Ice Cream Quest Spotlight: Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream

August 27, 2016 newjerseyisntboring

I have enjoyed my ice cream quest thus far, and have been blown away with all the fantastic ice cream places I’ve been visiting across New Jersey. When I first pitched this quest, Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream in Ledgewood kept being recommended. When I was in the area, I knew I had to stop by!

Located on Route 46, this ice cream shop is conveniently located especially if you’re traveling along Route 80 (like I was). You can’t miss this vintage ice cream stop, especially since there will be plenty of cars parked there and a line out the door. Good thing they’re open year round!

Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream has been around for over 40 years, and if you stop there you’ll know why. Cliff’s started in 1975 by Cliff Freund, an ice cream salesman and local Roxbury teacher. Since he was familiar with the ice cream business, developed his own homemade ice cream with original flavors that he knew customers would love.

The only hard thing about being at Cliff’s is making a decision! With over 60 unique hard ice cream flavors, and 11 soft ice cream flavors you will be staring at this board for a while. Of course you can never go wrong with classic Vanilla or Chocolate Chip Mint, which are their most popular flavors.

…and you’ll also ask for lots of samples.

Cliff’s has won many ice cream awards, including first place for Vanilla and Strawberry flavors in a national ice cream retailers contest, second place for Sticky Bun ice cream in 2004, and both first and second place in 2005 for Desert Silk and Graham Central Station. In 2006, they won second and third place for their Peach Melba and Holy Cannoli flavors. Last year they won Cliff’s won Best New Flavor for Lemon Raspberry Shandy Ice Cream at the 2015 National Ice Cream Retailers Association Annual.

It should also be noted that Cliff’s is home to the skyscraper, which is soft serve ice cream piled high! I was tempted…

swirl-ice-cream — Photo Courtesy of Cliff’s Website

While I was there I tried Chocolate Cupcake, Mint Chocolate Chip, Lemon Raspberry Shandy, Betwixt, Butter Beer, Crooked Cookie, Cucumber Lime Sorbet, and Kracked Korn. I could have kept going, but I was already feeling pretty greedy.

Eventually I decided on Kracked Korn, but it took me FOREVER to decide.

Cliff’s has plenty of picnic tables to sit at, making it a fantastic rest stop as well. We even saw a group of bikers with long beards enjoying their ice cream. It was awesome.

Considering Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream is open year round, and they offer seasonal flavors, AND they create new flavors every year…there is no doubt that I will be visiting again. Their quality and creative ice cream really stand out, and should be on any must list for ice cream lovers in New Jersey.

For additional information on my Ice Cream Quest in New Jersey, Click HERE