Arielle Fischer, features editor

There are plenty of sweets on the market, all worthy competition for one another. I mean, who doesn’t love a scrumptious slice of your grandmother’s pound cake or a box-mix brownie concocted out of a 2 a.m. hunger rampage. Of course, there’s the pumpkin pie on a blustery Thanksgiving afternoon, smothered in airy fluff that dissolves depression in a vanilla bliss. Or, Santa’s leftover cookies that fuel the sugary stampede to the red and green wrapped boxes on Christmas morning. And who could forget the mountain of candy we devour during October’s few remaining hours. All of these treats are good, and frankly, quite enjoyable. But, only one dessert can truly “take the cake” and that’s ice cream. 

For those who second my humble opinion, no explanation is needed. They know the secret and they will forever hold ice cream dear to their hearts. However, for those that need assistance in understanding the superiority of ice cream, allow me to explain. 

One of the most common problems I hear from dessert-forgoers is that their sweet treat is too sweet. Due to this excessive sweetness, people omit dessert entirely, giving up on arguably the best part of a meal because it doesn’t satisfy their palette. To be fair, I also cannot stand overly sugary items, which is why ice cream is ideal. 

Ice cream, and its close counterparts like gelato or frozen yogurt, are typically less sweet than say a decadent brownie. Why do you think ice cream is paired with chocolate cake at parties? It’s because ice cream perfectly balances the light creaminess with rich fudge. Likewise, ice cream can be enjoyed by almost anyone since it is tolerable by almost everyone. To exemplify, as we age, the number of taste buds we have decreases, and as a result, our tongues lose the ability to taste everything to its full potential. Our mouths tend to lose sensitivity, which means we end up not being able to taste everything as we once could. Older people are more likely to oppose items that are too spicy, sour or sweet, regardless if they could eat them in their younger years because the flavor is too diluted or potent for their limited palette. However, with ice cream, the flavor is never too much or too little. Because of the balance it holds, it rarely loses its appeal with a person’s age. Now while some ice cream flavors, such as cotton candy or birthday cake, might be on the sweeter side, there are always other kinds for people to enjoy. 

Another reason for ice cream’s superiority is that the variety of flavors seemingly never ends, allowing every person to find something they like. Ice cream can accommodate the pickiest of eaters, soothing the simplest of tastes with soft vanilla or classic strawberry. This cold treat can also be a rather adventurous experience, with unique flavors or combinations around every corner. In my life I have seen salty, sweet, sour or even spicy flavored ice cream, leaving no excuse for the most difficult to please people. Additionally, it possesses a wide supply of textures, from a clean scoop to a jumble of chunky chocolate cookies and chewy caramel candy all smashed together in one mouthwatering bite. Even the desserts I mentioned at the start of this passage can be transformed into a luscious, cold, saccharine metamorphosis. Oh, you can’t have dairy? Never fear! For those with lactose intolerance or partaking in a certain diet, there are plenty of options like sherbert, frozen yogurt or lactose-free cream. Everyone can find some kind of ice cream they enjoy, no matter the flavor, texture o r products. 

Lastly, ice cream is a true “craving crusher.” It can satisfy any need, at any time, especially temperature-wise. In the south, the summer doesn’t seem to end until New Year’s Day, and with all this warm weather, what better way to beat the heat than with a cold treat! A scoop of your favorite ice cream can cool anyone down on the hottest days of the year. In the winter, when people are cuddled up in their blanket cocoons, ice cream doused in a warm, silky, hot fudge can be just the thing to make a toasty holiday movie night. 

So, no matter the weather or the desire, ice cream still remains. With an endless variety and ease on the taste buds, it’s hard to beat this tasty sweet.