Ice Cream: Scoops
![best ice cream scoops boston](https://cdn10.bostonmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/1.jpg)
Photograph by Kang Kim, Styling by Karen Evans/Apostrophe, Type by Liz Noftle
The Best Scoops in Boston
(Numbers correspond to scoops shown above.)
1.
Vanilla Bean | Batch Ice Cream
Served at Bee’s Knees, Fort Point
Bright and fragrant, courtesy of the whole vanilla beans that are scraped straight into the base.
2.
Dark Chocolate | Picco
Served at Picco, South End
Melted dark Scharffen Berger chocolate evokes a dense bar in ice cream form.
3.
Salted Caramel | Coop’s Ice Cream
Served at 3 Scoops, Brighton
A perfect sweet-salty balance and an impossibly smooth texture.
4.
Strawberry | Toscanini’s
Served at Toscanini’s, Cambridge
Not too icy, not too sweet, with a well-rounded flavor enhanced by a touch of raspberries in the recipe.
5.
Brambleberry Crisp | Jeni’s Ice Cream
Served at Tatte, Brookline
A honey-vanilla base complements the tart berries and buttery crumble swirl.
6.
Coffee | Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream
Served at Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream, Cambridge
Colombian beans produce a roasty finish.
7.
Mexican Chocolate Chip | Rancatore’s
Served at Rancatore’s, Belmont
Blended with large dark-chocolate chunks and, for complexity, a touch of cinnamon.
8.
Avocado (Vegan) | FoMu
Served at FoMu, Allston
Lovely creaminess from both avocados and coconut milk—you won’t miss the dairy.
9.
Oreo | J. P. Licks
Served at J. P. Licks, various locations
The sandwich cookies are both pulverized into the base and studded throughout in large chunks.
10.
Bananas Foster | Emack and Bolio’s
Served at Emack and Bolio’s, Back Bay
Spiced and boozy, with a buttery backbone.
11.
Burnt Sugar | Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream
Served at Christina’s Homemade Ice Cream, Cambridge
Overcooked sugar makes for a caramelly, slightly bitter scoop.
12.
B3 | Toscanini’s
Served at Toscanini’s, Cambridge
Short for “brown butter, brown sugar, brownie,” it’s nutty, fudgy, and over the top.
13.
Frozen Pudding | The Ice Creamsmith
Served at the Ice Creamsmith, Dorchester
This oft-neglected, classic New England flavor is essentially fruitcake ice cream—a rum base with bits of candied fruit scattered throughout. Here, it’s at its best.
14.
Durian | The Boston Ice Cream Factory
Served at the Boston Ice Cream Factory, Dorchester
Fresh durian imparts a sweet, moldy-cheese scent and a savory onion finish (note: only for the adventurous).
15.
Graham Central Station | Bliss Brothers Dairy
Served at Savin Scoop, Dorchester
With intense graham notes and crunchy chocolate bits, this just needs fluff for s’mores in a cup.
16.
Tiger Milk | Rancatore’s
Served at Rancatore’s, Belmont
An infusion of frosted flakes lends a faintly sweet cereal flavor to this recipe.
How About a Pint?
Here are our favorite pre-packed local ice creams.
![best ice cream scoops boston](https://cdn10.bostonmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ic5.jpg)
Illustrations by Liz Noftle
From left to right:
Chilly Cow | Black Raspberry
Available at Whole Foods
Bold, fruity, and pleasantly tart.
Coop’s | OMFG Chocolate
Available at Russo’s, Watertown
The name of this concoction (boosted with a touch of coffee) says it all: It’s an acronym for “Oh My Fudgy Goodness.”
Shaw Farm | Coffee Brownie
Available at Bee’s Knees, Fort Point
The rich coffee ice cream cradles nubs of fudgy brownie.
Hood Red Sox | Green Monster
Available at various supermarkets
Mint ice cream melts into a fluffy texture, while sock-shaped chocolate chunks kick up the kitsch.
Batch | Cinnamon and Chocolate Bits
Available at Whole Foods, Symphony
Redolent of cinnamon, this tastes like a frozen snickerdoodle.
Want more?
Check out our complete summer ice cream package.