Ice cream from Fox Meadows Creamery and Country market in Ephrata is one of 10 places that Mimi Brodeur says serves up a cone to cool your ice cream cravings

From soft swirl to hand-dipped flavors, these modern to old-fashioned ice cream spots are bound to cool any ice cream cone cravings on a hot day.  Vegan options are available, too.

Here’s the scoop on the best-licking ice cream cones:

At Silver Creek Plaza on the Pike near REI, 6391 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, 717-884-9396

and 1004 North 3rd Street, Harrisburg 717-884-9396

Urban Churn has sold ice cream at the Broad Street Market. Now it's opening a shop in Midtown. April 18, 2019 Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com PENNLIVE.COM

Owner and Number One Ice Cream Churner Adam Brackbill has succeeded in creating wonderful, diverse and creative flavors that will rock your taste buds, from Mi Amor, a combination of cinnamon and lavender to cold-brew coffee, key lime pie, Chai and Indian-flavored kesar pista blending  rose water, cardamon, almond and pistachio purees into the ice cream churn.  Vegan ice cream is temporarily off the menu but watch for new flavorful batches to arrive soon. 

The eatery sources produce and dairy products from local farms and orchards. If you want to try one of the best ice cream cones in Central Pennsylvania, head to one of the two Urban Churn Craft Creameries in downtown Harrisburg or the latest near the new REI in Mechanicsburg. I was going to have just a small bite of the hand-dipped salted caramel ice cream nestled in a house-made crispy thin waffle cone but instead, I ate the whole thing.  Clean, wholesome tasting ice cream prevails here.

Cubby’s Ice Cream Cafe

Michelle G. Bertini is founder and owner of Cubby’s Ice Cream Cafe in Hummelstown.

This year-round neighborhood gathering spot attracts family and friends to the welcoming, hangout porch or clean and comfortable coffee shop ambiance.  Games and sidewalk chalk entertain little ones as parents sneak in time to chat or catch up with friends that have come to join them.

Family-owned Beck’s high 16% butterfat (or more)  ice cream is served here and there are a myriad of freshly churned flavors available by the pint, cone or dish.  My suggestion is a cake cone adorned with two scoops of couch potato ice cream. This extra creamy vanilla-based ice cream has buried treasures of chocolate-covered pretzels and splotches of peanut butter.  This combo of flavors is exceptional.

The Haine’s Shoe House located along Route 30, Hallam exit (462)

Visit this unique shoe-shaped roadside attraction built in 1948 by “The Shoe Wizard” Mahlon Haines.  Take a self-guided tour throughout all five levels of this unique museum.  Beck’s high-end ice cream is also served here. The choices are chocolate marshmallow, vanilla, peanut butter ripple and mint chocolate chip served in a cake cone or regular cone. Seasonal fresh peach ice cream cone is one flavor to watch for in July. There is indoor luncheonette booth seating or head outside to a lovely picnic area on the grounds contained by shoe-adorned fencing.

Shirley Rae's Ice Cream opened May 16, 2020 at 1347 Saxton Way in Lower Allen Township. Photo provided

You’ll find this cute, full-service ice cream shop (They serve sandwiches, paninis and salads too) in Lower Allen Township at the Shops at Arcona in Arcona Crossroads, by Charter Homes & Neighborhoods. The ever-popular Thea restaurant is a few doors down. 

Sugary-sweet aroma perfumes this modern shop. House-made waffle cones (or bowls) are the perfect vessels for intensely flavorful choices such as Bordeaux cherry, butter pecan, salty caramel truffle or vegan wild berry.  Sit inside or at umbrella-shaded tables.

Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace, 2537 Brindle Dr, Harrisburg

Regular shoppers at the Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace already know the flavor of the Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream they want without looking at the lengthy menu. All of my questions regarding the flavors were answered by the two ladies in line at the counter. 

Monkey Business, a combo of chocolate, peanut butter and banana was one of their favorites but they had stopped in to get the latest taste of strawberry cheesecake.  Everyone loves the seasonal peachy Paterno, they said. I opted for an abundantly studded mini chocolate chip WPSU coffee break flavor that had a magnificent coffee ice cream base.  Sturdy chocolate chip sugar cookie cone held together throughout the many licks.

Annie’s Soft Ice Cream

Opened in 1972 by Harold and Annie Patrick, this very popular ice cream stand celebrates 50 years of business.  Generations of families keep coming back for more and at peak heat there are lines out to the road.  Teetering pillowy swirls of soft ice cream come in vanilla, chocolate, vanilla-chocolate twist or customer preferred, seasonal black raspberry.  

Cone sizes are generous and children know to order sprinkles.  On hot summer days, the ice cream melts and drips quickly if you don’t lick up.

Lapp Valley Farm Dairy and Ice Cream

Lapp Valley Farm Dairy and Ice Cream in New Holland.

Sweet, vanilla scents waft from clean, elongated shop facing the family farm where Jersey cows are being milked and calves are seen being bottle-fed .  Waffle cones and super creamy hormone free ice cream are made in-house.

Taste chewy chunks of peanut butter mixed into vanilla ice cream set atop homemade, sugary cones, and when you’re finished, take a walk around manicured grounds and strolling animals. It’s cash only but no worries — there’s an ATM machine.

Fox Meadows Creamery and Country market

Fox Meadows Creamery near Ephrata in Lancaster County was named best ice cream shop in Pennsylvania by The Daily Meal. Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

Farm fresh nearby milk from cows is the secret to the rich, silky homemade tasting ice cream. The all-natural handcrafted ice cream is made from “happy” cows grazing in the surrounding farmland.  Inside the creamery and store, watch ice cream being made from the viewing window into the processing room. 

The large shop has wrap around porch close to the children’s playground.  For a truly over-the-top flavor, try the meltingly, delicious Belgian cookie butter hand-dipped into sugar-cookie-like waffle cone.

Mr. G's ice cream shop is at 404 Baltimore St. in Gettysburg. July 1, 2019. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

This popular ice cream pit stop is a welcoming site after touring the battlefield.  Housed at the historic Twin Sycamores house, soft serve and homemade hand-dipped ice cream flavors are posted and available while they last. 

Children’s favorites are cotton candy and peanut butter and jelly while more mature tastebuds aim for rum raisin (when available) and maple walnut in waffle cone.

Reeser’s Soft Ice Cream

Becky Knox serves customers of Reeser's Ice Cream in this 2019 photo. JUSTIN A. SHAW/The Patriot-News The Patriot-NewsThe Patriot-News

Donald and Harriet Reeser opened the small take-out window shop on the hill in 1969. Check out their Facebook page to view the soft serve schedule with flavors ranging from peanut butter, raspberry and banana to strawberry and coffee.

On weekends and peak hours, expect to line up for homemade soft-serve cones, dozens of creative sundaes (fresh peach is coming soon), and straw-standing thick milkshakes. Their slogan: “The more you lick us, the more you like us.”

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