The Best Ice Cream in Morris County

We narrowed down the very best spots in Morris County to find your perfect summer ice cream treat! Here are our favorites!

 

Did you know Americans eat an average of 20 quarts of ice cream per year, vanilla being the most popular flavor. I love my vanilla! Since the weather is finally warming up I thought now is the perfect time to share the best ice cream around the County. I asked many of you on my FB group 'Everything Morris County' what your favorites are and using some of those recommendations, my kids and I had fun trying most of them! So, I gained 10 pounds just to write this article for you!

 

Beenie’s Ice Cream is a fairly new local place that a 28-year-old lover of ice cream opened in 2017. They have everything from homemade ice cream, gelato, sorbet, Italian ice, Belgian waffles, and more. It has a really cute dog-themed decor going on, perfect for kids. They make their ice cream fresh right on site too. We loved the variety and different options so we opted for The Midnight Snack which is their original and we were told their best seller. It has Vanilla Ice Cream with Captain Crunch and Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips. Different and Oh so good! My son went for Minecraft which was Caramel Oreo Ice Cream with Chocolate Cake Crunchies, Green Butter Cream, and Poprock Candy! It was quite a treat! We will be back for sure!

 

Cliff's is a tiny drive-up ice cream spot that almost everyone in the County has tried at one time or another, and if you haven’t you need to. They have over 11 flavors of soft ice cream and over 60 flavors of hard hand-dipped ice cream. The picnic area is always packed on a warm day. It’s been around since the 70’s when a former teacher from Roxbury HS opened it and it has remained a top spot for decades now. Our recommendations are the soft Vanilla of course, but we also loved the Graham Central Station and the Holy Cannoli. For all the Cannoli lovers out there- you might be back every night of the week for this yummy treat.

 

Yes, it’s a chain store, but who cares it's really good! My kids love the ice block they mix your ice cream and treats right in front of you. You can pick any flavor of ice cream and any treat you can think of from candy, cakes, nuts, and fruits that they have on deck then watch the magic happen right in front of you. Or you can choose the recipes they’ve perfected and go for one of their ideas, we tried Somewhere Over the Rain-dough and Cookie Doughn't You Want Some! So good!

 

Curly's Ice Cream has been a family favorite for ice cream in Riverdale and now they’re in Boonton too! Owned by the Meier family since 1958, this family knows their ice cream. We can see why Curly’s is definitely an area favorite. We loved the Cookie Monster and Vanilla Raspberry Truffle! So many choices, so fresh and so creamy!

 

A local favorite that was originally a Carvel franchise, has a huge variety of delicious flavors. They also have fat-free and sugar-free Ice Cream and low-fat Frozen Yogurt flavors, and definitely try some Italian ice too! They make some amazing cakes for parties with your own image on them that are always a big hit! They also serve a killer ice cream sandwich that’s a big seller.

 

Owned by a father and daughter this place screams gourmet ice cream. It’s handmade with so many unique options I’ve never seen before. Try the Pop-tart ice cream sliders, Lemon Drop Granola, or the Cuppa T! So different and so good! This place makes me think I really need to get in my kitchen and learn about flavors! Who knew chai and cream could be made into a yummy ice cream flavor?

 

This has always been our go-to spot! My kids love the watermelon sorbet and I’m a fan of the caramel pretzel vanilla and the soft serve vanilla. The sugar-free soft serve is great too! They rotate through over one hundred specialty and seasonal flavors so you may not see the same thing twice for a while but some are always available. The sugar cookie flying saucers are really good too! There’s a line out the door on a warm day and limited seating inside but plenty of benches outside in the heart of Denville.

 

A small nondescript place on the corner of Rte 46-they have tons of choices. For parties, we love to pick up a box of their kiddie cones dipped in different flavors and their mini cookie sandwiches! They are always a big hit! While you’re waiting for your order, try some Milky Way Crunch Cotton Candy- you will have a sugar rush all day long and you can thank me later!

 

Homemade ice cream with tons of options and great names for their treats. A local staple that is always packed! Outside tables are usually full and there is usually a wait but well worth it. We loved the Salty Captain Jack, Monkey Butt, and Elephants Never Forget! In fact, just reading the names was an adventure!

 

This cute local favorite has some good choices. Not much seating, but if you want a quick treat to cool you off you can find some good options here like the Strawberry Cheesecake and Graham Slam, or go for the soft serve loaded with sprinkles and you can’t go wrong!

 

New Jersey Monthly Magazine named this place the “Best Milk Shake in New Jersey.” They call their place an “eclectic institution” which I’d have to agree with. Tables and chairs outside make it a fun place to hang out and enjoy your treats. Even though they don’t make their own ice cream, it’s ok! With fun names like Playdough and LlamaLicious and my personal favorites, Salty Caramel Truffle and Vermont Maple Crunch I can almost guarantee out of their 50 flavors you will definitely find your own favorite and come back for more.

 

Can you say waffles and ice cream? OMG! They serve Gifford’s World Class Ice Cream which comes from Maine and has some flavors and names that make you go "Hmmmm." Maine Lobster Tracks, Fly Fishing Fudge and I Scream for Cake are just a few but there were so many others I'd love to taste! If you’re not in the mood for a cone- go for the make your own shake and add just about anything you want!

 

Open all year long, and located in downtown Morristown they serve more than ice cream. Want a quick bite before your treat, you can find it here. They have some seating inside and some fantastic flavors. The Ice cream is homemade with flavors like Jockey Hollow, Kahlua Madness, and Grandma's Kitchen, my personal favorite!

 

This cash-only, tiny spot in Parsippany is a local favorite. The owners make all of their own treats and have some unique flavors for the daring ones out there. Blue Cookie Monster ice cream, Butterfinger Blast, and Pineapple Cheesecake are just a few!

 

Located in the heart of scenic Chester with their checkered floor and a few tables if you are lucky enough to grab one. Try any of their hard homemade ice cream, soft serve, yogurt, or milkshakes and I promise you’ll leave happy. I hear the Death by Chocolate is a favorite for all of the chocolate lovers out there but I opted for the White Chocolate Chip and almost died from my sugar coma but who’s complaining? The coolest thing is, they will give you a tour of how the ice cream is made if you plan ahead for a group trip.

I am now craving some ice cream so I’m signing off, getting in my car, and going to Denville Dairy- but only because it’s the closest to me right now! What’s your favorite place? Your favorite flavor?