Few things taste better on a hot summer day than a fresh ice cream cone. Utah is full of delicious ice cream shops, but here are six of the best to satisfy your ice cream craving this summer.
Aggie Ice Cream
Utah State University is famous for its Aggie Ice Cream. In its 100+ years, the Aggies have worked their ice cream formula to create creamy, perfectly-textured ice cream that is now available at two Aggie Ice Cream locations in Logan, and sold in scoops or half gallons throughout the state by 25 individual vendors.
“Aggie Ice Cream is unique because all of our milk comes from local cows here in Cache Valley,” said Rhees Crompton, program coordinator at the Aggie Creamery. “We make premium ice cream, using higher fat content in our cream, giving it a creamy texture that people love. Our most popular flavors are Aggie Blue Mint, Aggie Bull Tracks, and True Aggie Night. My personal favorite is the Cookie Fudge Ripple. We also have two new flavors: Aggie Joy and Peach Cobbler,” Crompton said.
“I love the ROTC because of the unexpected flavor combinations,” said customer Bethany Ricks. “Who knew that raspberries, Oreos and toffee combined in chocolate ice cream could be so yummy together.”
Customers can visit Aggie Ice Cream at The Aggie Creamery or in its newest location at Blue Square in Logan, just off the Utah State University campus. Both locations sell every flavor of Aggie Ice Cream, and the Blue Square location gives customers the option to purchase a waffle topped with Aggie Ice Cream in addition to the traditional scoops and half gallons.
“Aggie Ice Cream is right on the way to Bear Lake,” said Crompton. “You won’t regret stopping by on the way to your next summer lake day.”
Rockwell Ice Cream Company
Nestled not-so-quietly in the hustle and bustle of Downtown Provo is Rockwell Ice Cream Company. Rockwell is known for its rich, creamy-textured ice cream and unique flavors. Everything from their mix-ins to the ice cream itself is made in-house.
“What really sets us apart is that nearly everything that goes into our ice cream is made in-house,” said Williams. “We use fresh fruit, no artificial flavorings or colors, and we source local ingredients whenever possible. Every flavor is thoughtfully crafted to be bold, nostalgic, and totally unique. You won’t find cookie cutter combos here.”
In 2019, Rockwell’s The GOAT flavor won an award for the Best Ice Cream in America.
“The GOAT holds a special place in our hearts and it represents everything we strive for at Rockwell: creativity, craftsmanship, and flavor that stands out,” said Williams. “The GOAT features a creamy goat cheese base, swirled with homemade blackberry lemon jam and loaded with handmade roasted rosemary almonds. It’s rich, tangy, sweet, and savory all in one bite — totally unforgettable.”
In their short 10-year run thus far, they’re just getting started. “At Rockwell, we’re passionate about delivering not only the best ice cream, but also the best experience for our customers,” Williams said. “We hold ourselves to a high standard because we believe our customers deserve the very best. The future of Rockwell is full of flavor, and we can’t wait to share what’s coming next.”
Nielsen’s Frozen Custard
For most, a trip to St. George isn’t complete without a stop at Nielsen’s Frozen Custard. Originally founded in Bountiful, Utah, Nielsen’s Frozen Custard has been around since 1981, and isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
“Nielsen’s is my family’s favorite place to grab a dessert,” said customer Greg Stephens. “They just opened a location close to us a year or two ago. Their custard is amazing. They have good onion rings too.”
Nielsen’s Frozen Custard serves traditional custard in a variety of flavors, with some of the most popular being their Bumbleberry (strawberry and raspberry mixed together), Chocolate Malt Almond, and Oreo flavors. Customers can also create a customized concrete with a chocolate or vanilla base and their choice of mix-ins. Take-home pints and quarts are also available for purchase. More information regarding locations and menus can be found here .
The Beaver Creamery
The Beaver Creamery is a popular pit stop for travelers at all times of the day. Between their famous cheese curds, their rich, flavorful ice cream, and their savory cafe, The Creamery has something to satisfy every appetite.
“Beaver Creamery is amazing,” said customer Keller Sherman. “When I was a student at SUU, it was always a mandatory stop for me going to and from home up north. I’d even go up there sometimes just for the fun of it. They have great flavors and a great atmosphere.”
The Creamery also prides itself on giving back to the local community, with each purchase benefitting area families in need.
“It is our responsibility to help those in need and lend a helping hand through donations and volunteer efforts,” states The Creamery website. “We’re going beyond the dairy aisle and helping to feed communities. We have donated 360,000+ servings of dairy since 2019.”
Blacksmith Ice Cream Co.
While many traditional scoop shops use machines to churn their ice cream, Blacksmith employees do it all by hand, literally creating hand-made ice cream for their customers.
“We do all the work by hand that a machine usually does at other ice cream shops,” said Harper. “There is no air incorporated into our ice cream. It’s 100 percent dense. We also source local ingredients where we can. We’re focused on trying to make the best ice cream possible and we do whatever it takes to achieve that.”
“Our customers love our ice cream,” said Harper. “We all believe it’s a few notches above anything else out there. It has more of a homemade taste than a manufactured taste. We also try to create a good environment. We have seating at all of our locations. We have a great team and a great vibe when customers come into the shop.”
With unique flavors like Honey Lavender and Lemon Bar, Harper encourages Utahns to come enjoy Blacksmith Ice Cream and all it has to offer.
“Come in and experience it for yourself,” said Harper. “Just know that we’re a 100 percent Utah company, not a franchise. We love being part of the Millcreek and Bountiful communities and plan to be here for years to come.”
Hatch Family Chocolates
Hatch Family Chocolates is part of the Avenues neighborhood and has been serving handmade chocolates and homemade ice cream since 2003.
Hatch Family Chocolates makes their own hot fudge sauce and caramel sauce in-house, which serves as a popular topping to their sundaes and shakes. The shop also serves hot chocolate in the winter and frozen hot chocolate in the summer. Customers can buy homemade ice cream as well as ice cream from local companies like Farr’s Ice Cream, as well.
“We make our hot fudge, caramel sauce, and ice cream, and dip all of our chocolates by hand,” said co-owner Katie Masterson. “Our recipes have been passed down through generations. We currently make six or eight of our own ice cream flavors and the rest is local company ice cream to sell.”
Due to its close proximity to the University of Utah, one of the shop’s most popular flavors is the Crimson Cherry Chip. This flavor combines vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, and cherry pieces.
“One thing we love is our customer base,” said Masterson. “We love being a neighborhood shop. We have an array of people come in and we love it. Overall, we try to make a good quality product and we have a great team that helps us do so. We are constantly learning and evolving and it’s been a great process to be a part of.”
Katie Masterson, owner of Hatch Family Chocolates. Photo by John Taylor.
