The delicious frozen dairy products of today evolved from the flavored ices popular with the Romans in the 4th centtury B.C. The hand-crank freezer, patented in 1846, led to the establishment of the first commercial ice cream plant in Baltimore in 1851. Frozen yogurt was introduced in the late 1960s.
For nutritional information visit the National Dairy Council website.

Get your fix at these great NH places!

[ Readers' favorites ]

Our readers' favorites:

• Dipsy Doodle Dairy Bar, Northfield
  We take our grandchildren to the Dipsy Doodle Dairy Bar in Northfield, NH. The ice cream (28 flavors) is rich and creamy, and they feature decorated waffle cones with different toppings embedded right into a chocolate dip coating. The portions are good size and if we're having a sundae or banana split, we can sit outside in good weather, or inside in bad or super hot weather. There are many exotic flavors, but I like the vanilla or, occasionally, the rum raisin. If we are eating there (excellent fried clams) I may get a frappe, which is thick, but the only way to really enjoy real "stand" ice cream is in a cone or dish. The Dipsy Doodle is worth the drive. It's in Northfield, NH, right off Route 93 at Exit 19. That's right below Tilton. We give it a "10".
  - Lynn / Lakes Region of New Hampshire
• Hayward's Ice Cream, Nashua and Milford
  By far the best homemade Ice Cream around. Hayward's has alot of the standard flavors but they also rotate in alot of their custom flavors like; Chocolate Tsunami, Fluffernutter, and Cookie Dough Brownie just to name 3. I highly recommend Hayward's. In my opinion, Hayward's has the best homemade ice cream.
  - Chris - Nashua, NH
• The Quack Shack, Sunapee Harbor
  Always busy, and a great way to enjoy a hot day at the lake! My Daughter and I go there at least once a week in the summer!
  
• The Big One, Nashua
  The Big One on Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua is by far the best ice cream stand and offers both hard and soft ice cream.
  - Bridget Schueler
• The Big One, Nashua (Concord St.)
  Great ice cream! Great price! Great family place!
  - Barbara Carvill, Nashua
• Jake's Ice Cream and Sweet Shop, Amherst
  You should try Jake's Ice Cream and Sweet Shop in Amherst, NH. By far the best ice cream and flavors you won't find anywhere else!
  - Dale Vetter
• Bishops, Littleton & Lincoln
  I travel from Key West FL every year and make it a must stop!
  - Bill Sterndale
• Lago's Lone Oaks, Rye (right on Rt. 1)!!!
  - Jane Niver
• Moo's Ice Cream, Derry (Crystal Ave.)
  Best ice cream...one of the owners took the Ice Cream Short Course at Penn State University (Ben and Jerry took the course too so that should tell you something about the taste and consistency). ... Try it and you won't be disappointed!
  - MGM Stella
• Moo's Ice Cream, Derry
  Moo's Place in Derry, NH has the BEST in-house homemade ice cream in all of New Hampshire. They also have an indoor seating area for those cooler days when you still want to enjoy your favorite flavor early in the season. Their selection of flavors can't be beat. I tried a new flavor this year, Irish Cream, and it was delicious!!
  - The Rondeaus, Antrim
• Riverside Dairy Joy, Ashland (Rt. 3)
  There's a great ice cream stand in Ashland, NH. I almost hate to spread the word but the portions are huge (the small is big) and the ice cream is great. You won't be disappointed.
  - Dotti Bradbury
• Goldenrod Restaurant & Drive-In, Manchester (Candia Rd.)
  - Anastasia Carson
• The Piazza, Keene
  Loads of delicious ice cream flavors, both hard and soft. Innumerable number of toppings and mix ins. People line up to their share of the town's best place to go for this icy treat. Have many flavorful drinks, too.
  - Gioia Rittweger
• Deer Cap Campground, Center Ossipee (Rt. 16)
  The best ice cream stand in the North is at Deer Cap Campground. Unless you are a big ice cream eater, you better get the one scoop. The 3 scooper is only $3.75 and HUGE.
  - Robin Moran
• Jordan's, Belmont
  Homemade ice cream served in a sandpail...enough ice cream to last for a while. It's the famous belly buster. They also offer all kinds of sundaes and even treats for the dogs!
  - Patricia Pond
• Jordan's, Belmont
  Jordan's Ice Cream in Belmont is out of this world!!!
  - B. Follansbee
• Jordan's, Belmont
  Jordan's in Belmont has a PUMPKIN ice cream in the fall that I wait all summer for! Well worth the wait and they should be in the top ten!
  - John Rokous
• Strafford Farms, Dover
  Come on, Strafford Farms in Dover serves the best ice cream in New England.
  - Joe Fortier
• Appleview Orchard, Pittsfield
  The best ice cream in New England is at Appleview Orchard in Pittsfield! And they make their own waffle cones by hand and their own FRESH whipped cream! Plus, they are a family-run PYO orchard and they have games and toys out for the kids to play with while you're there and lots of room for running around. Beautiful location, kid friendly, awesome service, great gift shop — it's just the BEST hands down!
  - The Vanderpools, Pittsfield
• The Big One, Nashua (Concord St.)
  Best ice cream around. Once a week I take my son to the Big One Ice Cream Stand for ice cream and the place is awesome. The owners are SO friendly and the ice cream is the best in town. Prices are so affordable and it is also great that you have the option of hard ice cream and soft serve. Highly recommend this ice cream stand!
  - Amy Duprey