I was inspired to create this post, last week, when a reader emailed me asking for my favorite CT ice cream spot. I quickly realized I honestly couldn’t pick just one, so I told her to give me a week and I’d report back with a whole list. Once I finalized my list, I decided I might as well share it with all of you and all I can say is, I don’t think I’ll be eating ice cream any time soon. I’m all ice creamed out, but the pictures are well worth it.
Anyway, I’m just going to jump right into it!
I ranked the following 5 ice cream stands to visit in CT in order of how I’d visit them. I rated the stands based on 1) ice cream consistency, 2) ice cream flavor innovation, 3) ice cream names, 4) whether or not the ice cream was made on site & 5) quantity of parking/seating.
1) ROBBS Farm Ice Cream Stand // Glastonbury, CT
ROBBS has been my favorite for some time now, and I think the main reason why I love it is that it’s a short drive from Matt’s house, so we have a lot of fun summertime memories at this stand.
Anyway, this is how it stood up to the judging panel (aka my Mom & I):
- Consistency – I like a hard ice cream. & by that I mean, I like an ice cream with texture, that you can bite into. ROBBS is my favorite for this, their ice cream is by far the firmest, meaning less melting and way more texture!
- Flavors – They have a great selection of flavors, and my favorites are the black raspberry chip & coconut chip, which literally taste like an Almond Joy. Robbs is excellent at adding texture to their ice cream, so the coconut chip had literal coconut strips in it, which gave every lick that extra bang.
- Ice Cream Names – Nothing too fancy, which I kind of like because you know what you’re getting yourself into.
- Ice Cream Made on Site?: YES
- Parking/Seating – TONS of parking & seating, which is key.
2) The Collins Creamery // Enfield CT
The Collins Creamery was actually recommended to me by two readers and my aunt, so when I heard how much everyone was loving it, I took a drive to check it out myself. OMG YUM.
It was so good, guys and I’m excited to bring Matt when we are back in CT.
Anyway, this is how it stood up to the judging panel:
- Consistency – This is a creamery guy, which means the ice cream is super creamy, aka melts quickly. The ice cream is super soft, like Coldstone’s, which I prefer to eat in a cup.
- Flavors – I had the Moo-vie flavor which tasted exactly like Cracker Jacks! It was caramel ice cream filled with chocolate covered half-popped kernels, soooo good. I also got a scoop of red velvet, why not right, and it tasted just like cake batter which is usually my go-to. Overall, this stand had the best flavors.
- Ice Cream Names – Rum Raisin, Grapenut, and Grasshopper; were just a few and overall this creamery had the most creative names, by far.
- Ice Cream Made on Site?: YES!
- Parking/Seating – TONS of parking & seating, which is key.
3) UConn Dairy Bar // Storrs, CT
If you’re a Husky fan then I’m sure you already know about this ice cream spot.
The UConn Dairy Bar is always a must, whenever I’m visiting friends at UConn. The thing I love most about the dairy bar, to be honest, is you often get the chance to watch ice cream being made through the observation window in the Dairy Bar store.
Anyway, this is how it stood up to the judging panel:
- Consistency – They dairy bar has pretty firm ice cream, which I’m a fan of. It holds up great against the summer heat.
- Flavors – Overall, they have a smaller selection of flavors, however, they do have seasonal flavors and cover all the basics.
- Ice Cream Names – Nothing too fancy, which I kind of like because you know what you’re getting yourself into.
- Ice Cream Made on Site?: YES!
- Parking/Seating – TONS of parking & seating, they even have indoor seating!
4) Main Street Creamery // Old Wethersfield, CT
I love this creamery because of its location. By far my favorite part of Wethersfield is Old Wethersfield, which is filled to the brim with beautiful historic New England homes. You’ll often find me shooting images in this area, and once I’m done you bet I get ice cream.
Anyway, this is how it stood up to the judging panel:
- Consistency – It is a creamery so the ice cream is on the softer/creamery side.
- Flavors – I always love the flavors at the Main Street Creamery, I love that they have a lot of natural themed flavors. The flavors featured above are actually blueberry and strawberry, quite refreshing.
- Ice Cream Names – Pretty basic, which makes it easy to decide on a flavor.
- Ice Cream Made on Site?: No, but it is made within CT!
- Parking/Seating – Street Parking, which normally I hate, but Old Wethersfield has loads of parking, so it’s easy to get a spot. The Main Street Creamery has both seatings outside and inside which is nice.
5) Milkcraft // West Hartford & Fairfield, CT
I was told I HAD to visit Milkcraft for this post, and I totally understand why.
The atmosphere, location, and even the ice cream itself is the definition of aesthetically pleasing. I would HIGHLY recommend splitting a cone with a friend, as the quantities are huge, which justifies the higher-end price.
Also shoutout to a few TCC readers I met while ordering my ice cream. They worked at Milkcraft and were so kind to stop and say hi, our crew always loves meeting you guys.
Anyway, this is how it stood up to the judging panel (aka my Mom & I):
- Consistency – AMAZING. They freeze every scoop with Liquid Nitrogen, which results in the smoothest ice cream, I’ve ever tasted. Yet, even with its creamy texture, the ice cream held up great against the heat, it really kept its form which was a great surprise.
- Flavors – They don’t have a ton of flavors, you can view their flavors here, but overall I’d say Milkcraft is an experience. Flavors are buildable as you combine your flavor with funky toppings all on top a huge waffle cone. The flavors are good but the add-ons are what makes it.
- Ice Cream Names – An experience.
- Ice Cream Made on Site? YES, it’s made on site and right in front of your eyes.
- Parking/Seating – Street parking in West Hartford, can be tough but there are paid lots. Overall Milkcraft has the least amount of seating, but they did create a cute outdoor patio area to extend seating during the summer.
Okay & that’s all I got for you guys. I originally had Shady Glen and Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream on the list, but I figured maybe I’d split this post into a part 1 & part 2.
Let me know your thoughts and I’d love to hear which ice cream stand in CT is your favorite. xx Aubrey
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11 thoughts on "5 Ice Cream Stands to Visit in CT"
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You missed Buttonwood Farms. Their summer flavor sunflower ice cream is otherworldly!
Definitely try ferris acres in Newtown. BEST icecream ever.
Also stew Leonard’s in norwalk, saugatuck sweets in both Westport and Fairfield.
Ashley’s ice cream along the shoreline ( Westbrook, Guilford, Madison) is the absolute best.
You missed the best one! Durham Dari Serv in Durham. I’m a little biased though, it’s my hometown spot ????
I love Collins Creamery and I’m so excited it made your list!
Ugh these are all amazing! As an absolute ice cream-aholic, I live at ice cream shoppes all summer long. My personal favorites are AC Peterson’s in West Hartford, Mortensen’s in Newington, and Ashley’s Ice Cream in Westbrook and Hamden! So lucky to live in a state with some of the best ice cream around <3
Wow these all look AMAZING! I’m born & raised in CT so I will have to be visiting them soon. My personal favorite is Tulmeadow Farms in West Simsbury. Their red raspberry chocolate chip is TO DIE FOR!
Can’t wait to try Milk Craft!! You have to try Arethusa in Litchfield/ Bantam CT, if you haven’t already. They have an amazing story!
Those all sound SO good! We just tried making a recipe at home from a shop in Mystic, it was so good.
Taylor | http://www.livingtaylored.com
These all look great! You need to add Rich’s Ice Cream Farm in Oxford (I believe) and Ferris Acres in Newton. My two favorite places! Also can’t lie by saying every time I went to Stew Leonard’s I would always get a soft serve cone 😉 Would always tell my mom I would do the grocery shopping for her..I guess she never caught on why I enjoyed going there so much.
xo elle https://splashofpreppy.com
OMG ME TOO! I always would use the free ice cream coupon once my mom was done grocery shopping. It is just soooo good.
Thanks for always reading Elle! xx aubrey