July is National Ice Cream Month, and though we certainly don’t need any special incentives to enjoy ice cream, mid-summer is the perfect time to indulge in an extra scoop or two. With the state’s numerous dairy farms, creative culinary entrepreneurs, and the famous ice cream program at Penn State, Pennsylvania is blessed with incredible ice cream in pretty much every city and town.
Whether you prefer to cool off with an over-the-top sundae, an extra-thick milkshake or a dairy-free ice cream sandwich, there are so many PA-proud ways to celebrate National Ice Cream Month! Here are five that we suggest:
Explore the PA Ice Cream Trail
The PA Ice Cream Trail is operating a little differently this year; usually, visits to different creameries across the Commonwealth would earn you stamps on a special passport, which could be redeemed for prizes. The passport program is on pause due to COVID-19, but the many ice cream shops on the regional trails are still open for business (just don’t forget your mask!). The trails are separated by region, so find the area closest to you — West, South Central and East —and take a country drive out to a local creamery for some of the freshest scoops around. Before embarking on your ice cream adventure, be sure to check the websites and social channels of the creameries you’re interested in to see if there any updates on hours, or special instructions for curbside pick-up or delivery.
Order Online from Berkey Creamery
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Penn State’s Berkey Creamery has been renowned for its ice cream for over 150 years. This Central PA institution supports the teaching, research and outreach programs of Penn State’s Department of Food Science, provides quality dairy products to students in on-campus housing, and is an economically viable retail outlet for dairy products. The “cow to cone” scoops start with the milk from the university’s herd of 200 Holsteins. The milk is transformed into perfect ice cream which is served from the bustling storefront.
The creamery is a popular stop for tourists, but if a trip to State College isn’t in your near future, don’t worry! Berkey Creamery offers online shipping, so you can enjoy its products from home! Customize your ice cream pack, or choose from Berkey’s curated selections, like the “Greatest Hits” pack, with a half-gallon of the shop’s bestsellers: peach, cookies-n-cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, bittersweet mint and death by chocolate.
Enjoy a Joy Cone
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Did you know that Joy Cone Company, the largest ice cream cone company in the world, is headquartered right here in Pennsylvania? This independent, 100% employee-owned company, which makes over 1.5 billion cones each year (!), is located in Hermitage, PA, about halfway between Pittsburgh and Erie on the state’s Western border. The company was started in 1918 by Lebanese immigrant Albert George and a few of his family members. For the last century, Joy has been making quality cones with the family recipe. Joy even uses a special kind of oven that’s built in its own plants to bake its cones. Joy’s product line goes beyond classic cones and includes ice cream innovations, like colorful cones, mini cones, gluten-free cones, chocolate waffle cones, waffle bowls and more!
Make This Crazy-Good Ice Cream Sando
We took two iconic PA foods — Turkey Hill Ice Cream and Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes — and put them together to make a wild ice cream sandwich that will be the star of your next summer barbecue! Check out the recipe here.
Support an Independent Ice Cream Shop
Ice Cream Sandwiches at Weckerly’s Ice Cream in Philadelphia
Pretty much every sector of the food and hospitality business is suffering during COVID-19, and ice cream shops are no different. This summer might be their best shot at regaining some lost sales opportunities from the shut down in the spring, so it’s important that we support them! Pay no mind to the ice cream truck circling your neighborhood and take your dollars to your community’s local scoop shop. Many shops are doing safe, socially distanced curbside pick-up or ordering through walk-up or drive-through windows, and some are doing delivery as well! No matter where you live in PA, we can almost guarantee there is an independently-owned ice cream shop nearby; here are a few of our favs from across the state:
NEPA
- Antol’s Drive-In; 11119 PA-29, Montrose; (570) 278-3912
- Chantilly Goods & Ice Cream: 200 Bridge St., Weissport; (610) 379-4767
- Gabel’s Ice Cream & Fast Food; 2894 PA-611, Tannersville; (570) 629-0370
- Jericho Dairy Bar: 18 Como Rd., Lake Como; (570) 798-2955
- Jimmy’s Ice Cream: 1946 W. Main St., Stroudsburg; (570) 476-8860
- Main Ave Ice Cream; 1706 N Main Ave, Scranton; (570) 963-1810
- Twist N’ Shake: 117 Main St., Forest City; (570) 785-4000
- Wood’s Ice Cream: 501 Main St, White Haven; no phone
Greater Philadelphia Area
- Banana Mousse: 5602 Spruce St., Philadelphia; (610) 400-9808
- D’Emilio’s Old World Ice Treats: 1928 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia; (215) 514-3930
- Foxy Loxy; 5 Cemetery Lane, Unionville; (610) 347-1129
- Gemelli Gelato: 12 Market St., West Chester; (484) 557-8482
- La Michoacana Homemade Ice Cream: 231 State St., Kennett Square; (610) 444-2996
- Parlour Ice Cream: 18 W. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore; (610) 649-5100
- Scoops N’ Smiles: 327 E. King St. Malvern; (484) 329-6119; 6 E. Gay St. West Chester; (484) 266-0176
- Somerset Splits; 2600 E. Somerset St., Philadelphia; no phone
- Tubby Robot Ice Cream Factory: 4369 Main St., Philadelphia; (267) 423-4376
- Weckerly’s Ice Cream; 19 W. Girard Ave., Philadelphia; (215) 423-2000
- Zsa’s Ice Cream: 6616 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia; no phone
Lehigh Valley
- Drizzle Ice Cream: 47 W. Penn Ave., Alburtis; (610) 340-0093
- Happy Holstein Ice Cream: 410 Klein Rd., Easton; (610) 253-8942
- Hotel B. Ice Cream Parlor: 462 Main St., Bethlehem; (610) 625-5355
- Ice Cream World: 3512 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown; (610) 439-8591
- Sweet Nanny’s Ice Cream: 101 S. Broadway, Wind Gap;
- The Canalside Cup: 1610 S. Delaware Dr., Easton; (610) 253-1234
- Trolley Shop: 257 E. Central Ave., Bangor; (610) 599-1938
South Central PA
- Good Life Ice Cream & Treats: 2088 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster; (717) 735-1999
- Lulu’s Finest Ice Cream: 11 York St., Gettysburg; no phone
- Mr. G’s Ice Cream: 404 Baltimore St., Gettysburg; (717) 334-7600
- Scoops Ice Cream & Grille: 312 Primrose Ln., Mountville; (717) 285-2055
- Sons Ice Cream & Italian Ice: 1991 Miller Rd., East Petersburg; (717) 569-0009
- Splits and Giggles: 500 W. Lemon St., Lancaster; (717) 399.3332
- Sunset Ice Cream Parlor; 33 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg; (717) 337-3125
- Sweet Ride Ice Cream: 542 Penn Ave., West Reading; (484) 987-7338
- The Village Coffee & Cream: 16 N. Main St., Shrewsbury; (717) 235-8210
- Urban Churn: 1004 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg; (717) 884-9396
North Central PA
- The Dairy Dip; 1603 Allegheny St., Hollidaysburg;
- Faddie’s Ice Cream & Pizza: 348 Broad St., Montoursville; (570) 692-1522
- Frosty Cow Soft Serve: 3424 6th Ave., Altoona; (814) 201-2229
- Meyer Dairy Store: 2390 S. Atherton St., State College; (814) 237-1849
- Sunset Ice Cream Parlor: 2062 Lycoming Creek Rd., Williamsport; no phone
- Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Shop: 155 Blackberry Rd, Clarence;
- Sweet Scoops Gelato: 237 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall; (814) 364-1141
- Tic Toc Ice Cream Parlor: 130 W. Main St., Westfield; no phone
- Twisted Sisters Soft Serve: 14 W. 4th St., Emporium,; (814) 486-0402
Western PA
- Barry’s Ice Cream: 105 W. Line Ave., Ellwood City; (724) 758-1111
- Dave & Andy’s Homemade Ice Cream; 207 Atwood St., Pittsburgh; (412) 681-9906
- Fat Lenny’s: 443 W. 8th St., Erie; (814_ 969-9166
- The Freezerie: 4393 W Ridge Rd., #1460, Erie; (814) 882-0782
- IceBox Creamery: 519 Perry Way, Zelienople; (724) 776-3300
- Ice Cream Therapy: 400 Merchant St., Ambridge; no phone
- Klavon’s Ice Cream Shop; 2801 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh; (412) 434-0451
- Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream: 232 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh; (412) 404-8853
- Mr. Shiver’s Custard Treats: 11220 Old Rte 19 N, Waterford; (814) 796-4980
- Sweet Caroline’s: 507 Lawrence Ave., Ellwood City; (724) 824-3623
- Windmill Ice Cream: 2142 Brodhead Rd, Aliquippa; (724) 375-5350
- Witch Flavor: 588 3rd St., Beaver; (724) 775-2663
- Young’s Custard Stand: Hartzell School Rd., Zelienople; (724) 452-5444
How do you plan to celebrate National Ice Cream Month? What are your favorite ice cream shops, creameries and artisans in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments here or on the PA Eats Facebook page!
- Feature photo: Parlour Ice Cream
- PA Ice Cream Trail photo: Ed Williams
- Ice Cream Sandwich Photo: Weckerly's Ice Cream
