Pennsylvania is a cool place when it comes to ice cream.
From dairy farms and corner shops to hip urban stores, there is something for everyone. When summer comes, we’ll share some ice cream parlor suggestions in Keystone State.
Do not confuse this list with a ranking. In fact, we’re happy to receive suggestions because we know we haven’t made a dent in any of the cool places in the state.
Here goes:
Bassett Ice Cream in Reading Terminal Market (file photo) SJNSJN
Bassett’s ice cream
Known as America’s oldest ice cream brand, Bassetts is a Philadelphia tradition that dates back to 1861 when founder Lewis Dubois made Bassett ice cream with a mule kneader. Today the full-service ice cream company sells nationally and internationally to gastronomy and retail. It also operates a booth at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, where it first opened a store in 1892. There, visitors can buy cones, cups, pints and quarts in flavors from vanilla to coffee fudge truffles, butterscotch vanilla and salted caramel pretzels.
Reading Terminal Market, 45 N. 12th St, Philadelphia
Betsy’s ice cream
This super premium ice cream, sorbets, novelty and Italian ice cream maker in the greater Pittsburgh area happens to run a store in Mount Lebanon. The products are made in-house with milk from farms in western Pennsylvania so you know it’s fresh.
With a range of flavors including Rum-Coconut, Goober Pie, Pittsburgh Pride, Phat Elvis, Cannoli, and Monongahela Mud, it’s hard to pick just one. Regulars return for the rich and creamy ice cream, which is also ordered in sundaes, milkshakes, and floats (like Jamaican Me Crazy and Coconut Mojito). Betsy’s menu is tailored to suit all tastes with dairy-free, sugar-free and vegan flavors.
664 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon
Boehringer’s Ice Cream has been a staple in Adamstown, Lancaster County for more than 80 years. | Ron Southwick, PennLive
Boehringer’s Drive-In
Visitors pack this classic drive-through spot in Adamstown for homemade ice cream. This year the roadside ice cream stand is celebrating its 85th season with cool scoops. Sit outside and eat at the picnic tables near a creek and watch the ducks. Choose from flavors such as strawberry, butter pecan, lemon, chocolate chips or almond amaretto. They also sell a full menu of burgers, hot dogs, hamburger BBQ and fries.
Paying just got easier this year with the addition of credit cards and Apple Pay. For decades it was just cash.
3160 N. Reading Road, Adamstown, Lancaster County
Crystal spring farm
Crystal Springs Farm is a cow to cone dairy farm. The in-house ice cream parlor, Tulip’s Creamery, is named after the tulip cow, a logo they have been using since it opened in 1975. The Lehigh Valley Creamery uses milk and cream from Crystal Spring Farm for their all-natural products.
Tulip’s serves hand-dipped ice cream and soft serve. Everything from whipped cream to sundae toppings is made from scratch. Come hungry. Along with ice cream, they serve foods like soups, stews, sloppy joes (made from natural beef on the farm), hot dogs, and salads. Also check out the homemade cakes and pies.
3550 Bellview Road, Schnecksville
Fox Meadows Creamery near Ephrata in Lancaster County was named Best Ice Cream Parlor in Pennsylvania by The Daily Meal. Sue Glider | sgleiter@pennlive.com
Fox Meadows Creamery
If you’re traveling to north Lancaster County, check out Fox Meadows Creamery & Country Market.
The family-run ice cream parlor and market at 2475 W. Main St. in Clay Township outside Ephrata was named Pennsylvania’s Best Ice Cream Parlor by The Daily Meal last year. Enjoy flavors like Nutella, honey lavender, birthday cake, and salted caramel pretzel individually or in a baked fox – a signature treat that’s a brownie or chocolate chip cookie filled with a scoop of ice cream.
Fox Meadows crowns a few balls with signature chocolate slices from Wilbur Chocolate in nearby Lititz. The Fox family has owned the farm since the 1950s and has been recognized for their conservation efforts such as creek bank fences, bank buffers, and no-tillage.
2475 W Main St., Ephrata
The Franklin Fountain
It all started in 2006 with a batch of Philadelphia vanilla bean ice cream. Fifteen years later, Franklin Fountain is revered for homemade ice cream and an array of sundaes, drinks, and splits served in an old-fashioned soda fountain atmosphere. (Though it now operates with a walk-in window.) Franklin’s palette of flavors includes peanut butter, chocolate chips, mint chocolate chips, hydrox biscuit, rocky road, caramelized banana, peach, green tea, and rum raisins, among others. Homemade toppings range from pieces of brownie to marshmallow sauce and hot fudge. Ice cream sundaes include Mt. Vesuvius with vanilla or chocolate ice cream, brownie canapes, hot fudge, malt powder, and whipped cream. Prices are high at $ 6.25 for a small waffle and $ 14.50 for a large cone, but guests say the portions are large. It’s dog friendly too. They now sell a range of frozen dog ice cream.
116 Market Street, Philadelphia
The inside scoop
“Ice cream prepared the old-fashioned way” is the motto in this Coopersburg ice cream parlor, known as the most popular ice cream parlor in the Lehigh Valley. The ice cream parlor built in a former butcher’s shop from the 1950s makes its own ice cream in traditional and less traditional flavors. So if you’re feeling adventurous, look for ice cream with beer and peanuts, maple bacon, or coffee. They take the ingredients seriously and use Indonesian vanilla and Belgian chocolate inclusions. Be sure to order coffee made in an imported espresso machine from Holland. The shop also has a 14-blade volcanic ice cream sundae, as well as a working Seeburg 200 jukebox from 1955 and an outdoor cinema screen.
301 N. Third St., Coopersburg
Kerber’s original ice cream
What was once a small dairy shop in North Huntingdon has grown into a full-fledged dairy. Visitors stop for homemade ice cream, local milk, hot items, delicatessen items, and more. The premium ice cream with 14% butterfat is sold in portion form and in sundaes, splits and milkshakes. Customers can also purchase it in 56-ounce pre-packs and bulk containers to take away. Kerber’s sells a range of flavors, from Dreamsicle and Red Raspberry to Cookie Dough, Mint Chip, Snickerdoodle, Peanut Heaven, and Dinosaur Crunch. Stay for a round of mini golf or go tubing year-round.
1856 Guffey RoadNorth Huntingdon
Klavon’s ice cream
Originally opened as a neighborhood pharmacy and ice cream parlor by James and Mary Klavon in 1923, Klavon’s is a Pittsburgh tradition. Unfortunately, it closed in 1979 and stood empty for two decades until it was revived in 1999 by Klavon’s eight grandchildren and a cousin.
Step inside the door and you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time with the original marble countertops, stainless steel fountain fittings, stools in the shape of Coca-Cola bottle caps and a wooden phone booth. It’s the kind of place where you can order a cola float or cherry lemonade, as well as sundaes like an amaretto truffle, an upside down pineapple cake, or a heather nut.
2801 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh
Lapptal farm
The Amish owned farm is a destination for small amounts of ice cream, homemade waffles, and hormone-free milk and butter. It serves some of the best ice creams in Lancaster County. While enjoying nearly 16 homemade ice cream flavors, watch the Jersey cows milked, pet the calves, and visit peacocks and sheep. The farm is located in a picturesque rural setting. However, don’t expect a menu with crazy flavors. Lapp relies on tried and tested favorites such as coffee, maple walnut, mint chocolate chip, chocolate marshmallow and cookies n ‘cream.
244 Mentzer Road, New Holland
The Penn State Creamery on August 15, 2019. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
Penn State Berkey Creamery
Fans who travel to Happy Valley for the Penn State football game know where to find a cool treat. The Penn State Berkey Creamery on campus is as traditional as soccer and the Nittany Lion. Memories are awakened here and balls of cookie dough, bittersweet mint and Kenney Beany fill cones and bowls. After only working with prepackaged items during the pandemic, Creamery reintroduced hand-dipped ice cream in March.
Ice cream is made on the premises and made with milk from cows at the university’s Dairy Production Research Center. It also produces cheese, milk, yogurt, and sour cream, and sells a variety of other products such as juices, sodas, and iced teas.
Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building, 119, University Park
Sweet Willows Creamery
York County’s Sweet Willows Creamery has something for everyone, from butter pecans and black raspberry to less traditional options like black liquorice, vanilla peanut butter cups, fairy dust cotton candy, and Indonesian Sumatra. Founder Brent Lebouitz discovered his passion for ice cream while taking courses in food science and ice cream at Penn State University. Lebouitz produces sugar-free varieties together with yogurt, sorbet and vegan ice cream in various flavors from high-quality ingredients. Also keep an eye out for the Sweet Willows Creamery food truck for catering and special events.
2812 E. Prospect Road, York
Uncle Mike’s homemade ice cream
Located in a small retail center in Warminster, Bucks County, Uncle Mike’s looks straightforward. But this place, named the Best Ice Cream Parlor in Pennsylvania by USA Today in 2019, has an extensive menu of top-notch homemade ice creams along with sundaes, milkshakes, floats, ice cream cakes and biscuit ice cream sandwiches. Customers give him good marks for the friendly, efficient service. Look for special hand-dipped flavors like Lemon Cookies and Cream, Reese’s Delight, Tom’s Peanut Butter Brownie Blitz, and Really Raspberry Chocolate Chip.
535 York Road, Warminster
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