Photo courtesy of Magic Fountain
Color me biased, because my birthday is at the very end of August, but I believe with certainty that ice cream cake is the very best kind of cake. If you’re a summer baby like me, you’ve probably already celebrated the majority of your birthdays with melty, sometimes crunchy, sometimes gooey, always delicious ice cream cakes. But if you’ve parted ways with Carvel and are in search of something more… artisanal to satisfy your cakey, creamy cravings, it’s cool. Do we all scream for ice cream? Do we all scream for ice cream cakes? Of course we do. Here’s where to get the best ice cream cakes on Long Island.
John’s Drive-In
I’m a sucker for a drive, and I’ll come up with just about any excuse to head out to Montauk, but that’s not why John’s ice cream cakes are included on this list. If you’re stuck in a pinch, with a last-minute party that requires zero planning, you can pick up one of their massive cakes (they have a ready-to-go stable on-hand), so long as you have enough cash in your pocket. You can also special order your own, selecting a flavor of your choice. John’s makes their ice cream in-house. And it’s all delicious—and super classic. Stop in for a burger. Stay for a cake. Or the other way around. Honestly, it’s hard to decide.
John’s Drive-In, 677 Montauk Highway, Montauk, (631) 668.5515, open daily, 11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Coyle’s Ice Cream
In Bay Shore, you can have your cake and eat it, too. Coyle’s has ice cream cakes in stock in vanilla and chocolate (you know, for emergencies), but you can special order your cakes, too, with up to three flavors and your choice of filling. We all love a chocolate crunch, but maybe it’s time to switch it up to something different. Black cherries? Hot caramel? Marshmallow? The world is your gummy bear. Founded in 1985, Coyle’s makes their ice cream in-house. There are enough flavors to make choosing three a difficult task, indeed.
Coyle’s Ice Cream, 75 Howells Road, Bay Shore, (631) 666.2229, call for hours.
Magic Fountain
First of all, Magic Fountain makes some of the best ice cream on Long Island. Don’t @ me. And while it’s easy to become obsessed with their roster of seasonal flavors (hello, cucumber???), don’t overlook their homemade cakes. With three days’ notice, Magic Fountain can make any manner of custom cake, using any of their flavors. Their decorating skills are top-notch, too. This goes far beyond the merely adequate Fudgie the Whale of Carvel fame. Trust us. You’ll be glad you invested.
Magic Fountain Ice Cream, 9825 Main Road, Mattituck, (631) 298.4908, open daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Ice Cream Cottage
This Mastic outpost has been making ice cream—and ice cream cakes—since 1990. A rival publication once declared it the best ice cream on Long Island. They have eight flavors regularly in stock and can accommodate tons more with a day’s notice. Cakes are massive, extremely fresh, and doused with all kinds of toppings, from butterscotch to hot fudge to handfuls of M&Ms. Plus, the shop has about 50 regular flavors—as well as 25 rotating seasonal flavors—for people to choose from. With such staggering options, it’s difficult to leave disappointed.
Ice Cream Cottage, 1590 Montauk Highway, Mastic, (631) 395.3580, open daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe
Riverhead has most things I need to survive. Costco? Check. Buffalo Wild Wings? Check. Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe? If you’ve never been, you must make the trip—and soon. Cakes are all special orders and can be made either with soft serve or hard scoop ice cream (the store makes their own flavors—25 of them). They’re known for the Peconic Swamp Thing, but don’t feel beholden if that’s not your bag. Cakes come in a variety of sizes: 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12” rounds, small sheets, large sheets, and 9” copycakes. The largest cakes serve up to 36. Sounds like a party to me.
Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe, 1148 W. Main Street, Riverhead, (631) 727.4394, open daily, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Read more: 3 Next-Level Ice Cream Sandwiches on Long Island
