We get a bit caught off guard when it hots up here in Manchester, and as much as we love it, sometimes we need an instant cooler. That’s where Doodles comes in.
Doodles is serving up a highly visual take on soft serve, offering deep-filled cups heavily coated in biscuit crumbs, popcorn, and piped sauces. The dessert stand, operating out of a semi-outdoor kiosk, features a concise menu of elaborately loaded ice cream options designed to be eaten with small wooden spoons.
Coated and filled soft serve
Workers at the dessert stand dispense classic soft serve into pink-lettered cups before entirely encrusting the outside with various toppings. The preparation process involves physically packing the garnishes onto the ice cream to create a thick outer shell.
For the Biscoff option, staff coat the soft serve in biscuit crumbs, press a hole into the top of the ice cream, and use a piping bag to inject sauce directly into the core before sealing it with more crumbs.
Another variation shows the ice cream completely covered in white shavings and topped with a clear syrup. The Toffee Popcorn cup is pressed with whole pieces of popcorn and heavily drizzled with thick toffee sauce from a squeeze bottle. This creates a dense, sticky texture that stretches in long pulls as customers dig into the dessert.
The Doodles menu
A printed menu board displayed at the stall outlines the five main soft serve options available to customers. The core offerings, priced at £6 each, include the Biscoff, Toffee Popcorn, and a Pistachio & Raspberry cup that features dried raspberries and pistachio sauce.
Slightly elevated options are available for £6.50. These include a Matcha soft serve topped with matcha powder and condensed milk, alongside a Lemon Tart version made with biscuit crumbs, lemon curd, and a torched meringue topping.
Customers can eat the elaborately constructed desserts at wooden tables in an outdoor courtyard area, which is decorated with string lights and floral vines, perfect for a summer’s evening, or escaping the heat on a sweltering day.
The shop’s staff serve the items from a compact counter space featuring a pink neon sign and matching pink aprons, so you definitely won’t miss it when you’re on the hunt for the most unique soft serve in the city.
📍 You can find Doodles at Mala Secret Garden, 8 Dale St, Manchester M1 1JA.
