I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
It’s summertime and ice cream is on the mind. Philly may be known for cheesesteaks and water ice, but its ice cream selection is nothing to scoff at. From Chestnut Hill, to Fishtown, to Old City, Philly has plenty of top-rated cream places to check out this summer. Read on to find out the inside scoop!
1.) Bredenbeck’s Bakery & Ice Cream Parlor, 8126 Germantown Ave.
Web site: http://www.bredenbecks.com/
A Philadelphia tradition since 1889, Bredenbeck’s is this year’s Philly Happening List winner for best ice cream. The bakery and ice cream parlor is located in the historic heart of Chestnut Hill. From creamy hand-dipped Bassett’s ice cream, home-churned in Philadelphia, to refreshing sorbets and gluten-free options, Bredenbeck’s has something for everyone. Some of the flavors include these favorites: Phillies Graham Slam, Guatemalan Ripple, Milky Way, and Gadzooks.
2.) Little Baby’s Ice Cream, 2311 Frankford Ave.; 4903 Catharine St.
Web site: http://www.littlebabysicecream.com/
Little Baby’s Ice Cream prides itself on creating frozen desserts with imagination and care. This year’s Philly Happening List finalist for best ice cream is dedicated to making the “best and weirdest” ice cream in the world. Some of its wacky and delicious flavors include, Yards Brown Butter Brawler, Earl Grey Sriracha, Balsamic Banana, Cucumber Dill, Cherry Hibiscus, and Bourbon Bourbon Vanilla.
3.) Bassetts Ice Cream, 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 410; inside Reading Terminal Market, 45 N. 12th St.
Web site: http://bassettsicecream.com/
World-famous Bassets Ice Cream is a fifth-generation family business and a Philadelphia tradition since 1861. Bassets, a finalist in this year’s Philly Happening List category for best ice cream, also has three locations in China! (No, not Chinatown–China, as in the country!) Some of Bassets flavors include Pomegranate Blueberry Chunk, English Toffee Crunch, Cinnamon, Irish Coffee, Macademia Nut,and Raspberry Truffle.
4.) The Franklin Fountain, 116 Market Street; also featured seasonally at Spruce Street Harbor Park, 121 N. Columbus Blvd.
Web site: http://www.franklinfountain.com/
The Franklin Fountain aims to serve an experience “steeped in ideals, drizzled with drollery, and sprinkled with forgotten flavors of the American past.” Some of the delicious flavors include, Franklin Mint Chip, Hydrox Cookie, Teaberry Gum, Coconut, Green Tea, Maple Walnut, and Cotton Candy.
5.) Philly Flavors, 2004 Fairmount Ave.; 343 S. 13th St.; 1928 E. Passayunk Ave.
Web site: http://www.phillyflavors.com/
Philly flavors offers fresh homemade ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, and gelato, and Italian Ice.. Serving Philadelphia since 2004, some of its mouth-watering flavors include, Butter Almond, Mocha Chip, Reese’s Swirl, Egg Nog, Crazy Vanilla, and Birthday Cake.
6.) Scoop DeVille, 1315 Walnut St.
Web site: http://scoopdevilleicecream.com/
Scoop DeVille believes in making Philadelphia happier “one scoop at a time.” With a passion to create custom-blended flavors for its customers, Scoop DeVille’s motto is, “If you crave it, we’ll create it.” Scoop DeVille allows customers to make their very own custom blend by picking a base flavor, then selecting unique ingredients to mix in, or add on top.
Some of the base flavors include Butter Pecan, Butterscotch Vanilla, Vanilla Fudge, and Coffee. Mix-ins and toppings include candy cane pieces, chocolate covered espresso beans, chocolate covered pretzels, peppermint patties, and Rice Krispies Treats. It doesn’t end there, as there are also unique mix-in options of Bacon bits, coconut shavings, coffee or malt powder, nutmet, or even Protein powder!
Some suggested blends are: Country Breakfast, Gimme A Break, It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time, Give Me Samoa Lovin’, Abbey Road, The Charlie Brown, and Sarah’s Amore.
7.) Weckerly’s Ice Cream, 450 Worth St.
Web site: http://weckerlys.squarespace.com/
Founded late in the autumn of 2012, Weckerly’s has grown from a small ice cream company in the Spruce Hill Community of West Philadelphia to a micro creamery, nestled in a restored textile factory among artists, craftspeople, chefs, and bakers. Each flavor is inspired by the seasons and crafted with local ingredients from small farms throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, and sorbets are always on the menu with the flavors varying per season. Perennial ice cream flavors include Slow Steep Coffee, Cajeta Caramel Swirl, and Cookies and Cream. Seasonal flavors for this summer include, Blueberry the Pirate (featuring heirloom berries, dark rum, and lime), Caramel Corn, Peaches & Cream, Buckwheat Sour Cherry, Peppermint Chocolate Truffle, and Lemon Verbana Black Raspberry.
