Cool Off with Rita’s All-Natural Italian Ice and Frozen Custard (& a $25 Gift Card Giveaway!)

(This post is sponsored by Rita’s Italian Ice. All opinions are 100% mine. I am proud to be a Rita’s Italian Ice Ambassador!)

There’s a hidden gem in the Twin Cities for getting cold, creamy frozen custard and sweet Italian Ice, and it’s called Rita’s Italian Ice.

Rita’s Italian Ice is a growing, nationwide chain with locations right here in Minnesota including Maple Grove, Eagan, Bloomington, and Stillwater.

I had not heard of it before, but then Rita’s Ice invited me to enjoy their cool treats with my family – including their NEW All-Natural Italian Ice – in exchange for sharing my experiences with you as a blog ambassador. This sounded amazing so I set off with my family right away to check them out!

Our Visit to Rita’s Italian Ice

We stopped by Rita’s Ice in Maple Grove recently on a hot day after visiting the new Central Park, which is just minutes away. We explored the unique playground for a while (there’s a lot to do!) and then the kids ran through the interactive fountains to cool off.

If you visit Central Park in Maple Grove on a warm day, be sure to bring your kids’ swimsuits!

After our outdoor fun on a warm day, we just needed a little something cool and refreshing. Thankfully, just down the road, tucked away among a variety of shops near Elm Creek Blvd, Rita’s Italian Ice is bright and cool inside with variety of yummy treats on the menu, so that was our next stop.

Rita’s offers about a dozen different flavors of Italian Ice, including:

• Banana
• Blue Raspberry
• Cotton Candy and oooh…
• Florida Orange
• and more…

The many menu options include:

Italian Ice – Unlike the traditional snow cone, Italian Ice is much smoother and made with real fruit, and served daily within 36 hours of mixing.

All-Natural Italian Ice – the same as Italian Ice, but made with all-natural ingredients!
Flavors include:

• Pineapple
• Strawberry
• Orange
• Banana
• Strawberry Banana
• Orange Pineapple

Cream Ice – “ice cream” backwards, so it’s more like ice cream than Italian Ice, but more creamy than icy.
Flavors include:

• Banana Split Cream
• Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
• Iced Coffee (um, yes, please)
• Marshmallow-Peanut Butter
• and more…

Sugar Free Italian Ice – Italian Ice sweetened with Splenda
Flavors include:

• Chocolate
• Mango Peach
• Pink Lemonade
• Root Beer
• and more…

Frozen Custard – A smooth and creamy (more so than ice cream) treat
Flavors include:

• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Light Vanilla and Vanilla
• Strawberry
• and more…

Sundaes – made with Frozen Custard; pick from 20 toppings
Gelati – a layering of your favorite Italian Ice and Custard in drink form
Misto – a blending of your favorite Italian Ice and Custard
Blendini – a mix of your favorite Italian Ice, Custard and a topping
Milkshakes – made with Frozen Custard and whipped cream
Plus Frozen Drinks, Frozen Custard Cakes and Custard Cookie Sandwiches!

We sampled a few different flavors, including the all-natural strawberry ice (just as good as regular Italian Ice!). In the end my daughter chose Chocolate and Vanilla Custard, my son chose a Fruit Punch Italian Ice, and I chose Butter Pecan Frozen Custard with candied walnuts on top (mmm). I sampled the Italian Ice and it definitely didn’t taste like a snow cone – it was so flavorful and smooth, and I love that it’s trans-fat free! The custard, too, was amazingly smooth – I intended to eat only a few bites and bring the rest home to enjoy later, but ended up eating it all in one sitting! (Be warned – once you have a taste you probably can’t stop.)

For more info:

Haven’t tried Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard? I say now’s the perfect time! Here’s what I also suggest – go to their website, sign up for their Birthday Club to get a FREE birthday treat on your birthday, and sign up  for Rita’s Rewards to activate your own virtual rewards card (you can earn a FREE treat on your 8th visit).

Plus, be sure to try their All-Natural Ice!

Visit their website for more info and check them out on social media:

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/RitasItalianIceCompany/
Twitter – http://twitter.com/RitasItalianIce
Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/ritasice/

Twin Cities locations

Apple Valley – 15594 Pilot Knob Road, Ste #400, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Bloomington – 10700 France Avenue South, Suite 104, Bloomington, MN 55431
Eagan – 1016 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN 55123
Eagan (coming soon!) – 3390 Coachman Road, Eagan, MN 55121
Maple Grove – 8097 Wedgewood Ln N, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Valleyfair – 1 Valleyfair Drive, Shakopee, MN 55379
Stillwater – 1750 Greely Street, Stillwater, MN 55082

GIVEAWAY

Want to try Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard for FREE? Enter to win a $25 gift card here! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below by Tuesday, July 5th at 11:00pm. Winner will be randomly selected on Wednesday, July 6th and contacted by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway