Eight Maryland Ice Cream Stands That Never Stop Scooping, Even In Winter

Plenty of Maryland ice cream stands lock up after Labor Day and leave us waiting until spring. These eight keep the freezers full all year, from farm creameries in the western hills to busy city shops in Baltimore and a downtown favorite in Annapolis.

A cold January day is actually a smart time to go, since the lines are often shorter and you can take your time picking a flavor. Save this list for the next time a winter craving shows up.

1. Broom’s Bloom Dairy, Bel Air, MD

Paw paw ice cream is not something you see on many menus, and that alone makes this Harford County farm stop stand out. Broom’s Bloom Dairy is a rural cafe on a working family farm, and the ice cream is made right there.

Flavors like peanut butter and apple cream share the case with the paw paw. The kitchen also turns out light fare, including Maryland crab soup, pork BBQ on a roll, a BLT, grilled cheese, and Kate’s Famous Salad.

I like this one for winter because it doubles as a farm market. Shoppers stock up on milk, cheese, meats, and other locally sourced dairy products, which makes it a handy holiday stop.

Hours run Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and it is closed Mondays. Parking is free, and Friday mornings tend to be the quietest time to visit.

2. Nutter’s Ice Cream, Sharpsburg, MD

Small town, big scoops. Nutter’s sits at 100 E Main St in historic Sharpsburg, and the portions here have a reputation that travels well beyond Washington County.

The long-running parlor serves both hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream. Sundaes, banana splits, hot fudge, and malted milkshakes round out the menu, with raspberry among the scoopable flavors.

Prices stay friendly, which is part of why summer lines can stretch out the door. Winter is a different story, and weekday afternoons are the calmest time to stop by.

The shop opens daily from 2 to 8 PM. There is no indoor dining, so plan on taking your cone to go, and dogs are welcome outside.

3. South Mountain Creamery, Middletown, MD

Here is a place where the ice cream travels a very short distance from cow to cone. South Mountain Creamery is a family-owned, farmer-operated dairy in the Frederick County countryside outside Middletown.

The farm runs a creamery, a home delivery service, and a wholesale operation. Visitors can stop at the on-farm store for creamery-made ice cream along with fresh milk, eggs, and other farm products.

It is open seven days a week, which is rare for a working farm stop. Weekday hours run 11 AM to 5 PM, with later closings at 6 PM on Friday through Sunday and a 10 AM start on Saturdays.

On-site parking makes it easy to pull in during a winter drive through the valley.

4. Island Creamery, Salisbury, MD

A drive-through window for homemade ice cream is a pretty great perk when it is 30 degrees outside. Island Creamery in Salisbury offers one, and it makes this Eastern Shore shop an easy winter pick.

The ice cream is made in small batches with a long list of unique flavors. Scoops come in handmade waffle cones, and servings lean generous.

You will find it at 306 Dogwood Dr, open every day from 11 AM to 9 PM. Mornings are quiet, while Friday through Sunday evenings bring the biggest crowds.

There is no indoor seating, so the drive-through or a quick takeout run is the way to go. Parking is plentiful.

5. Hoffman’s Ice Cream & Deli, Westminster, MD

Tin roof, chocolate marshmallow, cherry, chocolate almond. The flavor board at Hoffman’s reads like a greatest hits list of old-school ice cream, and it is all made in-house.

This Carroll County institution has a true mom-and-pop feel, with a simple counter serving both homemade ice cream and deli fare. They even make their own ice cream sandwiches.

Butterscotch shows up when in season, and butter pecan is another reliable order. The hot fudge sundae with chocolate almond is a classic way to go.

Hoffman’s keeps long hours, 9 AM to 9 PM every day, at 934 Washington Rd. There is no indoor seating, but the free lot makes a car picnic simple.

6. The Charmery Hampden, Baltimore, MD

Old Bay caramel ice cream is about as Baltimore as dessert gets. The Charmery serves it in Hampden, right on the Avenue at 801 W 36th St.

The family-owned shop is known for inventive and seasonal flavors. Malty Vanilla Chip and Maryland Mud are other house picks, and ice cream sandwiches are on the menu too.

Walls and corners are filled with paintings and sculptures from local artists, giving the space a fun neighborhood personality. A rewards card helps regulars earn something back.

Night owls, take note. It stays open until 11 PM Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, all year long.

7. BMORE LICKS, Baltimore, MD

More than 100 flavors of soft serve and milkshakes. That number is the headline at BMORE LICKS on Eastern Avenue, and it is hard to order the same thing twice.

Combos get creative, like Pistachio Fruity Pebbles soft serve and Cookie Monster, a blue vanilla loaded with cookie dough, cookie chunks, and cookies and cream. Peanut butter Oreo and a seasonal eggnog caramel have shown up too.

Sundaes, brownie sundaes, banana splits, and snowballs fill out the menu. There are indoor and outdoor ordering windows, and dogs are allowed inside.

Hours run 2 to 9 PM on weekdays and noon to 9 PM on weekends. Street parking is free nearby.

8. Annapolis Ice Cream Company, Annapolis, MD

Pie in your ice cream sounds like a dessert dream, and Annapolis Ice Cream Company makes it real. Some housemade flavors have pies and cobblers mixed right in, like blackberry cobbler.

The specialty menu changes constantly. Past favorites include banana pudding, Captain Crunch, cotton candy, vanilla heath, black raspberry, and strawberry Nutella.

The shop sits at 196 Main St in the heart of downtown, so it pairs well with a winter stroll near the harbor. Shakes, sundaes, and banana splits are also on offer.

Weekday hours start at 2 PM, with earlier openings Friday through Sunday and closings as late as 10 PM. Free Wi-Fi is a small bonus.

From farm stores to late-night city counters, these eight prove Maryland ice cream season never really ends. Pick one close to home or plan a winter road trip and try them all.