It’s hot, and we at AL.com thought we knew which Alabama ice cream helps us cool down the best (and sweetest), naming our favorites in our largest cities as well as our top 10 in the entire state. While plenty of sweet-toothed readers agreed with our sugary selections, others simply could not believe we left off their favorites. As if we needed another excuse to go try more ice cream in this sweltering heat.

We’ve said our piece, and now we’ve asked you to share the best ice cream up and down our state. Guess what? You nailed it with soda fountain classics, traditional ice cream shops and unexpected gems hidden in our favorite restaurants.

And while we appreciate helpful suggestions like “Graeter’s at your local Kroger,” Dairy Queen, Publix Premium Ice Cream or even Blue Bell (there is a creamery in Sylacauga, but they’re originally rooted in Texas), our list sticks to locally owned and made treats in Alabama.

Read your picks below.

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MOST UNDERRATED?

We have a few repeat suggestions, indicating fans wanted to get the word out when we posed this question, and it’s safe to stay O Town Ice Cream in Opelika flooded our mentions, with users emphatically boasting it as “The BEST!!” and noting “All flavors are locally named; a little piece of Opelika in every bite!” Another reader said. “The only answer is O Town. All others are competing for 2nd place.”

Owners Chris and Angela George opened O Town in a push cart in 2015, eventually transitioning to a brick-and-mortar (700 2nd Avenue) that also serves events with the O Town Ice Cream Truck. “We name our flavors after people and places in the Opelika and Lee County community,” their website says. “Come try our Chunky Monkey Park, Summer Swing Strawberry and Courthouse Coffee Crunch!” They also serve homemade chicken salad and pimento cheese sandwiches. Well…what are we waiting for?

FAMILIAR FAVORITES

It’s quite possible Blue Ribbon Dairy in Tallassee got the most reader love across our social platforms, but AL.com chose it among the 10 best in the state, naming it fourth overall, so rest assured we know that ice cream (and milk) goes down real smooth. “The best milk makes the best ice cream always,” one reader said, while adorably adding, “I love feeding the calves also.”

One rung higher on the AL.com statewide list was Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe in Mobile, which many readers happily echoed.

We had Birmingham’s Big Spoon Creamery as our second favorite in Alabama, mirroring the near-hundreds of comments our readers posted promoting it. We know! We agree! It’s good! Glad we’re always on the same page, y’all. So cool that we never disagree, that is, until…

MORE: Alabama’s best ice cream: Our top 10

NORTH ALABAMA

We heard several North Alabama shops repeated over and over, including Lookout Mountain Creamery and Desserts in Fort Payne. The Scoop Du Jour Creamery & Desserts in Gadsden has a “C is for Cookie blue ice cream” we want to try, if only for educational and alphabetical purposes.

Anniston residents ensured we knew about Angel Cakes Creamery and Harper’s Homemade Ice Cream.

We named Earth and Stone Wood Fired Pizza the best pizza in Huntsville, but it turns out they offer house-made ice cream (including “adult ice cream” they say pushes the envelope, especially their signature bourbon butter pecan). Pizza and ice cream: We’re there, man.

Just a hair south of there, you’ll find Seven Daughters Scoops in Cullman, and Hanceville Drug Company has a soda fountain right out of Mayberry where you’ll find a banana split for the ages, though many readers insist we try the cherry ice.

MORE: Huntsville’s best ice cream: Our top 5

CENTRAL ALABAMA

Lake Martin Creamery in Dadeville “can’t be beat!” one reader said. Maybe it’s because they just can’t get enough of the Elvis milkshake at Lake Martin (vanilla custard, banana, peanut butter).

Wetumpka has two shops, each with a legion of fans, starting with Heady Scoops n Smoothies. The other we could not ignore this time: Swirls Gourmet in Wetumpka. A reader said, “They have amazing ice cream, sundaes and shakes!”

The Whole Scoop in Hoover got a ton of love. Frankly, we must try their Krazy Kookie Dough, Moon Pie Sundae or Creamsicle milkshake, or we’ll just feel silly.

Elsewhere in the Birmingham area are Sunshine Creamery in Vestavia Hills and Bluff Park Ice Cream Shoppe in Hoover.

We heard about Boondocks BBQ & Creamery in Wedowee and Burnette Farms Market & Café in Pelham, and while Peach Park got a lot of love from AL.com (our #1 pick!), some users went with the delicious peach ice cream at Durbin Farms Market.

MORE: Birmingham’s best ice cream: Our top 5

SOUTH ALABAMA

Michelle Matthews showed us what those of us who live above Lower Alabama are missing on the ice cream front with her top five, but readers clued us in to Mr. Gene’s Beans in Fairhope, Brodie’s Cream & Bean in Silverhill, Sweet Pea’s House of Treats & Eats in Mobile and Sweet Cone Alabama Ice Cream in Orange Beach.

MORE: Mobile’s best ice cream: Our top 5

More on Alabama’s Best food:

Alabama’s best barbecue: Our Top 10

Alabama’s best burgers: Our Top 10

Alabama’s best pizza: Our Top 10

Alabama’s best ice cream: Our top 10