Ice Cream Lovers Unite: Why New Mexico And New Jersey Can’t Get Enough
When summer heat hits, ice cream isn’t just dessert – it’s survival, celebration, and pure joy.
New Mexico loves it because those blazing desert days demand something cold and sweet, and creative scoops like green chile or piñon nut turn relief into a local art form.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s seaside towns thrive on tradition, where frozen custard cones and saltwater taffy stand as summertime rituals stretching back generations. Together, these two states prove that whether you’re cooling off in the high desert sun or strolling a breezy boardwalk, ice cream is more than a treat, it’s a way of life. And below, you’ll find some of the best spots in both states where locals swear the cones, cups, and custards are worth every lick.
1. Caliche’s Frozen Custard
Whoa, talk about velvety goodness! Caliche’s dense frozen custard makes ordinary ice cream seem like a distant cousin.
Folks line up at multiple Las Cruces and Alamogordo locations for signature concretes and that famous strawberry-banana “Caliche” sundae. Night owls rejoice, their late seasonal hours mean dessert cravings never go unsatisfied.
2. La Lecheria
Chef-driven ice cream? Yes please! Santa Fe’s hidden gem serves up mind-blowing flavor combos that scream New Mexico.
Green chile ice cream might sound bonkers, but one taste of their red-chile honey or Mexican chocolate scoops will convert any skeptic. The modern Railyard counter keeps locals coming back with its ever-changing seasonal board featuring ingredients sourced right from nearby farms.
3. Taos Cow
Tucked in Arroyo Seco village, Taos Cow dishes out ice cream that captures New Mexico’s essence, rich with scents of toasted piñon and sweet cream. Hikers and skiers wander in year-round, chasing flavors as vibrant as the mountain views outside.
Piñon caramel remains a favorite, a swirl that feels tied to the land itself while rugged peaks loom nearby. An all-natural philosophy keeps every scoop free of shortcuts, filled only with Southwestern character. Morning hours turn indulgence into ritual, making ice cream for breakfast feel perfectly at home in the high desert air.
4. I Scream Ice Cream
Step into a time machine disguised as an ice cream parlor! Albuquerque’s nostalgic wonderland serves scoops with a side of childhood memories.
Vintage toys and memorabilia cover every inch while the rotating flavor case tempts with classic and creative options. Could anything beat slurping a root beer float surrounded by collectibles from decades past? This local favorite maintains consistent hours, unlike some fair-weather ice cream spots.
5. Frost Gelato
Italian-style frozen magic fills each day at a sleek ABQ Uptown spot where the scent of roasted espresso and sweet cream floats through the air. No need for a ticket to Italy – authentic gelato churns fresh right here.
Glass windows reveal artisans at work every morning, crafting small batches that gleam with rich color. Texture stays impossibly smooth, flavor packed tight thanks to less air than ice cream, so smaller scoops leave cravings fully satisfied. Affogatos crown the menu, hot espresso cascading over cold gelato to create dessert perfection for coffee lovers.
6. The Paleta Bar
Mexican popsicle paradise thrives in Albuquerque, turning frozen treats into works of art that smell of fresh fruit and melted chocolate. Paletas start with bases like mango, coconut, or dozens of others, then get dipped in rich coatings and finished with toppings that crunch or drizzle in every bite.
Spicy options push flavor further, Tajín or chamoy adding that sweet-heat kick which lingers on the tongue. Multiple locations spread across the city keep indulgence close at hand, ensuring paleta perfection is never far from reach.
7. Kohr’s Frozen Custard
Jersey Shore legends don’t get bigger than this! For over a century, beachgoers have flocked to Seaside Heights boardwalk for that iconic orange-vanilla swirl.
Salt air somehow makes their creamy custard taste even better. Generations of families make Kohr’s their mandatory post-beach ritual, creating memories cone by delicious cone. Summer evenings on the boardwalk just wouldn’t feel right without joining those happy custard-seeking lines.
8. Hoffman’s Ice Cream
Four Shore-area shops chase one mission: keep beach-weary crowds cool with house-made scoops, an art Hoffman’s has perfected since 1976. Sweet aromas drift from the counter, drawing families in for a treat that feels like pure summer.
Seasonal late-night hours keep cravings satisfied long after sunset, scoops landing in cones and cups while ocean breezes linger. Generations argue over favorite flavors, but everyone agrees the thick, creamy texture beats anything store-bought. Ice cream cakes carry the same richness, starring at Jersey celebrations where memories feel just as sweet as the dessert itself.
9. The Bent Spoon
Princeton’s artisanal ice cream makers turn New Jersey harvests into frozen wonders, blending aromas of fresh cream with seasonal ingredients pulled straight from local farms. Sweet corn ice cream in August captures late-summer fields in every bite, tasting as magical as it sounds.
The small Palmer Square shop might look modest, yet its board of flavors reads like a rolling state harvest calendar. Blackberries from nearby farms, heirloom tomatoes bursting with garden sweetness, and even fragrant lavender appear in rotating scoops. Farm-to-cone stands as lived reality here, where each season shapes the menu into something distinctly Garden State.
10. Torico Ice Cream
Jersey City’s tropical flavor paradise brings Caribbean sunshine to the Garden State! Family-run since 1968, Torico’s Puerto Rican roots shine through in every scoop.
Adventurous eaters swoon over mamey, soursop, and ube flavors rarely found elsewhere. The Erie Street shop buzzes with neighborhood energy as locals debate new offerings versus longtime favorites. Their production facility on Garfield Avenue even lets fans peek at ice cream magic being made.
11. Applegate Farm
How about licking premium ice cream on the same historic dairy farm where cows once grazed? Upper Montclair’s frozen landmark delivers exactly that nostalgic experience!
Multiple service windows keep lines moving during summer rushes. Families spread picnic blankets across the grassy lawn, savoring banana splits and old-fashioned sundaes beneath shade trees. Their soda-fountain vibe transports visitors to simpler times when ice cream outings were special family events.
12. Thomas Sweet
College towns and custom mix-ins make an iconic pair, and students in Princeton and New Brunswick keep Thomas Sweet buzzing late into the night with study-session fuel. Their signature blend-ins send the scent of chocolate and fruit wafting through the shop as candy pieces or fresh chunks tumble into creamy bases inside a special mixing machine.
Each spin creates a frozen masterpiece where flavors merge seamlessly, delivering a scoop unlike anywhere else. Shakes lean so thick they demand a spoon before any straw can stand, a Jersey preference that locals wouldn’t have any other way.
13. Holsten’s
Before Tony Soprano made it iconic, Bloomfield’s vintage ice cream parlor had already built legend status, serving house-made scoops and hearty meals since 1939. Sweet aromas of chocolate and vanilla mingle with diner fare, creating a scene that feels frozen in time.
A vintage candy case and retro booths transport visitors back decades, every detail steeped in nostalgia. TV fans might recognize it as the final scene location of that famous mob series, yet locals keep returning for creamy malts and towering sundaes. Black-and-white milkshakes carry such loyal devotion they could claim a fan club of their own.
14. Coney Waffle
Instagram was practically invented for Belmar’s over-the-top ice cream creations! Beach-day desserts transform into towering architectural wonders at this shore sensation.
Their Sideshow Shakes defy gravity – milkshakes crowned with entire slices of cake, cookies, candy, and whipped cream. Bring friends because these spectacular treats require a team effort. The waffle cones, warm and freshly pressed, make even simple scoops extraordinary at their Ocean Avenue flagship.
15. Pop Fizz
Though their brick-and-mortar stays temporarily closed, Albuquerque’s paleta pioneers keep the frozen fiesta rolling on wheels! Pop Fizz Mobile trucks pop up citywide during warm months.
Mexican-style popsicles burst with unexpected combos like cucumber-chile and pineapple-chamoy. These aren’t your childhood freezer pops! Made with real fruit and creative flavor profiles, they showcase New Mexico’s multicultural food scene perfectly. Follow their social media to track down these elusive frozen treasures.
