20+ Places for Ice Cream in Prince Edward County 🍨

🎶🎵 I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! 🎶

It’s not just a little ditty from childhood, there truly is nothing quite like creamy, delicious ice cream on a hot summer day, whether you’re seven or 70.

Here in The County we are lucky to have several places to choose from, some of which even source their ingredients locally to craft that sweet summer treat. So when that urge to scream comes on, head on over to one of these amazing spots to find a treat for everyone because in The County there’s always something for everyone…

by Tracy Cassels

Remember, it’s mandatory to hold your cone in front of the Slickers store and take an ice cream version of a selfie. Trust us, it’s a thing. | Photo Courtesy: @mk_fuelyourfirefitness

Locally Made

If you’re looking for some real, honest Prince Edward County ice cream, these places all have options that are locally-sourced.

Slickers [Picton and Bloomfield] | Handmade, local ingredients and excellent customer service despite the long lines. Tasters swear by both the Campfire and the Apple Pie flavours. Thanks goodness for two locations!

A scoop amid the sunflowers | Photo Courtesy: Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe

Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe [Cherry Valley] | Locally-sourced gelato, four acres of sunflowers and a corn maze. Can you ask for anything else?

Kawarthas in The County

While the following shops may not make their ice cream on site, we won’t turn our noses up at a scoop of Moose Tracks. And with locations all over The County, you’re bound to be able to find some of the cold, creamy treat whenever you feel the need.

Old Greenhouse Ice Cream Shop [Wellington] | Ice cream from Peterborough’s Central Smith Creamery, served in a heritage greenhouse from staff whose goal is to make you smile.

Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe [Cherry Valley] | In addition to their local gelato, they also scoop 16 flavours of ice cream from Kawartha dairy.

Death by chocolate or trampled by Moose Tracks? Either way sounds like a pretty good way to go. | Photo Courtesy: The Store at Cherry Valley

The Store [Cherry Valley] | When you are known as “The Store” you know you have to have everything, ice cream included.

Cones and Shakes [Picton] | Hidden away on Elks Street in Picton, this shop offers great value with large – I mean, HUGE – portions of Kawartha ice cream.

The Benetton ad of ice cream. | Photo Courtesy: County Yum Club

County Yum Club [Picton] | On Main Street Picton, stop in for an amazing lunch followed by scoops of ice cream. Perfect for wherever the road takes you.

Those had better be chocolate chips. Not raisins. 😠 | Photo Courtesy: Campbell’s Orchards

Campbell’s Orchards [Rednersville] | Pick some produce – strawberries, blueberries or apples, depending on the time of year – then go for an orchard walk or ride, try some cider, pet a sheep and finish off your visit with some scooped ice cream.

Orchard Drive Dari-Bar [Wellington] | A family-friendly diner with everything you could want, including Chapman’s ice cream in cones, sundaes and shakes.

Soft serve at Black River Cheese, the best accessory in The County. | Photo Courtesy: Black River Cheese

Black River Cheese Company [Black River] | Not just the source for cheese, you can also get a healthy scoop of ice cream, then enjoy it while sitting by the banks of the Black River, making passersby jealous.

Outerbanks Deli [Sandbanks] | Nothing gets one hungry for ice cream like a day at the beach.  Lucky for beach-goers, Outerbanks Deli is just on the outskirts of the Sandbanks and they’ve got this ridiculously delicious invention called ‘peanut butter dip.’

Kicking their marriage off right! | Photo Courtesy: @niceicebabyicecream and @sydneylauren13

Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, or Vegan

Not everyone can do the usual ice cream and those with special considerations often get left off of the ice cream train. However, these places in The County cater to special diets so if you have someone with you who needs something a little different, one of these should be able to set you up.

Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe [Cherry Valley] | Dairy-free, lactose-free and gluten-free gelato options.

Old Greenhouse Ice Cream Shop [Wellington] | Sugar-free options.

Cup or cone? | Photo Courtesy: @the_shans

Gelato

Gelato has a greater proportion of whole milk to cream compared to ice cream, it’s whipped at a slower churn and it’s likely to be more dense than traditional ice creams. That makes this wonderful Italian treat creamy yet distinct from ice cream. Lucky for us, there are some amazing options here in The County.

The Bean Counter [Picton] | Coffee then gelato? I think I will.

Lavender helps you relax. Ice cream helps you relax. Be sure to consume somewhere comfy! | Photo Courtesy: @the_lavender_home

Prince Edward County Lavender Farm [Hillier] | Beeline to the freezer at the back of the store for a cup of homemade lavender gelato.  ‘Nuff said.

Sunflower Fields Ice Cream Shoppe [Cherry Valley] | Local, homemade gelato in various flavours that also happens to be dairy-free.  Everyone is happy.

Oreos + Sour Cherries = Blackforest. Mmmm… | Photo Courtesy: The Lunch Box

Frozen Yogurt

Remember when frozen yogurt became a thing? I date myself by admitting I do, but it’s fair to say it’s come a long way from TCBY to our local stops.

Old Greenhouse Ice Cream Shop [Wellington] | A few options for those who don’t seem to want that full cream treat.

The Lunch Box [Picton] | Tucked away in the industrial park, not far from Prince Eddy’s Brewing, this hearty little lunch spot makes great use of a FroYo machine, dreaming up delicious flavours like “black forest,” above, a mix of Oreo and sour cherries. It’s an easy answer when the urge for ice cream hits but you’re still thinking about your beach bod.

The extra small. Just kidding! That’s the small. (Eeeek!) | Photo Courtesy: @experiencepicton

Soft-Serve

Who doesn’t want that tall twirl of soft-serve ice cream every once in a while?  At these locations you get the choice of soft-serve or your typical scoop ice cream.

The Counter Coffee & Kitchen [Consecon] | Conveniently located on the west side of The County (your first stop on the way in, or last on the way out towards Toronto – or both!) Serving up Reid’s Dairy soft serve in cones, adorable tiny sandwiches or even in an affogato for coffee lovers.

$2 ice cream mini-sammies? Yes please! | Photo courtesy: @thecounterpec

Old Greenhouse Ice Cream Shop [Wellington] | Their flavour burst system takes soft-serve to the next level with multiple colours and flavours.  You can mix up to three (yes 3!) flavours,creating a mix between ice cream and a work of art.

Cones and Shakes [Picton] | How tall can they make your soft-serve? Honestly, the laws of physics seem not to apply. You’ll have to go and find out.

Content updated February 2020