Ice cream is both the solution and the problem. Eating it makes me happy, but then later it makes me feel fat, which makes me depressed. Oh well. Life goes by fast — and it’s not like I’m throwing away a lucrative Speedo-modeling gig — so let’s enjoy the sweet simple things, like ice cream, while we still can.

Below are AL.com’s picks for top 5 places for ice cream and other frozen treats. No regional/national chains on our list, just Huntsville-based local businesses. (No statewide chains that weren’t started here either. Otherwise Birmingham-founded Big Spoon Creamery’s new HSV location would be in the mix.)

Our Birmingham’s best ice-cream list dethawed Monday, and we’re scooping up Mobile’s best Wednesday. In recent weeks, we celebrated Huntsville’s best barbecue, pizza and burgers.

Of course, there are more than five local Huntsville businesses from which to get your frozen-treat fix. These are just are my picks, and yours may differ completely. Think of this list as a conversation starter and not a food fight. Now, put on some elastic-waistband pants, grab a spoon and let’s dig in.

5. THE COZY COW

100 Church St. S.W., Huntsville, facebook.com/TheCozyCow

The Cozy Cow is located on the northeast tip of Big Spring Park’s main side. The Huntsville Museum of Art is just a Hail Mary football chunk away. Cozy Cows patio’s so close to Big Spring Park’s lagoon you could peg a duck with your leftovers, if you’re the type of soulless bastard who does stuff like that to animals. It’s both a perfect location for this business and the perfect business for this location. Opened in 2013, The Cozy Cow name’s perfect too. The space is snug and the décor’s overtly cow-themed. Whatever time of day, they have fuel that fits here. Coffee, sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, etc. There’s an array of cold treats too, including smoothies, ice cream, parfaits, malts, milkshakes, a banana split and sundaes.

What to order: Cozy Cow’s decadent brownie sundae is built on a house-made brownie chassis, topped with your choice of ice cream, syrup, nuts and, if you so desire, whipped cream.

RELATED: Cozy Cow boasts winning sandwiches, libations and more

4. SUZY’S POPS

Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Drive S.W. Ste. 2060, Huntsville, suzyspops.com

There’s been a few notable local businesses born at Greene Street Market. But Suzy’s Pops was the first to really break big in Huntsville. Suzanne Naumann, a former technical writer and stay-at-home mom, thought popsicles might be the next cupcakes. In other words, the next traditional treat to be given a foodie makeover. Flavors like raspberry hibiscus and peach basil. In 2011, she started Suzy’s Pops as a vendor at Greene Street, a charming, makers-centric weekly outdoor market downtown. Starting with just a tent and small freezer, by 2014 Suzy’s Pops was popping enough to open a second-floor space at arts center Lowe Mill. During busy hot months, they move thousands of popsicles a week.

What to order: The peach basil ice pop is comprised of peach chunks and nectar, sugar and lemon in sweet suspended animation. The titular basil’s ground, so it’s subtly distributed throughout.

RELATED: Huntsville desserts, confections and treats worth indulging in

3. OSCAR MOON’S MILKSHAKE SHOP

3414 Governors Drive S.W. #505, Huntsville, oscarmoons.com

Besides twinkle-toed gangster Vincent Vega and “Pulp Fiction” moll Mia Wallace, no one knows what that Five Dollar Milkshake she ordered at Jack Rabbit Slim’s tasted like. But I can tell the $7.50 milkshakes at Oscar Moon’s in Huntsville, is, in Vega-speak, pretty f–king good. Located at popular dining/entertainment hub Stovehouse, Oscar Moon’s serves, as they like to say, “shakes with soul.” Setup like a hallway-sized vintage diner, they sling craft sodas, floats, ice cream and sundaes. But milkshake’s in the business name for good reason. Signature flavors include bourbon chocolate pecan, cookies & cocoa and chocolate covered strawberry cheesecake.

What to order: The Alabama peach pie shake. Peach ice cream dusted with cinnamon and sugar, and jazzed with house-made whipped cream, Ghirardelli caramel drizzle, peach preserves and graham cracker crumble. The flavors are complex without being overstuffed. A smooth, sweet, escape.

RELATED: Huntsville’s $7.50 milkshake is pretty (expletive) good

2. PIZZELLE’S CONFECTIONS

2211 Seminole Drive S.W., Railroad Room #4, Huntsville, pizzellesconfections.com

The second you walk into Pizzelle’s Confection, you know this is gonna be fun. Willy Wonka, bats, the grim reaper, and David Bowie mingle on the walls. House in a row of exterior spaces at Lowe Mille, Pizzelle’s is known for their knockout chocolates, including the “Sexyback,” a salted caramel/dark chocolate creation. (I worship their dark-choc-almonds-coconut-and-sea-salt candy bar “Mommy Dearest.”) Founded by sisters Caitlin Lyon, a former technical writer, and Michelle Novosel, a former bakery manager, Pizzelle’s also does eclairs, mini-cakes etc. They also do a mean house-made ice cream. (As rad as Cozy Cow’s sundaes and Oscar Moon’s Milkshakes are, they use Blue Bell ice cream to make those.)

What to order: Pizzelle’s usually offers only around eight or so ice cream flavors at a time, but they switch ‘em up. Trust your instinct and eyes on what to get. Or do like I did and ask the nice employee taking your order for a suggestion. I recently did scoops of coffee cacao nibs and banana pudding, both dripping with backyard-made-charm-meets-art-school-flair.

RELATED: The ultimate Huntsville weekend: 30 local must-do’s

1. SAM & GREG’S PIZZERIA GELATERIA

116 Southside Square, Huntsville, samandgregs.com

It’s hard to imagine downtown’s courthouse square without Sam & Greg’s. Sixteen years ago, married couple Greg and Sam (short for Samantha) Hathorn (yep, no “w” in their last name) went from working in software development to developing distinctive pizzas and gelatos. (Their “Cajun” pizza is confetti-ed with andouille sausage, shrimp, crawfish and jalapeno. Although Sam & Greg’s didn’t make my top 5 Huntsville pizzas list a couple weeks ago, they were close — and they’re totally worthy.) Back in the day, Sam Hathorn spent her senior year abroad in Italy, which later informed Sam & Greg’s boot-country culinary focus. After losing their original Northside Square location lease in 2018, Sam & Greg’s pressed pause for a year. They reopened on the square’s Southside in 2019, bigger and better than ever.

What to order: The house-made gelato flavors rotate. If peanut butter gelato’s on the dance card that day, do that. Of the constant flavors, the birthday cake gelato will make you feel like a kid again.

RELATED: 3 things Sam & Greg’s Pizzeria Gelateria’s Sam Hathorn always keeps in her home fridge

MORE ON HUNTSVILLE FOOD

New Huntsville bistro’s parking lot is always full for good reason

New Huntsville restaurant’s name may be in jest, but their sushi isn’t

Thirsty Turtle, iconic Huntsville bar and lunch spot, has reopened

Love fried chicken? You’ll love this funky little spot in Huntsville

The art of minor league baseball concessions in a Food Network world

A great Huntsville steak joint you can wear a Metallica shirt to and fit right in