QuickTake:

A frozen treat can curb even the most sweltering days. Lookout Eugene-Springfield has several sweet ways to cool down.

If your eyes are burning with sweat and sunscreen, if your only AC is an open window and if the air is inescapably hot and smoky, it might be time for a frozen treat.

Frozen treats are air conditioning for your insides, with palatable pleasures to boot. The Eugene-Springfield area has a lot to offer in the icy goodies arena, including gluten-free and vegan options. Here’s what we found.

A custardy ode to the Midwest

From cheesecake pieces heaped on caramel sundaes to ultra-thick shakes called concretes, Canary Custard (37 W. 13th Ave., Eugene) boasts fresh, frozen custard desserts. Owners Ryan Rounkles and Maya Hamanishi opened their custard cart in June. They told Lookout they wanted to bring Midwest-style frozen custard treats to the Pacific Northwest. Compared to ice cream, frozen custard is churned with egg yolks and less whipped air, making for a more dense and silky frozen treat.

Canary Custard makes vanilla and chocolate custard, as well as a nondairy coconut option for vegans and folks avoiding lactose. You can find allergy and dietary information for every item on their website. 

Enjoy your custard plain or add housemade toppings — strawberry sauce, peanut butter pieces, mini brownie squares, lemon drizzle, to name a few — in a sundae or concrete. 

We have our eye on the Strawberry Hill sundae, with vanilla custard, strawberry sauce and honey-rye shortbread.

Hawaiian shave ice

Trey Dougherty is bringing a beloved Hawaiian frozen treat to west Eugene through Chilly Cupz (760 Chambers St.), his seasonal shave ice cart. 

Chilly Cupz owner Trey Dougherty opened his Hawaiian shave ice cart in west Eugene last summer. Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

Hawaiian shave ice is traditionally made from an ice block, resulting in a finely textured, fluffy and soft frozen treat. Dougherty’s signature shave ice flavors are fun, tropical and nostalgic, from orange creamsicle to the Gushers-studded strawberry and marshmallow avalanche. Dye-free and sugar-free options are available, and you can also customize your cup.

Much of Dougherty’s family is from Lahaina, and whenever he visits, his first stop off the plane is usually a shave ice shop with his mom. After years of working as a food delivery driver in Eugene, Dougherty’s mom inspired him to open a Hawaiian shave ice cart. He built the cart, invested in a block ice shaver (a Swan SI-100E, the same one used by shops across Hawaii) and opened Chilly Cupz last summer. 

“I love making shave ice and bringing something different to Eugene,” Dougherty said.

The Peach Dream at Chilly Cupz, with peach syrup-infused shave ice, sweetened condensed milk and peach rings. Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

Fresh fruit ice cream and frozen pops 

Peek-A-Boo Delight’s newest fruity ice cream flavors: raspberry with locally grown raspberries (left) that reminds owner Alma Vasquez of her childhood, and lychee (right), a tropical fruit with notes of rose, pear and strawberry.  Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

From passionfruit ice cream to cucumber paletas (Spanish for frozen pops), Peek-A-Boo Delight (861 Willamette St., Eugene) specializes in Mexican-style treats and snacks.

Owner Alma Vasquez makes all her treats in house, celebrating the tropical fruits, nuts and vegetables of her Mexican roots. Peek-A-Boo is one of the only shops in Lane County making guava, lychee, avocado and other naturally sweetened fruit ice creams. Fruity Pebbles, mango with a housemade chamoy swirl, dulce de leche and horchata are among dozens of frozen paleta varieties offered. Ask about dairy-free options. 

Gluten-free ice cream sandwiches

Elegant Elephant Baking Co. (120 Shelton-McMurphey Blvd., Eugene) is a dedicated gluten-free bakery that just released a summer lineup of ice cream sandwiches and popsicles. You can snag their frozen handhelds, including a brownie sandwich with blackberry crumble ice cream, a hibiscus green tea popsicle, and a vegan ice cream sammie made on a chocolate cranberry cookie, at their Eugene storefront. 

Icy and boozy

Not only does The Monkey’s Paw (420 Main St., Springfield) serve up $11 pina coladas and icy monster-themed cocktails; the tiki-themed watering hole is dimly lit, making for a cool reprieve from the harsh sun. 

Matching the tropical theme, you’ll find lots of rum-based cocktails: Take the three rums used in the Zombie, or the Jamaican-rum spiked Monkey’s Paw, with house-spiced banana syrup, lime, OJ and bitters. Mocktails are also available and just as fun as their boozy companions, including the Virgin Sacrifice (a zero-proof daiquiri) and the Flor de Jamaica, with spiced hibiscus, lime and grapefruit.

An icy pina colada ($11) at The Monkey’s Paw in Springfield. Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield
The Zombie cocktail ($16) at The Monkey’s Paw boasts three rums, two liqueurs and a two-drink limit. The zombie mug is locally made by Down the Road Clayworks and can be purchased for $40.  Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

The Monkey’s Paw is a little kitschy, a little nautical and a lot of fun, from the puffer fish lights and box TV fish tank to live acoustic music, punk drag shows and dance parties. 

Ice cream nachos

Mr. Ice Cream (230 Main St., Springfield) combines the classic ice cream parlor atmosphere with fun takes on childhood classics. You’ll find peanut butter and jelly sundaes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch milkshakes and their signature ice cream nachos, made with mini waffle chips, Umpqua ice cream and your choice of toppings. 

An LED sign at Mr. Ice Cream, a downtown Springfield shop serving up cereal milkshakes and other frozen treats reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons. The shop opened in 2023. Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

Owner PJ Smith opened Mr. Ice Cream in 2023 when he was 19, according to a story from The Chronicle that’s framed on the shop’s front wall.  

Vegan soft serve

Viva! Vegetarian Grill (1171 Willamette St., Eugene) offers vegan, cashew-based soft serve that can also be made into a shake. Right now, you can order vanilla, chocolate or a twist. The nut base makes for a creamy soft serve without the stomach-churning symptoms that dairy-based ice cream can sometimes cause.  

A soft serve twist cone at Viva! Vegetarian Grill in Eugene. The vegan ice cream is made with a cashew base. Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

Ice cream flights

Red raspberry cheesecake, mandarin chocolate, Oregon bing cherry, Mexican mocha and pistachio almond are just some of the unique and classic ice creams offered by Prince Pückler’s (1605 E. 19th Ave., Eugene). Boasting dozens of flavors, it can be a downright struggle to choose just one or two. 

To counter the decision paralysis, Prince Pückler’s offers a personalized four-flavor sampler ($7.75), allowing you to enjoy your bounty without sacrifice.

Taylor Goebel covers Lane County's food and drink scene. She has nearly a decade of experience in multimedia journalism, having reported across the Mid-Atlantic on dining, food systems, education, healthcare, local elections, labor and business. She was most recently a food reporter in Washington state, where she documented a fourth-generation fishing family, covered a David vs. Goliath conflict between a national coffee chain and a small Turkish cafe, and had many culinary firsts, from ensaymadas and gilgeori (Korean street) toast to morels and black cod.