Just in time for summer’s swelter, the ice cream cookie sandwich store Cream has opened at Irvine Spectrum.

To celebrate, the store is giving out free ice cream sandwiches from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday (June 19) . It expects to hand out more than 3,000 treats.

The store specializes in sandwiches made with fresh cookies, ice cream and toppings. It was recently named by BuzzFeed as one of the “27 ice cream shops you need to visit before you die.”

Cream, by the way, stands for “cookies rule everything around me.” Some of their signature flavors include: cinnamon chill, chocoholic, royal caramel swirl and cup of joe.

The San Francisco-based chain was founded in 2010. It now has 16 locations in California and Nevada.

OC Ice Cream, led by Kyle Olson, is leading the franchising charge in Orange County. He has another location in Aliso Viejo.

The Spectrum location will be sandwiched between the Hurley/Nike store and American Apparel, across from the theater complex.

Cream also recently opened a Los Angeles location, two San Diego locations and has stores coming to Northridge and Ontario soon. It also has a three-store deal for the San Fernando Valley.

Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans