Here's our blogger Colleen Luckett, back to talk about the latest trends in ice cream types and flavors:

Ice cream and the summer heat go hand in hand, much like Abbott and Costello . . . or maybe more like Sid and Nancy after we indulge in either a little too much! But look, I’ve been known to eat an entire pint of Haagen Daz peanut butter and chocolate in one sitting with no remorse. This delectable flavor has been my favorite ever since I was a little girl, frequently trekking to the local Baskin Robbins with my family. But I got curious: what are some new ice cream trends today?

According to my research online, some trends for 2017 include:

• Outrageously huge ice cream desserts – 5-mile high (only slight exaggeration) sundaes with anything from donuts to layer cakes topping these towers of goodness! Forbes Magazine suggests Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer in New York City and Pâtissez in Canberra City, Australia, for indulging.

• According to the folks at Ben & Jerry’s, mochi ice cream treats inspired by the Far East are delighting people in the West. These lovely treats from Japan consist of balls of ice cream — usually strawberry, vanilla, or green tea flavored — wrapped in mochi, a sweet rice paste. Mmmmm, kon’nichiwa!

• I also read that savory flavors are in: garlic, rosemary, cheddar cheese, sriracha, and buttered popcorn are popping up everywhere. Not sure about those myself, but hey, variety is the spice of life, right?

• And at the International Dairy Association’s annual Ice Cream Technology Conference this year, baked, buttery flavors like cookie butter and dulce de leche cheesecake took top honors. We approve! (Note to self: how do I become a judge?!)

I consider myself lucky to live in America’s top city for business and standard of living: Denver, Colorado. Boutique ice cream shops have cropped up and delighted the local neighborhoods for many years now. The flavors defy logic . . . yet we flock to the promised lands of ice cream and indulge in such flavors as birthday cake, whiskey vanilla, and wasabi peach. One of my favorite places is Sweet Action on S. Broadway, with a steady stream of visitors making for huge lines sometimes. Another is Liks, with locations in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Denver as well as Conifer, Colorado—still going strong after 50+ years!

I love visiting these places, but my old standby is a pint of something chocolate and peanut-buttery from my grocer’s freezer with my favorite Kream Kollar ice cream sleeve, “Holstein,” to keep my hands comfy and ice cream from melting so fast.

Have you tried any crazy new flavors lately? What are your favorites? Do you have a specialty shop in your area that fits right in with the ice cream trends I've been talking about? Have you discovered the benefit of using an ice cream pint sleeve to keep your hand from freezing when you eat from the pint? Share your thoughts with us in the Comments section below.