6 Best Ice Cream Shops in Vermont

Sunny and warm days are in full swing, and after you've gotten your home summer ready, it's time for a delicious and beloved treat - ice cream! This wonderful creamy dessert is a favorite of many and comes in numerous shapes, colors, and flavors. Long gone are the days of it only being a milk-based dessert - it can now be enjoyed by those who are sugar-free or lactose-intolerant and a new trend of vegan ice creams is even on the rise. 

Whichever type you choose, you can't go wrong - ice cream is a fantastic treat not only during the summer but all year round, and what better state than Vermont to go on an ice cream tour?!

What makes Vermont ice cream so good?

Vermont dairy cows give Vermont ice cream a truly special flavor. The state has the largest rate of dairy cows in the United States, with dairy farms covering 15 percent of the state and Vermont has an astounding average of 1 cow for every 3.8 people! Everywhere you look, you'll see lush pastures dotted with grass-fed cows. Vermont is most famous for its maple creemees and of course the well-known Ben and Jerry's, but there is so much more to try. Here you'll find a curated list of the best ice cream shops in Vermont that you do not want to miss out on!

Ben and Jerry's - Waterbury, VT

We, of course, have to start with Vermont's legends of the game!Ben and Jerry's Waterbury location, established in 1985, is their first factory. It still produces many pints daily and delights visitors from all over the world with its Scoop Shop - and if you'd like to see all of the "dead" flavors, you can also visit the "flavor graveyard." Be sure to try their delicious waffle cone if you want to give your ice cream the ultimate yum factor!

Lu Lu Ice Cream - Vergennes, VT 

One of the gems of Addison County, Lu Lu Ice Cream is marketed as Vermont artisan, farm-to-spoon ice cream. Since 2012, this family business has provided its customers with an abundance of unusual and delicious made from scratch flavors like Salted Caramel or The Walking Dead. The ice cream's creamy texture and many vegan options separate this shop from many others, making people want to come back for more. We are sure you will, too, once you give it a try!

The Scoop - Shelburne, VT

At the Scoop, they are enthusiastic about making ice cream with spectacular flavors. They use only the finest ingredients and locally obtained cream and maple syrup are used to make their handmade, delicious ice cream. The Scoop has many gluten-free and vegan options as well, which is a huge bonus! And if you have a party or other event you're hosting and want to offer a sweet treat, check out their awesome Scoop Truck as well. The Scoop is open all year round, and Vermont newcomers claim it's some of the best they've tasted.

Little Gordo's - Burlington, VT

Are you craving some delicious out-of-the-box homemade creemees? Well, then Little Gordo's in Burlington is exactly the place for you! Fun flavors and heavenly texture are hard to resist. And the best part is that they use real ingredients to create the perfect creemee. No wonder the result is so fantastic! You can follow them on their Instagram page - they post their flavors daily and their Wizards are to die for!

Sweet Scoops of Essex - Essex Junction, VT

Sweet Scoops is serving creemees, sundaes, milkshakes, flurries, Italian ice, and hard ice cream. They are well-known for their exceptional service, and large portions of ice cream per dollar spent, among other things. There are many options, including one for pups, so your fur baby will be happy too! Once you've had one of their specialty sundaes, you'll look for any reason to make a trip to Essex.

Bragg Farm Sugarhouse - East Montpelier, VT

A maple creemee is a Vermont tradition, according to locals. They're correct - you must try it!  An excellent spot to find this Vermont treat is at Braggs. There is also a sugarhouse where you may discover the process of making maple syrup they have been producing for eight generations! Be sure to try the maple milkshakes. Plus petting the lovely farm animals or taking in the magnificent views are a few more enjoyable activities that you can take advantage of here!

Interesting facts about ice cream you might not have known

Now that you know all the best places to get ice cream, here are a few cool facts about this creamy dessert that you might want to know:

• The first ice cream factory was founded in America in 1851, but production developed only after 1900 when new cooling systems were perfected.

• Former President Ronald Reagan declared July the national month of ice cream in 1984!

• A girl who sold ice cream in Louisiana in 1904 invented the ice cream cone. After the young man gave her flowers wrapped in paper, she came up with the idea to put ice cream in a wafer of a similar shape.

• The first ice cream machine was constructed by Nancy Johnson in 1846.

• During the Persian war, General Alexander the Great stimulated his troops with ice cream. His version of ice cream was a mixture of small pieces of ice and sugar, prepared during all military campaigns.

•  Industrial production of ice cream began in 1851 in Boston, while the first ice cream on a stick appeared in 1934 in Iowa. The inventor is Chris Nelson.

• The last thing the king of rock, Elvis Presley, ate was 4 scoops of ice cream and 6 chocolate chip cookies.

• The US is the largest consumer of ice cream per capita. The average American consumes 40lbs of ice cream a year, and 87% of the population has ice cream in their freezer at all times.

  
  

We hope you give these delicious ice cream shops a try and love them as much as we do! If there is one you think we missed, send it our way because we'd love to try it!

Looking for other fun things to do in Vermont? Check out our blog on the 10 Best Hikes in Vermont to experience all the can't miss views our beautiful green mountains have to offer.

*This blog is sponsored by Verified Movers - Does all this talk about ice cream have you thinking about moving to this beautiful state? we wouldn't blame you one bit! But before you take on a relocation all by yourself, we suggest you do your research and find a reliable crew for the job. Professional long-distance movers will make the relocation much easier for you, so you can worry about settling in and enjoying all of the best things Vermont has to offer, like ice cream ????!