choices, like salted caramel fudge, blackberry crumble, and espresso bean. There’s even a vegan chocolate chip.
Once pressed into a tidy form, the creations can be drizzled and rolled in toppings like Fruity Pebbles, almonds, Heath bar bits, Nutella, and adorable M&M’s Minis. The finished masterpiece will inevitably be documented in Instagram stories, so book a manicure and start looking up bear puns.
Curmudgeonly types can select a less ostentatious treat, like plain cookies, brownies, or ice cream scoops. And those prone to accidents can order a Bear Bowl with a chocolate chip cookie or brownie base.
Although the release didn’t specify hours, locations typically open at noon and stay open until at least 10 pm, seven days a week.
