8 Amazing Ice Cream Shops
in Bradenton

by: Kelly Stilwell

We all scream for ice cream! Frosted, malted, or peppered and salted. Sis-boom-bah! Barney the purple dinosaur had such wisdom, don’t you think? And though I haven’t found peppered ice cream (at least locally) I have scoured the area and found some pretty amazing deliciousness right here in our own backyard. Chocolate Dip Top Frozen Custard? Check. Sea Salted Caramel Gelati? We’ve got that. Mulai Kulfi? Say what? It’s an Indian-style ice cream flavored with cardamom and nuts, and
we’ve got that, too.

Let us know your favorite ice cream spot and we’ll check it out!

JEREMIAH’S ITALIAN ICE

This popular spot seems to always be jumping, and you might just find yourself singing along with the music while you wait in line. Don’t worry about the wait. It goes fast and the menu is long, so you’ll need time to make your choice. Your first decision is ice cream, Italian ice, or Gelati? We recommend the Gelati, a combo of Italian Ice and creamy soft ice cream. We’re partial to the Mango, but with 40 flavors of Italian ice, you do you. Did we
mention the free samples all day, every day?

Island Scoops

Island Scoops serves up hand-mixed locally made ice cream using all natural ingredients. Choose from creative flavors like Banana Nut Crunch, Coconut Almond Joy, Keylime Cheesecake, and more. Check the menu for rotating favorites like Caramel Explosion. Let one of their Super Scoopers fill a waffle cone or dish with your favorite flavor, or order a sundae, float, or malt. Can’t make up your mind? Try the flight of six flavors. Island Scoops now offers easy order-ahead service, too. Order through the website or call ahead and your order will be brought to your car. They’ve also partnered with DoorDash, Grubhub, and Island Eats for delivery, or join the club
for regular deliveries straight to your doorstep.

Shake Pit

An institution in Bradenton, Shake Pit has been serving up frozen treats, burgers, and more, for over 60 years. Though it’s changed owners several times since Harry Cummings opened in 1959, thankfully, it hasn’t changed much over all that time. Whether you
sit outside at one of the picnic tables or grab one of the stools in the grill room, get ready to enjoy a little piece of paradise. Though ice cream is what Shake Pit is most known for, the burgers are exceptional. Fries or onion rings? You can’t go wrong with either. For
ice cream flavors, we counted about 30, but they do change so who’s counting? Order a Pit Split, shake, malt, or their trademarked Spooners. Can’t decide? Order a soft serve frozen custard and they’ll dip it in chocolate. Tip: Grab napkins at the counter while
you wait. You’re probably going to need them. You’re welcome.

TYLER’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

Family-owned and operated since 1984, Tyler’s Homemade Ice Cream is still serving some of the freshest and most delicious ice cream around. Over time, they’ve created more than 300 flavors of ice cream! Though you won’t find quite that many on the menu, they do typically offer 40-plus flavors. The biggest seller is currently Cookies and Cream, but Butter Pecan and Sea Salt Caramel are close behind. Located in historic Cortez Village, this is the perfect stop after enjoying one of the nearby seafood restaurants.

TWO SCOOPS ICE CREAM PARLOR & COFFEE CAFE

Two Scoops motto is one to live by; If one scoop is good then two scoops are even better. Two Scoops has received the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 8 years in a row, serving 32 flavors of homemade ice cream. With flavors like Muddy Sneaker, Gator Tracks, and S’mores, chocolate lovers will think they’ve died and gone to heaven. Prefer a sundae, shake, float, or sorbet? You’ll find those, too. Just
looking for a coffee drink? They’ve got you. And if you’re hungry for something savory before dessert, take a look at the breakfast and sandwich menu.

ORWIN’S ICE CREAM

Head to Corwin’s Ice Cream for a scoop of amazing ice cream flavors like Triple Peanut Butter or Caramel Swirl topped with one of the 16 available toppings, including Brownie Crumbles. Rather a sundae? Make your own from a plethora of choices. Feeling like something a little healthier? Try an almond milk smoothie made with real fruit. Either way, enjoy your treat while burning off some
calories with a stroll along the 1.5-mile Riverwalk. Just be careful about parking as some spaces are Marina Only.

COCO JOE’S ITALIAN ICE

Don’t let the name fool you. There’s a lot more than Italian ice at this shop. How about a homemade ice cream sandwich featuring two giant Oreo wafers filled with soft frozen custard? You might want to order the 6-pack. Maybe an old fashioned A&W root beer float made with their soft frozen custard? For a healthier choice, order one of the Acai Bali Hai Bowls filled with organic acai sorbet, frozen fruit,
granola, and agave. Everything is to-go as there’s no seating. Head to the window, not the door.

BIG COW CREAMERY

With more than 50 flavors of homemade ice cream, including that Malai Kulfi and other Indian-style flavors, you’ll just have to keep going back to try them all. I asked owner and ice-cream-maker extraordinaire Ketan Shah which flavor was his favorite, and he told me it was between the coffee and the black cherry. I tasted both (delicious!) and went with the black cherry, which may well be the best I’ve ever tasted. Check out the menu including malts, milkshakes, banana splits, sundaes, and more.