Today is National Ice Cream Day! 40+ Places for Over the Top Ice Cream Creations in NJ
Whether it’s is crazy unicorn milkshakes, sizeable sundaes, or exotic flavors – I wanted to compile a list of the craziest ice cream creations in New Jersey. Today is National Ice Cream Day, but July is also Nationial Ice Cream Month (although ice cream is great any time of year). This list is compiled in alphabetical order so be sure to scroll to the end!
Absolute Zero Ice Cream, Montclair
Absolute ZerO Ice Cream is one of New Jersey’s first establishment serving Thai-inspired ice cream rolls. They hand make our ice cream rolls, starting with fresh milk and cream to create a base. Then we proceed to mix in additional ingredients such as fresh fruit or cookies to create different flavors over their subzero ice cream pan, spread, and finally rolled into our famous ice cream rolls. Unique options include their Oo-Bae Bae made with ube and condensed milk one.
410 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ
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Alaura Kitchen, Pitman
I’m a big fan of the Uptown Pitman area, and Alaura Kitchen and Candy has made me love it even more. Located across the street from the historic Broadway Theater, this homemade ice cream and candy shop has so much charm you’ll be visiting there more than once. You can always find 16 different flavors of ice cream, and they’ll always have at least one vegan option as well. You can always find their vanilla, chocolate, and mint chocolate chip in their freezer, but you’ll also find an awesome amount of creative flavors rotating as well. They are open year-round so you’ll find lots of funky seasonal flavors throughout the year. One ice cream they make is “Irish Potato” around St. Patrick’s Day that tastes just like the candy. I know I’ll be back for that! Another popular flavor is their Cookie Butter Crunch made with speculoos cookie butter. I mean…
36 South Broadway, Pitman, NJ
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Applegate Farms, Montclair
Applegate Farms has been making homemade ice cream since 1848. If you’re looking for something extravagant – check out “The Farm” Sundae made with 16 Scoops of Ice Cream, 4 toppings, bananas, whipped cream and cherries ($40 value).
616 Grove St, Upper Montclair, Montclair, NJ
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Bent Spoon, Princeton
Inventive ice cream made from organic ingredients along with baked sweets in a compact setting…there’s a reason why this downtown Princeton ice cream shop makes “top ice cream places in the USA” lists across multi-platforms. Ice cream flavors and shakes include everything from fresh NJ corn, basil, cold brew floats, olive oil lemon, and most recently a Cicada flavor…with real cicadas.
35 Palmer Sq, Princeton, NJ
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Bischoff’s, Teaneck
A family-owned ice cream shop that’s been open for over 80 years? You got to make your way to Bischoff’s in Teaneck, for homemade ice cream that is made on-premises. They also make a lot of their own toppings Bischoff’s homemade ice cream is made right in the store’s basement. They make 40 flavors of ice cream, yogurt, ices, and sherbet, all of which are offered year-round, and will offer the occasional seasonal flavor like Egg Nog, Pumpkin Fudge, and different fruit ice cream depending on the season. Best part? You can buy your ice cream to go! Their sundaes, like their popular Brownie Sundaes, are pretty epic.
468 Cedar Ln, Teaneck, NJ
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Brownstone Pancake Factory, Englewood Cliffs and Edgewater
Did someone say monster milkshakes? The Brownstone Pancake Factory not only makes epic pancakes but they’re also known for their crazy milkshakes. They also feature an “Ultimate Insane Milkshake of the Week”.
860 River Road, Edgewater, NJ
717 E. Palisade Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
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Burger 25, Toms River
Burger 25 may have the word “burger” in the title but don’t forget to get a shake with those fries! In addition to their regular milkshakes, they are also known for their “Super Shakes” which change monthly.
199 NJ-37 East, Toms River, NJ
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Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream, Ledgewood
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. If you’re looking for something unique, you must get the SKYCRAPER, which is soft-serve ice cream piled high!
1475 US-46, Ledgewood, NJ
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Coney Waffle, Multiple Locations
Yes, they make those crazy shakes! This great ice cream establishment began in Belmar and has expanded to the rest of the Jersey Shore. In addition to shakes, you can get regular ice cream, sundaes, and their famous waffles.
803 Ocean Ave, Belmar, NJ
800 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
13 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ
24 Centennial Dr, Long Branch, NJ
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Cookman Creamery, Asbury Park
Located in downtown Asbury Park, this family-owned parlor makes artisanal ice cream in surprising flavors, plus lots of vegan options. Where else will you find flavors like “MEMORY [unto death]” (Coconut Cream based, with Lion’s Mane Mushrooms and Cold Brew Coffee), “BLUE LAVENDER” (Coconut Cream-based, with home-made blueberry pureé, lavender, lemon juice, and vanilla extract), and “CEREAL” (Dairy based, cereal soaked ice cream. A rotating variety of cereals).
711 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
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Das Creamery, Mount Olive
Pankaj and Komal Das are a brother and sister team who opened Das’ Creamery, a small-batch ice cream shop, in June 2014. They both trained in the art and science of ice cream technology at different universities (Penn State and University of Guelph in Canada). Their flavors are unique because of the amount of detail that goes into each recipe. In the summer they make ice creams using fresh produce from the area (keep an eye out for sweet corn, basil, peach, blueberry, mango, and cantaloupe ice creams!) They believe in rotating their flavors to keep things exciting. Some of their most unique flavors include Basil Jr. Mint (basil ice cream with chunks of Jr Mint candies), Ghost Chocolate (chocolate ice cream infused with smoked chilis), Dark Knight Rises (a black ice cream flavored with anise), Village Fig (vanilla ice cream caramel, and figs), Kulfi (Indian Style Ice Cream) and Lavender. Looking for something fun? Try their Pop Tart Sliders!
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Duffers, Wildwood
Duffer’s in an old-fashioned ice cream spot in Wildwood known for their housemade ice cream, sundaes & sandwiches. They also have mini-golf & an arcade! They have a lot of creative flavors to choose from, and after some careful taste testing, we settled on Sticky Bun! Selling point: it had real sticky bun IN the ice cream. Plus, a small is basically a large anywhere else. And their sundaes? Legendary!
5210 Pacific Ave, Wildwood, NJ
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Fresh Tiki Bar, Somerville
Nicknamed the best-kept secret in Somerville, Fresh Tiki Bar originally became popular due to its authentic acai bowls and coconut water. They have since expanded to homemade waffle wands and homemade ice cream. Be sure to order one of their enormous artisan sundaes and their famous ice cream sandwiches.
5c Division St, Somerville, NJ
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Gracie and the Dudes Organic Ice Cream, Sea Bright,
They are known for their chocolate ice cream. It’s super dark, it’s super rich, and people just love it. Other popular flavors include their own inventions: Cinnamon oatmeal cookie, Cappuccino Chunk, and Swiss Chocolate Orange. Of course you can’t go wrong with popular standard flavors like cake batter, cookies and cream, and chocolate chip cookie dough. Be sure to order the Beach Bucket! This monster of a sundae comes with 6 big scoops of ice cream flavors of your choice, hot fudge or caramel, whip cream, sprinkles, cherry, and your very own bucket (and shovel) to keep!
1062 Ocean Ave, Sea Bright, NJ
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Hilltop Creamery, Blackwood
Offering homemade hard ice cream and 24 flavors of soft-serve, Hilltop Creamery also serves flurries, waffle sandwiches, and specialty sundaes. Be sure to check out their “Volcano” (hollowed out hole with hot fudge and cherries
1540 N Black Horse Pike, Blackwood, NJ
Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery, Bloomfield
A NJ institution where people go to pose in the same booth featured in the last episode of The Sopranos. They opened over 75 years ago and are still serving homemade ice cream and candy. Their “holiday soda” is their largest ice cream soda served with two scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry. The Holstein’s Special is a sundae with four scoops of ice cream with two toppings.
1063 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ
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Hoffman’s, Multiple Locations
Hoffman’s is home to over 30 delicious homemade flavors. If you’re looking for something really unique, try their Octopus Sundae – 8 scoops and tons of toppings weighing 3 lbs! Plus the The whipped cream is used to create a little octopus.
800 Richmond Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
569 Church Street, Spring Lake Heights, NJ
44 Ocean Blvd North, Long Branch, NJ
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Ice Cream on 9, Howell
Since 1999 Ice Cream on 9 has been serving their customers with homemade and custom-made ice cream of all varieties. Everything is homemade right in their store to guarantee freshness and customer satisfaction. They feature 127 homemade ice cream flavors, Italian Ices, Sugar-free ice cream, novelties and custom cakes. Their full line of ice cream is 165 flavors! They truly have a flavor to match any personality! Many of their flavors were custom created by customers and have become trademark flavors for Ice Cream on 9!
2300 Route 9 South, Howell, NJ
Island Creamery, Atlantic City
Established in 2020, Island Creamery is a family-owned and operated ice cream shop. They have a fun list of ice cream and sundaes including the “dirty worm” – a sundae made with crushed Oreos and gummy works.
3901 Ventnor Ave, Atlantic City, NJ
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Jersey Freeze (Monmouth County)
Premium Soft Serve, Gourmet Hard Ice Cream, Shakes, Cakes, Boats, Cones, and more since 1952! Ice Cream Choice(s): “Churzee Freeze Boat”: 2 scoops of ice cream (chocolate lover and peanut butter pie were my choices), caramel, whipped cream, crushed Heath bars, and CHURROS
120 Manalapan Ave, Freehold, NJ
Latteria, Swedesboro
Latteria has an impressive list of creative homemade ice cream, but my eyes were drawn to their cocktail-inspired ice cream like their Bourbon Cookies & Cream and Parrot Bay (coconut rum with pineapples, a hint of orange and maraschino cherries). All ice cream is made with the “highest quality ingredients and lots of love”!
95 Woodstown Rd, Swedesboro, NJ
Luigi’s Ice Cream, Mulptiple Locations
Luigi’s has 16 flavors out at one time, which all rotate with the exception of vanilla and chocolate. The ice cream is made in house, and nothing is kept in storage to insure the ice cream he serves is fresh. Luigi’s uses all natural ingredients and lets his flavors marinate. Unique flavors at you’ll find at Luigi’s are nutella, strawberry mojito, mango pineapple mimosa, smores, lemon cake, salted caramel, and cereal milk which is made with 3 different cereals (all top secret). They also make rolled ice cream and offering their famous ice cream sandwich.
60 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ
349 Lake Avenue #110, Metuchen, NJ
427B Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ
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Magnificos, East Brunswick
In addition to their amazing ice cream, they make fun treats like ice cream sandwiches (Vanilla, Chocolate, Rainbow, Chipwhich, Mini Chocolate Chip Sliders and Oreo), Ice Cream filled Cannolis, and bars and pops like Toasted Almond Crunch Bar, Original Crunch Bar, Bom Bom Bars and *Seasonal* Pumpkin Pops.
500 NJ-18, East Brunswick, NJ
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Milk Sugar Love, Jersey City
Small shop for gourmet ice cream & baked treats made from organic & local ingredients. Ice cream served in a macaron? I’m in!
19 McWilliams Pl, Jersey City, NJ
394 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ
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Nasto’s Ice Cream Co, Newark
Since 1939! Not only is their ice cream homemade, but they also make their own Italian Ices. I got to try their lemon Italian ices, which has actual lemon peel in them. Delicious! At Nasto’s you can trust that they always use the highest quality ingredients to produce the finest product possible. Their unique flavors range from cantelope, to dulce de leche, to banana cream pie and even AVOCADO! I personally loved the Cappuccino, Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel, and their classic Vanilla. Nasto’s also specializes in world class desserts. Their dessert selection is incredible! It ranges from ice cream cake to Italian specialty desserts like Tartufo, Spumoni, Gourmet cakes, Reginetta, Sorbets,Tiramisu, Cannolis, and more.
236 Jefferson St. Newark, NJ
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Nicholas Creamery, Multiple Locations
They make all of their ice cream in small batches using all natural, seasonal ingredients. Milkshakes include their “Hudson Jitter Bug” (hudson café coffee crunch ice cream & espresso beans on top) and Sundaes include their “Go Shorty… It’s Your Birthday” (chocolate ice cream, rainbows and clouds ice cream, chocolate cookie crumbs, hot fudge, whipped cream & cherry).
84 First Ave, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
586 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ
1201 Sycamore Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ
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Northvale Classic Diner, Sparta Diner & Teaneck Classic Diner
All these diners have the same owners, so their menus are similar, but I met you didn’t know about their insane milkshakes!
247 Livingston St, Northvale, NJ
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oWowCow, Lambertville
oWowCow is a hand made ice cream shop which started in Pennsylvania in 2009. In 2014 they opened their first NJ location in Lambertville. They decided to open their location in Lambertville since they fell in love with the area, plus it was close to New Hope, PA where they make their ice cream. oWowCow is unique because they make their own ice cream base. They are licensed by the department of agriculture, so everything they make is from scratch using local ingredients. They always has 24 fresh flavors out at a time. Their staples are their three kinds of vanilla – Tahitian, Madagascar, Indonesian ,”I Hate Chocolate” and Cookies and Cream. This season they introduced a “piewich”.
37 N. Union Street, Lambertville, NJ
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Salty Paws, Stone Harbor
An ice cream shop for dogs! No…really! Kick back and watch your dog enjoy cones, waffle bowls or dishes full of dog friendly ice cream with a topping bar that is undeniably a must for the pickiest of dogs! From dehydrated chicken to sweet potato fries sprinkled on top or something absolutely delicious from our bakery section, it doesn’t really matter because Salty Paws keeps your dogs wagging for more!
276 96th St, Stone Harbor, NJ
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Skipper Dipper, Long Beach
Skipper Dipper has been LBI’s favorite since 1978, offering hard and soft ice cream, shakes, sundaes, ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, Dole Whip and dairy-free vegan choices.
9305 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, NJ
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South Street Creamery, Morristown
Open since 1999, this homemade ice cream shop and cafe makes everything from scratch! They are open year-round and make delicious ice cream with creative flavors. Their Kalhua Madness is a National Award Winning, Mocha base ice cream with chocolate-covered espresso beans with a Cappuccino. It can also be made into an ice cream sandwich!
146 South St, Morristown, NJ
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Springers, Stone Harbor
An iconic Jersey Shore institution. Where else can you get an ice cream flight? That’s the best way to trip 4 of their amazing 50+ flavors of ice cream and sorbet.
420 3rd Ave, Stone Harbor, NJ
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Summer Ville, Somerville
Located on Main St, this year-round ice cream shop opened in March of 2016. Elio DeFranco, a nearby resident of Bridgewater, creates and makes all of Summer Ville’s ice cream flavors. He is a self-taught ice cream connoisseur and makes all the ice cream by hand and in-house. In addition to making their own ice cream, Summer Ville also makes their own cones, churros, and brownies that can be combined with their ice cream for awesome sundaes and banana splits.
Thee Ice Cream Parlor, Flemington
Over 80 flavors of homemade ice cream!!! They are known for their “supreme sundaes” include their “Big Boppper: six large scoops of your favorite ice cream, one banana, topped with: hot fudge, hot caramel, marshmallow, strawberries, pineapple, cookie crunch, wet walnuts, tons of whipped cream, peanuts & cherries. Served in a 48 oz. margarita glass.
463 US-202, Flemington, NJ
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Torico’s, Jersey City
Serving happiness since 1968! Ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cake, and ice cream pies…Torico in Jersey City started as a simple delicatessen but soon became a hot spot for ice cream when one of the owners developed a craving for it. Each one of their 65+ flavors is made in small batches and homemade in their kitchen everyday. In addition to homemade classic flavors, Torico also serves Asian-inspired flavors, like green tea, litchi and ube (purple yam), along with Italian ices and sorbets.
20 Erie St, Jersey City, NJ
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Vanilla Bean Creamery, Cranford
At Cranford Vanilla Bean Creamery they take pride in their super-premium, hand-made ice cream, ice cream cakes, and frozen desserts, made fresh in the shop daily from the finest ingredients. They offer over 32 super premium hard ice cream flavors with a weekly flavor rotation. They love to experiment with different ingredients to ensure the greatest quality and taste, as well as a new variety for each visit.
22 N Ave W, Cranford, NJ
Windy Brow Farms, Fredon Twp
Taylor Ham Ice Cream. Yep. They made it! Windy Brow, named for its windy location on the brow of the ridge, was originally operated as a dairy farm dating back to the late 1800s. The present proprietors, Jim and Linda Hunt, purchased the farm in 2000, and look to their local roots in agriculture to guide them as they continue the family tradition of farming in the Garden State.
In 2013, their son Jake started The Cow’s Brow Creamery. Windy Brow Farm’s Cow Brow Creamery makes fresh, local homemade ice cream with the finest homegrown ingredients. They produce traditional ice cream with 14% butterfat as well as vegan ice cream, and dairy-free sorbets.
