Visitors to Princeton are pretty used to seeing a long line outside one little ice cream shop in Palmer Square, and those who get inside to try the desserts at The Bent Spoon soon find out why. This small shop, with only a few seats and a bustling counter, has frequently won the title of the best ice cream in New Jersey. That’s tough competition if you’re comparing all the chocolate and pistachio purveyors across the Garden State – but at The Bent Spoon, you’re getting something completely different. The frozen dessert wizards behind The Bent Spoon have become nationally recognized for their inventive flavor combos, taking everything from local produce to exotic spices to create ice creams and sorbets, unlike anything you’ve ever tasted on a cone.
The Bent Spoon is one of the smallest ice cream parlors around Princeton - but it packs a lot of flavor into its storefront.
Alexander D/Trip Advisor
It offers over a dozen flavors of ice cream daily, all made from local ingredients that change seasonally.
Alexander D/TripAdvisor
Wondering why The Bent Spoon doesn’t have a regular printed menu? That’s because the flavors change daily, although you’ll likely find some old favorites hanging around no matter what day you arrive.
Alexander D/TripAdvisor
The reason the flavors are so unpredictable is that The Bent Spoon relies largely on local produce and other small-batch ingredients, meaning every season is the start of a new wave of flavors.
The Bent Spoon
The scoops at The Bent Spoon are much smaller than the average, meaning it’s easy to try two or even three flavors in a single cone or cup.
The Bent Spoon
And the flavors here can be seriously adventurous, from a look at some of their recent offerings. This looks like standard chocolate - but it’s actually a chocolate oatmeal stout made through a partnership with a local craft brewery!
The Bent Spoon/Facebook
The Bent Spoon’s roasted pumpkin ice cream is so popular in fall, this year they introduced a plant-based version as part of their new line of vegan ice creams.
The Bent Spoon/Facebook
And sometimes, there are flavors designed to tempt the truly daring. This special is turmeric ice cream with black peppercorn and anise seeds!
The Bent Spoon/Facebook
Their sorbets are also popular for a lighter option - and one of the most exciting ways to try their raspberry apple cider sorbet is sandwiched into a house-made apple cider doughnut from the bakery.
The Bent Spoon/Facebook
The walls of The Bent Spoon are always covered with images of the many publications where the business has been named one of the best ice cream parlors around - and after one bite, it’s not hard to see why.
DLP/TripAdvisor
Have you tasted the unique seasonal flavors at The Bent Spoon? Let us know what you indulged in on your visit, and tell us your pick for the best ice cream in New Jersey in the comments section. If you want to find out what flavors they’re offering now, visit their Facebook page and website. If you’re in the mood for something more savory, check out the best burgers in New Jersey.
Alexander D/Trip Advisor
Alexander D/TripAdvisor
The Bent Spoon
The Bent Spoon/Facebook
DLP/TripAdvisor
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Address: The Bent Spoon, 35 Palmer Square W, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA
