Afters Ice Cream

In the mid-to-late 2010s, ice cream parlors were having a real moment in Orange County, as new operators were testing concepts such as rolled ice cream, nitrogen freezing/pelleting, exotic flavors, and crazy maximalism. Afters Ice Cream appeared in 2014 as an example of the latter, debuting “milky buns” – donuts stuffed with ice cream – and some over-the-top flavors such including Peanut Butter S’mores and a brownie batter flavor launched as a collaboration with the Rick and Morty cartoon. Times have changed, though, and some of the more unconventional Afters flavors (Thai Tea, Frozen Hot Cocoa) have since become ubiquitous.

While the Huntington Beach-based chain shed locations several years ago, a number of Orange County shops still remain, including one in Newport Beach. If you’re up for something sweet and don’t mind the calories, check out the milky bun for yourself.