Editors’ Choice
Holy Cow Ice Cream Cafe, Peabody
Owner Mike Schifino was destined to make ice cream—when he was young, his family teased him for literally having ice cream in his eyebrows. Who’s laughing now? His decadent 16 percent butterfat treat has won multiple awards for flavors like The Charleston, a pecan coffee ice cream with homemade pralines. While Schifino prides himself on baking most of the mix-ins for his flavors in-house, he also thrives on collaborations, like Honey Butter Popover ice cream, mixed with popovers from Ledger Restaurant & Bar to celebrate the eatery’s fifth anniversary. 86 Andover St., Peabody, 978-587-2255, holycowicecreamcafe.com
Readers’ Choice
Richardson’s Ice Cream, Middleton
No place can stake a claim to ice cream history the way Richardson’s can. With a milk pedigree dating all the way back to the 1600s, and nearly 70 years’ experience freezing it into a dessert, it has an undisputed place in our hearts. Chances are that if the ice cream stand in your neighborhood doesn’t churn its own, it offers a selection from this family-owned dairy’s lineup of a startling 80 different flavors. 156 South Main St. (Rte. 114), Middleton, 978-774-5450, richardsonsicecream.com