2 Western Pennsylvania shops make list of state’s top creameries

Shirley McMarlin | Tuesday, July 14, 2020 7:45 a.m.

Metro Creative

Two Western Pennsylvania creameries have made Visit PA’s list of top ice cream sellers.

From basic vanilla to chunky rocky road, few things taste better on a hot summer day than a cold scoop of ice cream.

Plop it into a bowl, stack it in a cone or blend it in a thick shake, and you have a treat that helps you beat the heat while also satisfying your sweet tooth.

VisitPA, Pennsylvania’s official tourism website, has published a list of 26 commonwealth creameries that are sure to do the trick when the thermometer reads “hot” — including two Western Pennsylvania favorites.

Coming in at No. 4 is Betsy’s Ice Cream of Mt. Lebanon, where the handcrafted ice cream starts with a custom-blended, hormone-free, all-natural base of milk and cream from Pittsburgh-area farms. Betsy’s has hundreds of varieties, with 28 homemade ice cream, sorbet and yogurt flavors available daily.

Kerber’s Dairy of North Huntingdon makes the list at No. 8, with ice cream that blends “the best ingredients and a touch of creativity.” New flavors listed on the website include mouth-watering Raspberry Chunky Fudge and Cherry Chocolate Cheesecake, along with Purple Panda, Dinosaur Crunch and Cow Patty — along with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and other tried-and-true crowd-pleasers.

Betsy’s and Kerber’s placed far ahead of the vaunted Penn State Berkey Creamery, which ranked a middle-of-the-road No. 14 — despite its popular products made from the milk of pampered cows raised on the sprawling Centre County campus.

Looking for a gift option for a family member or friend? Don't forget about our flavor packs we have available! Our Greatest Hits Pack is available in half gallons or pints and includes our top-selling flavors—perfect for any ice cream lover. Order yours now! pic.twitter.com/n8JGKrW9Jy

— PSU Berkey Creamery (@psucreamery) July 10, 2020

The top five rounds out with: No. 1 — Fox Meadows Creamery of Ephrata, Lancaster County; No. 2 — Chester Springs Creamery of Chester Springs, Chester County; No. 3 — Crystal Spring Farm of Schnecksville, Lehigh County; and No. 5 — Freddy Hill Farms of Lansdale, Montgomery County.

That’s all well and good, but we think Western Pennsylvania ice cream makers deserve a little more love. Next time you want to cool down with a sweet treat, here are 10 area creameries to consider:

• Dave and Andy’s, 207 Atwood St., Oakland — A Pittsburgh staple since 1983, with more than 200 flavors of homemade ice cream and hand-rolled waffle cones.

• Emmerling Ice Cream, 932 Route 910, Cheswick — Serving homemade, hand-scooped ice cream since 2009.

• Glen’s Frozen Custard, 400 Pittsburgh St., Springdale; and 2796 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell — Serving homemade, fresh custard since 1948 in cones, milkshakes, sundaes, cakes, pies and other great desserts.

• Jerry’s Custard, 2705 7th Street Road, Lower Burrell — Serving a varied menu of homemade, frozen custards since 1978, including dairy- and sugar-free.

• Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor, 2801 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh — Homemade ice cream made in the Berkey Creamery tradition and served in an old-fashioned, pharmacy-type setting.

• Ligonier Creamery, 105 E. Main St., Ligonier — Homemade, hand-dipped ice creams so good, they say, “we serve it on a diamond and guard it with a fort.”

• The Meadows Frozen Custard, 660 Mt. Pleasant St., Greensburg, and 8296 State Route 22, New Alexandria — Serving cones, cups, pints, sundaes, shakes, classic favorites and frozen yogurt, including special flavors of the day.

• Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream, 232 S. Highland Ave., Shadyside; 3803 Butler St., Lawrenceville; and 246 Forbes Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh (Market Square) — Ice cream handcrafted with milk from a local dairy and fresh seasonal add-ins, along with dairy-free gelatos.

• Parkside Creamery, 1 Forbes Road, Trafford — “Where it’s no biggy to be a little piggy,” the ice cream and frozen yogurt are made fresh daily, with daily and weekly flavor specials.

• Peaches ‘n Cream, 5032 Route 30, Hempfield — Serving homemade ice creams, shakes and sundaes, along with more homemade specialties like vanilla pound cake and peach cobbler.