Ice cream is the single triumph in a series of elemental desserts, besting drab rock candy, insubstantial wind cakes, and the lip-searing fire mousse. Honor nature’s sweetness with today’s Groupon: for $5, you get $10 worth of artisan ice cream and desserts at Sweet Republic in Scottsdale. Armed with doctorates in dessertology, the churnmasters at Sweet Republic whip an assortment of exotic ingredients and dairy products from independent Arizona farms into cone-ready shape. Cookies, cones, cakes, and other baked toppings come to life in the on-site bakery, and make fast friends with the parlor’s rotating list of 24 ice cream, sorbet, and yogurt varieties (starting at $2.95 for a single scoop). The rich belgian chocolate offers a sophisticated twist on a perennial favorite, while the basil-lime sorbet gives tasters the royal flavors of Thailand without the hassle of learning how to fly a plane. Sweet Republic is open Tuesday–Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Reviews

The Phoenix New Times awarded Sweet Republic the Best Ice Cream 2010. Numerous publications have featured it, including Phoenix Bites, Arizona Central, and USA Today. More than 170 Yelpers give it an average of 4.5 stars.

• Even tried-and-true vanilla and chocolate fans will feel they've entered a whole new flavor galaxy. – USA Today
• Their artisan ice cream beats any we’ve tried. We know that’s a bold statement, but it’s true. – Phoenix Bites