A scoop of your favorite ice cream in a cone is never a bad idea. Here are some of our favorite sweet spots in NJ.
Applegate Farms
616 Grove St., Upper Montclair
If you’re craving some great ice cream with a side of history, check out Applegate Farm. Housed in the original, 1848 farmhouse, this shop has survived the Civil War, Great Depression, and two World Wars, all while growing from simple dairy barn to one of the East Coast’s largest ice cream outlets.
The Baked Bear
Asbury Park, Long Branch, New Brunswick and Westfield (coming soon); and food truck
You can customize the perfect ice cream sandwich. Step 1 is to choose your top and bottom: mix and match any cookie or brownie, which come in flavors like Nutella chocolate chunk, snickerdoodle, funfetti and cookie monster. Step 2 is choosing your ice cream flavor(s): caramel pretzel fudge, blackberry crumble, toasted s’mores and butter brittle cake are some of the more non-traditional options. Step 3 includes an array of toppings, ranging from hot caramel, almonds, Heath Bar bits and Oreo crumbs. Step 4, if so you choose, is to warm up the sandwich in the press.
the bent spoon
35 Palmer Sq., Princeton
There are many offbeat seasonal flavors that make this place a must-visit. Even better, all those interesting additions are often sourced from local farmers. Come by for anise hyssop, peanut butter vanilla beach, fresh ricotta and NJ peach.
Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream
1475 Rte. 46, Ledgewood
A neighborhood staple for 50 years, Cliff’s has 11 soft and more than 60 hard hand-dipped flavors. What do you think of Holy Cannoli, Morris County Mud, Huckleberry Buckle and Smurf flavors?
Coney Waffle
Belmar, Pier Village in Long Branch, Red Bank, Toms River
If you want creamy ice cream smothered inside a fresh, hot waffle, this is the place to be. They make an assortment of decadent cakes, too.
Custard Hut
109 Rte. 50, Ocean View
710 New Rd. (Rte. 9), Somers Point
Custard Hut has been serving up soft ice cream, homemade hand-dipped flavors, chillies, banana splits, gelati, water ice and candy sundaes since 1977. The Plum family opens up the shop for its Graduation Art Show, Mutts at the Hut event to encourage pet adoptions, Storytime at the Hut to promote reading to local children, and fundraisers for the Somers Point Education Foundation.
Denville Dairy
34A Broadway, Denville
Since opening over 50 years ago, this family-owned dairy has been selling their homemade ice cream, cakes and pies, plus a wide selection of pints and quarts. They are known for their chocolate chip and M&M ice cream sandwiches, party dixie cups, Italian ice cups, made with regular, sugar-free, fat-free or vegan ice cream.
CARPIGIANI PRESS OFFICE / Francia Magsaysay
Francy’s Artisal Ice Cream
Bergenfield
Francia Magsaysay entered her flavor “Passionfruit, Yuzu and White Chocolate” into the Gelato Festival World Masters tournament, and the judges voted her the best based on the flavor, structure, creativity and presentation, passing her through to the North American Semifinals. Francia pays homage to her roots with her Filipino desserts. Francy’s Artisanal Ice Cream has classic flavors, but also future-forward options like black sesame, gianduja crunch (hazelnut), guyabano (soursop, from the Caribbean), kape’t tinapay (coffee and bread, from the Philippines), melon, ricotta fig and walnut, Christmas blend, and fruit salad.
Four Boys Ice Cream
Englishtown, Farmingdale, Hightstown, Jamesburg, Jackson, Milltown
It all started with a truck. In the winter of 1999, Dan, the eldest son of Peter and JoAnn Becker, talked his parents into buying an ice cream truck as a prospective business. They named it for their four boys, and in 2004 became established as a storefront. People flock to their Central Jersey locations for their hard ice cream, soft ice cream, Italian ices, sherbet, sundaes, frozen yogurt, slushies, shakes, floats and Dole Whip soft serve. The vanilla/chocolate soft twist with sprinkles, fudge, whipped cream and a cherry is a fan favorite.
Gelotti Homemade Ice Cream & Italian Ice
2 Union Ave., Paterson
Gelato, ice cream’s Italian cousin, is better for all the right reasons: less fat and a richer, creamier taste. Try Banana Cookies & Cream, cherry pistachio, chocolate marshmallow or red velvet. Italian ice, gelato and yogurt are also on the menu. Or, try a Lil Cone, chocolate-dipped frozen banana or ice cream cupcake. You can also get jars of sprinkles and other toppings to go!
Guerriero Gelato & Cakes
West Orange, Morristown, Montclair, Caldwell, Teaneck
There is hard ice cream, gelato, Italian ice and cakes to choose from, ranging from banana Oreo, banana pudding and peppermint bark to blueberry basil, cannoli cream, blood orange and root beer. They also make an award-winning blueberry basil.
Halo Pub
9 Hulfish St., Princeton
This ice cream shop meets coffee shop is known for its super-premium artisan ice cream and gourmet coffees from Philly’s La Colombe. The flavors are created at its micro-dairy parent, Halo Farm, in nearby Lawrenceville. Halo Fete is in the adjoining space and makes French patisserie inspired ice cream cakes and individual items on site.
Hoffman’s Ice Cream
804 Richmond Ave., Pt. Pleasant Beach
569 Church St., Spring Lake Heights
Though it began as one of the Garden State’s first Carvel shops way back in 1955, Hoffman’s in Point Pleasant Beach has grown into a dessert destination in its own right, now offering all house-made ice creams and cakes. Almond turtle, caramel nut cluster, blueberry pie, Jersey Monkey and key lime pie are some favorites. If you like to drink your ice cream, opt for a root beer float or a cold brew shake.
Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery
1063 Broad St., Bloomfield
You may recognize this old-fashioned ice cream parlor from “The Sopranos” series finale, but our readers know it as one of the best desserts stops around. Sticking close to its 1939 soda shop roots, the Holsten’s menu—which also includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner options—still features black and white sodas, egg creams, and sundaes, all of which are made with homemade ice cream. Don’t forget to ask about their homemade chocolates, candies and fudge!
Iceberg Ice Cream
403 Grand Central Ave., Lavalette
No trip to the Jersey Shore is complete without cold ice cream on a hot summer day. Iceberg serves up the coolest hard serve, soft serve, Italian ice and sherbet. Try a chocolate-dipped cone, specialty sundae or novelty banana split.
Jake’s Cree-Mee Freeze
337 Rte. 33, Manalapan
Drive up along Route 33 and visit this stand-alone ice cream shop for various ice cream and frozen yogurt flavors. The creamsicle twist soft serve is worth the trip!
Jersey Freeze
120 Manalapan Ave., Freehold
Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Rd., Holmdel
When a location is a favorite of Bruce Springsteen’s, you know it must be good! Ice cream cones, cakes, cupcakes and sundaes are all the rage. Ice cream choices are soft serve, hard ice cream, fat free, sugar free, and non-dairy. The Freehold location serves lunch and dinner as well. As of late, they are gaining notoriety for their Shakes of the Month and their ice cream cakes.
Julietta
423 Washington St., Hoboken
You’ll feel like you’re in Italy snacking on gelato. Flavors include pistachio, vegan blueberry, vegan passionfruit, mint chocolate chip and hazelnut almond.
Kilwins
121 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
There’s an entire Mint Cookies & Cream Collection as part of the chocolate, ice cream and fudge shop. The original recipe ice cream dates back to 1947, and includes flavors like cappuccino chocolate chip, toasted coconut, New Orleans praline pecan, strawberry chunk and blueberry waffle cone.
Magic Fountain
907 Broadway, Bayonne
Arguably Bayonne’s pride and joy, Magic Fountain’s homemade ice cream is indeed magical. From open to close during the season, there is always a line of patrons waiting to get their frozen fix. Enjoy a classic soft serve with sprinkles or be swept away with an out-of-this-world “hurricane”—ice cream mixed with whatever your hungry heart desires.
Magnifico’s Ice Cream
500 Rte. 18, East Brunswick
Driving along Route 18 doesn’t have many upsides – except for pulling out of traffic and into the Magnifico’s parking lot for a selection of ice cream, cakes, novelties, pup cakes, Oreo sandwiches and more. Gary Magnifico started working for his parents’ Carvel franchise in Manville in the 1970s, then opened a soft ice cream stand at the U.S. 1 Flea Market in New Brunswick. In the winter of 1980 while driving down the northbound side of Route 18, he noticed an abandoned freestanding Carvel for sale, purchased the building and property, and opened the doors to Magnifico’s in April 1981.
Moo Jersey
Hoboken
This shop is based on ice cream, community and soul – according to their motto, here “ice cream is a mood.” Jeff, the head chef, grew up near a dairy barn outside Boston and has been in love with ice cream ever since. They churn the ice cream slowly in small batches using high-quality local ingredients. Each pint is 14 percent butterfat and less than 30 percent air, making it thick and flavorful like gelato but milky like typical ice cream. Flavors include cookies & cream, cold brew coffee and black raspberry.
Nastos Ice Cream
236-40 Jefferson St., Newark
Located in the Ironbound section of Newark for three generations, the shop has been serving fresh fruit sorbets, reginetta, tartufo, spumoni, tortoni, gourmet cakes and ice cream cakes – but it’s most known for its tiramisu and the cherry vanilla ice cream mentioned in “The Sopranos.”
The Original Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard
Multiple locations
In 1919, the Kohr brothers set up a booth on the Coney Island boardwalk, hoping to sell some of their homemade custard. Little did they know they’d sell a whopping 18,000 cones in just a single weekend! Over 100 years later, the original recipe is still a favorite, and can now on Wild Wheels Pier in Wildwood, as well as various other locations throughout the Jersey Shore.
The Original Rich’s Ice Cream
344 Rte. 9, Lanoka Harbor
1801 Rte. 37, Toms River
Family-owned since 1955, this ice cream shop features hot cocoa Oreo, cappuccino crunch and toasted coconut in addition to the traditional chocolate, strawberry and vanilla chip.
Owowcow Creamery
237 N. Union St., Lambertville
The new flavors include strawberry rhubarb crumble, chocolate apricot almond and salted strawberry stracciatella – and all flavors here are made by hand.
Peewee’s Ice Cream
57 N. Main St., Medford
This shop prides itself on small batch ice cream made with local NJ ingredients – like strawberry and even corn! There are dairy and vegan flavors available. The blueberry lemon milkshake is vegan and gluten-free.
Polar Cub
380 Rte. 22 W., Whitehouse Station
From ice cream to chocolate dipped bananas and “flurries,” this local mom-and-pop shop can do it all. Their famous soft serve flavors are peanut butter, orange, pistachio and peach.
Scoop DeVille
101 Haddon Ave., Haddon Twp.
This is historic ice cream ground – Scoop replaces Rita’s, which was preceded by a Carvel. It’s known for signature soft serve ice cream blends blends, stacker sundaes and menu shakes.
Scoops the Ice Creamery
2014 Rte. 22 E., Scotch Plains
Scoops The Ice Creamery has been an ice cream destination for families for about 25 years. All hard ice cream flavors are made in-store and there are over 50 flavors to choose from at a time plus soft serve, fat free ice cream and Italian Ice. Scoops is open daily year-round and there are tables inside and outdoors. New flavors for 2025 include tangerine hard ice cream, fat-free chocolate yogurt and fat-free Dole Whip Berry.
South Street Creamery (& Red Sea Café)
146 South St., Morristown
Morristown’s oldest ice cream shop recently opened an East African café. There’s gelato, sherbet, sorbet, non-fat yogurt and sugar free ice creams. Also on offer are gourmet coffees, chilled and warm drinks, fresh baked goods and a wide variety of fudge. Customers can also request custom ice cream cakes or host make-your-own sundae parties.
Sparta’s Shack
640 Lafayette Rd., Sparta
Cookies & cream in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with rainbow sprinkles is top of the list here. Ask about their tornadoes, Spartan waffles, Krispie Pebbles milkshake and cookie dough boat. You may be there for a while choosing from their toppings bar. They also have sugar-free, reduced fat and vegan options. And every Tuesday, anyone who has special needs or who has a physical or mental disease will get 30% the entire family’s order.
Thomas Sweet
183 Nassau St., Princeton
55 Easton Ave., New Brunswick
1325 US-206, Montgomery
Since opening its doors in 1979, this Victorian-style ice cream shop has been a favorite stop for kids and adults alike. Serving up house-made ice creams, frozen yogurt, chocolates and specialty coffees (not to mention the treats in their chocolate store!). Their Blend-Ins are a local favorite.
Torico Ice Cream
20 Erle St., Jersey City
Torico is known for its homemade ice cream that uses sourced ingredients; the peanut butter, pineapple and coconut come from “the real thing.” The options change seasonally year-round. There are also sorbets, sherbets and Italian ices available.
The Towne Scoop
542B Bloomfield Ave., Verona
The Towne Scoop’s vintage look and bow tie-outfitted scoopers may be its trademark, but this store’s true claim to fame is its delicious ice cream. There are over 20 flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and Italian ice, plus 18 toppings to mix and match.
Van Dyk’s Homemade Ice Cream
145 Ackerman Ave., Ridgewood
With a parking lot as packed as its customers’ bellies, this hole-in-the-wall creamery leaves no stone unturned in the ice cream business: portions are huge, flavors and toppings are vast, and there are smiles (sometimes dripping) all around. Aside from serving up sizable scoops and colossal cones, Van Dyk’s is unique for generous mix-ins: peppermint pieces, whole cherries, chocolate chunks—the list goes on!
Vanilla Bean Creamery
22 North Avenue W., Cranford
Run by Ice Cream University (yes, it’s real) grad Ralph Kopelman, this shop is scooping 32 ice cream flavors—plus a special flavor of the week, along with Italian ice and sorbet—all of which are handmade on the premises daily.
Yellow Brick Road Ice Cream Shop
754 Mantoloking Rd., Brick
1857 Hooper Ave., Toms River
Choose from over 40 flavor choices of both soft and hard ice creams, hard yogurts and Italian Ices. Both locations offer soft serve ice cream flavors in traditional vanilla, chocolate or twist, as well as two flavors that change weekly and will be different at each location. The facility is not peanut free, but vegan, gluten free and low sugar options are available.
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