UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Just in time for summer, three Lehigh Valley ice cream shops are among the stops on a trail of frozen deliciousness that spreads across the state.
Batch Microcreamery, Klein Farms and Crystal Spring Dairy Farm are among 41 stops on Pennsylvania's 2024 version of Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail.
We paid a visit to those and some other local favorites, but more on that in a moment.
The ice cream trail, in its seventh year, is sponsored by VisitPA.com, the state Agriculture Department, PA Preferred and the Center for Dairy Excellence.
The drivable tour encourages visitors to shop at local dairy farms and shops that produce freshly made ice cream.
How it works: Folks sign up on the trail's website, then each time you visit one of the participating farms or creameries and you buy a cone, you get a check-in. Collect 10 codes (10 stops on the trail) and you’ll receive a Scooped stainless-steel ice cream scooper. The trail runs through Sept 7.
A brewery of ice cream
First up is Batch Microcreamery's 31 different flavors of handmade ice cream.
The flagship location — inside the Promenade Saucon Valley — nabbed a spot on the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail for the first time this year.
Taking a cue from micro-breweries in the region, the ice cream is made on premises in small batches, ensuring a bold flavor and fresh taste with each scoop (no freezer burn here).
Ice cream connoisseurs Manny Rodriguez and Rick Pongracz also operate Batch stores in Quakertown and Wescosville. They're hoping to open a Bethlehem store soon.
What to try: Fruity pebbles, mint chocolate chip and fudge brownie. Can't decide? Try one of the Batch flights (a sample of four flavors).
Info: 2845 Center Valley Parkway, Center Valley, 484-626-0786, batchmicrocreamery.com
Scenic drive
The second Lehigh Valley-based trail stop is Crystal Spring Dairy Farm in North Whitehall Township, a creamery that employs an ice cream developer trained by Penn State Creamery.
Their motto: ice cream should taste like "ice cream."
"We don't cover up that flavor with a lot of extras in the form of candy and artificial products," staff said.
The farm, which produces 12,000 gallons of ice cream annually, offers hand-dipped ice cream and soft serve made in-house.
It's located off the beaten-path and features plenty of acreage to walk around, plus an area with benches to sit near a pond and water fountain.
Sundae toppings and whipped cream are also homemade (butterscotch, hot fudge, dusty road, chocolate nut, peanut butter, caramel, pineapple, strawberry, cherry).
They also sell milkshakes, smoothies and freshly-made yogurt parfaits, hoagies and salads.
Check out the general shop which carries meat and dairy products, along with condiments, bread and other household products.
What to try: Mint chocolate chip, pretzel sundae cone.
Info: 3550 Bellview Road, Schnecksville, North Whitehall Township, 610-799-4611, crystalspringfarmpa.com
Authentic tasting
Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery in Forks Township operates Happy Holstein Ice Cream, which has been serving homemade ice cream since 2016.
The shop sells cones and cups and carries traditional flavors year-round including vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, mint chocolate chip, peanut butter, Oreo and coffee.
Seasonal ice creams (summer flavors include pistachio pizzazz and lemon chiffon) rotate.
The ice cream is made from scratch on the premises by Daniel Duffin, of Riegelsville, who partnered with the Klein family.
It contains all-natural ingredients and no artificial colors or flavors, staff say.
The PA Ice Cream Trail was created to increase consumer awareness of locally-produced dairy products and drive statewide traffic to PA Preferred creameries.
Since the dairy farm — established in 1935 — has participated in the trail (this is their seventh year) the staff says it has noticed an uptick in people coming to the family-owned business.
The farm also sells milk, eggs, cream cheese, yogurt, produce, meats, plus many farm-to-table items.
Check out the play area for kids and the petting area with goats, chickens, pot-bellied pigs and Licorice, the resident mule. A food dispenser offers the animals pellets and costs a quarter.
What to try: Blackberry blast, coffee classic, peanut butter bliss and Black cow (dark chocolate).
If you go: 410 Klein Road, Forks Township, 610-253-8942, kleinfarms.com
Looking for more options?
Well, you're in for a treat. Here are some of our staff picks for the best ice cream and gelato in the Lehigh Valley.
For chocolate lovers
The Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor, originally housed in the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, serves scoops from Penn State Creamery Ice Cream.
Each month a hotel staff member makes a trip to State College to bring back 500 gallons of Penn State ice cream.
The classic shop serves 12 flavors daily plus featured flavors that rotate monthly.
What to try: Death by chocolate (Flakes of pure chocolate, fudge pieces, and chocolate swirl blended with rich chocolate ice cream), alumni swirl (vanilla ice cream with Swiss mocha chips and blueberry swirl) and cookie dough.
Also, the warm brownie sundae. Staff say it's so popular that it sells more than three times as much as any other sundae.
Info: 462 Main St., Bethlehem, 610-625-5355, bethlehem-shoppe-ice-cream
The GOAT
On the top of the list is Bethlehem Dairy Store, otherwise known as The Cup, a Lehigh Valley staple.
Its two locations offer more than 20 hard ice cream flavors, soft-serve, no-sugar added, sherbet and frozen yogurt.
Additionally, they have 10 different types of sundaes (hot fudge, peanut butter, hot butterscotch, pineapple, and more).
What to try: Any sundae will satisfy, along with seasonal flavors such as the Georgia peach, blueberry cheesecake, banana peanut butter, strawberry marshmallow, banana orange and pineapple.
Info: 1430 Linden St. and 2 Farrington Square, Bethlehem, 610-691-8422, bethlehemdairystore.com
Gourmet goodness
Bank Street Creamery in Easton, established in 1998, serves more than 120 types of ice cream in rotation with unique names such as the purple cow (black raspberry), Mexican chocolate diablo (cinnamon and chocolate covered almonds and cayenne pepper), Easton bisque (Italian amaretto ribbon and toasted macaroon pieces), and gianduja (hazelnuts and chocolate).
Also, pick from an array of vegan gelatos (avocado, mango, toasted coconut, peanut butter fudge, white chocolate mint) and seven different types of sundaes (or be creative and make your own).
What to try: C.M.P sundae (vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup, marshmallow sauce, topped with whipped cream, peanuts, and a cherry) and the avocado or lavender vegan gelato.
Flavors change daily, so check their social mediafor the latest updates.
Info: 15 S. Bank St., Easton, 610-252-5544, bankstreetcreamery.com
Organic and locally sourced
With seven locations across the state, Owowcow Creamery makes its handmade ice cream using organic products from farms such as Trauger's Farm in Kintnersville, Bechdolt's Orchard in Hellertown and Blooming Glen Farm in Perkasie.
Known for fruit-infused seasonal flavors like the strawberry rhubarb crumble, apricot toffee almond and strawberry salted stracciatella, the shop also serves delicious dairy-free flavors that are just as tasty.
What to try: Honey lavender (infused with organic raw honey) and vegan salted caramel vanilla.
Info: 1262 Simon Blvd., Easton, 610-438-5269, owowcow.com/the-ice-cream
Look out for the giant man
Driving down Route 309, it's hard to miss "Giant Chip," the titanic mascot who stands sentry outside the Inside Scoop in Upper Saucon.
The owners, Penny and Tony Caciolo, brought Chip onboard in 2018, but have been offering homemade ice cream since the 1970s.
The old-fashioned ice cream parlor sells hard and soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, malts and nine varieties of sundaes.
Lighter options include eight fruit smoothies to try named after iconic movie stars including Elvis Presley, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.
What to try: Not to be devoured alone, the Volcano — perhaps the biggest sundae around — is made with 14 scoops of ice cream, eight toppings, whipped cream and cherries. Finish the whole thing and your name will be placed on the shop's "Wall of Flame."
Check the website for the latest flavors.
'Udderly'-delicious
A popular food truck and ice cream shop, Udder Bar scoops up ice cream, milk shakes and waffles.
Appealing to all appetites, they offer 40 different flavors, along with non-dairy and vegan ice cream, gluten-free options, milkshakes and three different types of waffle sundaes.
For those on-the-go, there is online ordering.
What to try: The Daffle (a donut stuffed with choice of ice cream and toppings) or the scrumptious Liege, bubble and taco waffles.
Info: 1852 W. Allen St., Allentown, 484-221-8653, theudderbar.com
