The Charmery
801 W. 36th St, 410-814-0493.
“I think of things I like and turn them into ice cream," says co-owner David Alima, referring to the store's variety of flavors. Look for winter concoctions like Champagne and strawberry for Valentine's Day and snowmaggedon with snowcap candies—whether or not the weather warrants it.
Editor's pick: Spro coffee, made in collaboration with the Hampden coffee shop down the street.
Maggie Moo's
Several locations including 821 S. Broadway, 410-342-8399.
It's hard to resist endlessly combining the shop's 56 flavors (like banana rum and chocolate Swiss) and 31 mix-ins (including chocolate-covered pretzels and coconut). Other whimsical cold desserts include ice-cream-filled cupcakes and an ice-cream pizza.
Editor's pick: Strawberry Skateboard—strawberry ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and gummy bears.
Pitango Gelato
Several locations including 802 S. Broadway, 410-236-0741.
When Noah Dan moved to the U.S., he missed the gelato of his youth in Italy. He eventually sold his software company and satisfied his longing by opening Pitango in 2006. The creamy, milk-based treat is made on an organic dairy farm in Pennsylvania, each kind built from scratch without chemicals or flavor concentrates.
Editor's pick: The sweet-and-savory black sesame.
Prigel Family Creamery
4852 Long Green Rd., Glen Arm, 410- 510-7488.
The on-site shop, adjacent to the creamery operations and the family's dairy farm, sells ice cream as well as milk, meat, and yogurt. The slow-churned ice cream includes flavors like Bobby's black mud (chocolate with cappuccino chips) and apple strudel. Order it scooped into a cone, in a sundae with syrup, or packed into a container to take home.
Editor's pick: Caramel pretzel.
Taharka Bros
Available at local stores and restaurants.
Taharka's small factory in Clipper Mill cranks out inventive flavors like “A Dream Preferred" (toasted-coconut ice cream with rum swirl and chocolate Pop Rocks), named after a Langston Hughes poem, and “Pryor Knowledge" with Nutella, nutmeg, nuts, and Nutter Butter cookies. Look for an ice-cream truck in the spring.
Editor's pick: Vanilla, made with ingredients grown on a small farm in Haiti.
Calories in the Cone
Sugar Cone: 40 calories in a single cone
Cake Cone: 17 calories in a single cone
