New Jersey is home to a whole lot of great ice cream shops. But Nicholas Creamery, which currently has three locations in the state, promises you’ll taste the difference in their varieties. They use all-natural, quality ingredients, working directly with local farmers and artisans to create fresh, seasonal ice cream; all of it made in small batches.
Nicholas Creamery features classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and mint Oreo. However, they also churn out creative, handcrafted flavors including Kentucky Pig, Shipwreck Bananas Foster, and Vegan Coconut Cherry Vanilla. In fact, they release six new creations each month that only stay on the menu for that same month. Co-owner Jodie Edwards owns the spot along with Nicolas and Melissa Harary (owners of Nicholas Barrel & Roost). With so many new flavor combos always in the works, you’ll find something different to try with every visit.
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So far, the biggest sellers are Brown Sugar Cookie Dough and Hudson Coffee Crunch. Jodie says their most requested seasonal flavors are Jersey blueberry and, no joke, Sweet Corn; the latter is only available in August during corn season. They also serve gluten-free and coconut-milk based vegan ice creams. “You can really taste when something is mass produced opposed to small batch,” she says. “You feel the love in that ice cream. That’s definitely what differentiates it.”
Toppings like hot fudge and salted caramel sauce are made on-site by a pastry chef from Restaurant Nicholas. Likewise, their waffle cones are served made to order in a hot waffle maker. Jodie even tells a story about a customer who once brought in handpicked sour cherries. The pastry chef transformed them into a sour cherry sauce Edwards then poured over the customer’s vanilla ice cream. “I still dream about that,” she says. Click here to see their menu.
You’ll also find hand-spun milkshakes, sundaes, grab-and-go ice cream cakes, and pints to go. In addition, they create seasonal cakes for holidays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July. The ice cream shop can even bring an ice cream cart to schools or a backyard party.
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Nicholas Creamery works with local businesses to craft their ice cream. They make flavors using ingredients like acai, beer, ricotta, rum, bourbon, and coffee from small businesses in the area. “We do a lot of collaborations,” Jodie explains. “It’s really fun to work with local businesses. We love highlighting them.”
The growing business features a modern farmhouse décor and black and white hues, with three locations to date. The first two – in Atlantic Highlands and Fair Haven – opened in 2018. Their newest location, in Tinton Falls, opened for Memorial Day weekend of 2021. These shops are open year-round, with expansion plans for the future already in the works. “We’re embedded in communities,” says Jodie, who lives in Fair Haven. “That’s why we opened in the towns we did. Ice cream makes people happy. Nothing is better than that. They have smiles when they come in.”
You’ll find Nicholas Creamery at 84 1st Ave in Atlantic Highlands, 540 River Rd in Fair Haven, and 1201 Sycamore Ave in Tinton Falls. To learn more, click here to visit their website or you can click the following links to call them directly. (Atlantic Highlands | Fair Haven | Tinton Falls)
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All Photos: © Nicholas Creamery / Instagram