It’s a Kool Summer at Kilwins 

By Mark Oliver

When it comes to celebrating summertime, the 501 prides itself on tradition: baseball, the outdoors and visiting Kilwins Little Rock on a hot summer day.

Photos by Makenzie Evans

New this season is an assortment of limited-edition citrus-inspired ice cream creations designed to dazzle your taste buds: key lime pie and lemon meringue pie.

“With the heat of the summer, what better way to cool down than ice cream inspired by classic summertime desserts?” Lister asked. “Our key lime pie ice cream is creamy and tart with graham cracker crust swirled in for a mouthwatering balance of citrus and sweetness. Our lemon meringue pie ice cream is bright and zesty with marshmallow swirls and pieces of buttery pie crust that captures everything you love about a slice of this staple summer pie.”

No matter your flavor preference, Kilwins Little Rock’s signature homemade waffle cones add the finishing touch to a perfect scoop.

“Our wonderful waffle cones and bowls are made fresh in our store daily,” Lister said. “It’s the first thing you smell when you walk in the door. Nothing is better than our ice cream served in a warm, freshly made waffle cone.”

‘I am proud to have my child beside me in the kitchen serving as our candy cook. From cooking fresh New Orleans-style pralines to caramel dipping, Virgil does a great job.’ — David Lister, owner of Kilwins Little Rock

Craving something unique? Lemon fudge makes its highly anticipated return, adding a refreshing twist to a longtime favorite.

“While fruit-flavored fudge may be unusual, we believe it complements our lemon meringue and lemon-based chocolates in our chocolate case,” Lister said. “Unlike chocolate or peanut butter fudge, the longer our lemon fudge sits, the more intense its lemon flavor gets. It has proven to be very popular with our customers and we are excited to bring it back.”

Arriving in July, the shop’s latest concoction is certain to captivate the hearts of chocolate connoisseurs: delectable Dubai truffles.

“We are excited to debut our take on this luxurious chocolate delicacy,” Lister said. “Our Dubai chocolate truffles will be available in Kilwins Milk Chocolate and Kilwins Heritage Dark Chocolate and filled with crispy kataifi and crunchy pistachios. We are looking forward to having it in store and believe it will be a huge hit with our customers.”

Visitors to Kilwins Little Rock are encouraged to stop by and say hello to a new face in the shop this summer as Lister proudly prepares the next generation of candy creators.

“I am proud to have my child beside me in the kitchen serving as our candy cook,” he said. “From cooking fresh New Orleans-style pralines to caramel dipping and learning how to make our lemon fudge, Virgil does a great job.”

This month, Kilwins Little Rock will debut their very own Dubai truffles available in Kilwins Milk Chocolate and Kilwins Heritage Dark Chocolate and filled with kataifi and crunchy pistachios. The blend of smooth, creamy, and crispy elements, along with the rich pistachio and chocolate taste, has captivated chocolate lovers worldwide.

While Kilwins Little Rock’s delightful desserts may be the secret to getting customers in the door, it’s the friendships forged over sweet treats that keeps Lister coming back for more. 

“There’s nothing like serving a scoop of ice cream to a young child and seeing the smile on their face or serving a caramel apple to a nurse who has had a really rough shift and seeing the smile come back to their face,” he said. “We love to make as many people as happy as possible with our products and by sharing an interest in our customers. That’s what excites me about coming to the shop each day.”

With a future as fruitful as the shop’s summertime sweets, he looks forward to many more years of bringing smiles to Central Arkansas and beyond.

“We have a fantastic local community and a thriving tourist trade that supports us,” Lister said. “We love being in the River Market and are excited for all the changes coming to the district soon.”

To satisfy your sweet tooth, visit Kilwins Little Rock today at 415 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.

Mark Oliver
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