Ice cream from the Berkey Creamery at Penn State University. (Shutterstock)
Our newsletter readers sound off on their favorite made-in-Pa. ice cream.
July is National Ice Cream Month, something that is definitely worth celebrating in Pennsylvania.
With the second largest number of dairy farms in the U.S., the Pennsylvania dairy industry provides more than 47,000 jobs and supports the commonwealth’s economy to the tune of $11.8 billion annually. The production of ice cream is a big driver behind those numbers.
We’ve also got Penn State’s famous ice cream course and Berkey Creamery, the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail, and America’s oldest ice cream company, Bassett’s, which has called Philadelphia home since 1861.
With ice cream being such a big deal in the commonwealth, and since it’s National Ice Cream Month, we recently asked our newsletter readers (click here to subscribe): Who makes the best ice cream in Pennsylvania?
(Answers have been edited for length and clarity):
“Franklin Fountain in Philadelphia is, hands down, my favorite ice cream in Pa.”
-Florence Gallagher, Philadelphia
“Owowcow. Hands down, the best ice cream.”
-Carol, Perkasie
“Meyer Dairy in State College is one of my favorites, as is Big D’s in Milesburg.”
-Melissa, Bellefonte
“The best ice cream in Pa. is Urban Churn in Carlisle. Their Dark Soul is the best I’ve ever had.”
-Pam Swope-Bland, Gettysburg
“The Cup Dairy Store in Bethlehem.”
-Judy Chernikovich-Clemens, Riegelsville
“Manning’s Ice Cream is delicious, coming straight from farmland near Scranton. The cows keep busy. Nothing like a homemade treat!”
-Matt Engel, Wilkes-Barre
“The Dairy Dip in Hollidaysburg!”
-Jordan Rhone, King of Prussia
“Bassett’s is the creamiest! Absolutely the best.”
-Kathleen Jajko, Bucks County
“Best ice cream, hands down, is Owowcow. I almost bought a house right down the street from the Ottsville location. Good thing I didn’t, I’d probably be over 300 pounds by now.”
-Johnno, Upper Black Eddy
“Fox Meadows Creamery!”
-Sue Senter, Manheim
“The best ice cream in Pa. is from Fox Meadows Creamery in Ephrata.”
-Bryan Jones, Ephrata
“In my opinion, the best ice cream in Pa. is L’Aquila Cafe in Philadelphia.”
-Stacey, Glen Mills
“The Inside Scoop in Coopersburg. Every flavor is good, but when they have the Dark Chocolate Chunk it is absolutely the best.”
-Barry and Elizabeth Mitchell, Allentown
“I am a self-proclaimed foodie and have traveled hours and hours for good food, and Maggie Moo’s in Exton has some of the best ice cream that I have ever tasted.”
-Tara Lee, Thorndale
“Best ice cream in Pa. is Bruster’s at Steubenville Pike in Robinson.”
-Marianne Bertelsen, Carnot-Moon
“Perry’s Ice Cream is phenomenal.”
-Mary, Bradford
“Owowcow is the best ice cream.”
-Judy, Bucks County
“Curly Cream in Plains makes the best ice cream in my opinion.”
-John, Hazleton
“Hands down, the best ice cream in Pa. is Hillside Dairy on old 115 or Hillside Drive between 118 and 309 in Trucksville/Shavertown just a few miles from Pittston/Wilkes-Barre. No chain ice cream store can compete with them.”
-Sue Schmitthenner, NEPA
“Penn State Creamery! I’ve been enjoying the butter pecan since I was an art student there in the late 70’s when the visual arts building was next door to the old creamery. All the art students had their “lunch” there. Of course our lunch was an ice cream cone.”
-Cathy McNamara McIlhenny, Harleysville
“Fox Meadows Creamery, either location Ephrata or Leola.”
-Barbara Vargas, New Holland
“My vote goes to Scoops in Bellevue.”
-Eleanor Shirley, Pittsburgh
“September Farms in Honey Brook is our favorite.”
-Danice Gewiss, Coatesville
“Waltz Creamery & Farmhouse in Salladasburg make excellent ice cream. Turkey Hill ice cream ranks high on our preferences, too.”
-Gale, Hughesville
“The best ice cream in Pa. would be the recently closed Dave & Andy’s in Pittsburgh. There’s also Kristin’s Ice Cream Korner, known to the locals as KICK, in Kittanning.”
-Debbie Foster, Kittanning
“Meadows Original Frozen Custard at the original site in Hollidaysburg is the best ice cream in Pa.”
-Virginia, Indiana
Author
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Pennsylvanians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The Keystone has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Pennsylvania families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Taste history at Erie’s 5 longest running bakeries and markets
Growing up in Erie, I developed a deep, nostalgic relationship with food. The food that means the most to me isn’t fancy food or fussy food, but the...
Erie Food Co-op is built on community ownership
Unlike traditional retailers driven by outside investors, the Erie Food Co-op is owned collectively by local member-owners who believe that access...
12 traditional Pennsylvania Christmas dishes & drinks
This being Pennsylvania, you might not be surprised that nearly half of these traditional Christmas dishes are cookies. Christmas is strongly...
What to get the pizza lover in your life this holiday season
Whether you’re shopping for an aspiring pizzaiolo or someone who just loves eating pizza, we’re serving up some can’t-miss gift ideas for the pizza...
Pennsylvania’s Yuengling beer expands to Iowa and Wisconsin in 2026
Beer fans in Iowa can finally raise a glass of Yuengling. America’s oldest brewery announced it will expand distribution to Iowa and Wisconsin in...
