Bruster's Real Ice Cream sets itself apart by making all of its ice cream fresh inside each store every day — no pre-packaged product shipped from a factory. With more than 150 recipes in rotation and at least 24 flavors available at any given time, there is nearly always something new to try alongside the classics.
Signature items
Customizable mix-in treat
Limited-time deal: two waffle bowl sundaes for one bundled price.
$11.00Calorie counts are approximate ranges from Bruster's nutritional disclosures; prices are regional averages.
| Item | Calories (approx.) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small Cone / Cup (2 scoops) | 300–450 | $2.82 |
| Regular Waffle Cone (3 scoops) | 450–650 | $4.44 |
| Bruster's Blast Regular (16 oz) | 830–1,360 | $4.24 |
| Hand-Spun Milkshake Regular (22 oz) | 620–1,280 | $4.25 |
| Ice Cream Freeze Regular | 290–600 | $4.25 |
| Banana Split | 700–900 | $5.61 |
| Ice Cream Cake (per serving) | 270–350 | price varies |
Like-for-like comparison on common ice cream categories.
| Category | Bruster's | Dairy Queen | Baskin-Robbins | Cold Stone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small cone / cup (2 scoops) | $2.82 | ~$3.49 | ~$4.49 | ~$4.99 |
| Signature / specialty sundae | $4.95 | ~$4.99 | ~$5.79 | ~$5.99 |
| Blended treat (blast/blizzard/mix) | $4.24 | ~$4.59 | ~$5.49 | ~$5.29 |
| Milkshake (regular size) | $4.25 | ~$4.79 | ~$5.49 | ~$5.99 |
| Ice cream cake (custom) | price varies | ~$20+ | ~$25+ | ~$30+ |
Bruster's Real Ice Cream was founded in 1989 by Bruce Reed in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania. Reed's guiding philosophy was simple: make the ice cream fresh every single day, right inside each store, using quality ingredients — no shortcuts, no pre-packaged mixes shipped from a central plant. That commitment to freshness became the chain's defining identity and the source of its name.
From that first location, Bruster's grew into a franchise network with hundreds of stores spread across more than 20 U.S. states, primarily concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest. The brand maintains a library of more than 150 ice cream and frozen dessert recipes, rotating through flavors so that regular customers always have something new to discover. At any given time, each store carries at least 24 flavors made on-site that day.
Bruster's menu spans traditional scoops in cones and cups, loaded sundaes, the signature Blast (a mix-in treat blended to order), hand-spun milkshakes, ice cream freezes, and fully customizable ice cream cakes and pies built for special occasions. The chain has earned a loyal following by combining the personalized feel of a local ice cream shop with the consistency and variety of a national brand.
Find your nearest location, check today's rotating flavors, and confirm current prices on the official Bruster's website.
Find a Bruster's near youYes. Every Bruster's location makes its ice cream fresh in-store each day using proprietary recipes. No pre-packaged product is shipped in from a central factory, which is a core part of the brand's identity since its founding in 1989.
Bruster's maintains a library of more than 150 ice cream and frozen dessert recipes and rotates through them continuously. Each store carries at least 24 flavors at any given time, so the selection changes regularly. Specific flavors available on a given day vary by location.
The Bruster's Blast is a signature mix-in treat — vanilla ice cream blended with your choice of cookie, candy, or topping. Available mix-ins include Oreo, Cookie Dough, Reese's Cups, M&M's, Heath Bar, Brownie Bites, Snickers, Twix, Butterfinger, and more. It comes in a Regular (16 oz) or Large (22 oz) size.
Bruster's has offered non-dairy ice cream options at select locations. Availability varies by store. The milkshake menu specifically notes non-dairy options can be requested. Check with your local Bruster's for current non-dairy flavor availability.
A regular cone or cup (3 scoops) costs around $3.87, and a signature waffle cone with 3 scoops is approximately $4.44. Prices vary by region and location, so the figures above are averages — your local store may charge slightly more or less.
Yes. Bruster's offers fully customizable 8-inch ice cream cakes (serves 12–16) and quarter-sheet cakes (serves 20–24), as well as 9-inch ice cream pies. You choose the ice cream flavor, a gooey layer (caramel, fudge, butterscotch, marshmallow, or peanut butter), and cake base. Allow 24–48 hours for custom orders.
The Bruster's Banana Split features a split banana loaded with three scoops of ice cream and traditional toppings — strawberry, pineapple, and chocolate sauces — finished with whipped cream. It is priced at approximately $5.61.
Yes. Bruster's offers two kid-friendly sundaes: the Kids' Dirt Sundae (ice cream with crushed chocolate cookie "dirt" topping) and the Kids' Dino Sundae (ice cream with fun gummy dinosaurs on top). Both are priced at around $2.83, making them among the most affordable items on the menu.
Bruster's generally offers competitive pricing. A small cone at Bruster's runs about $2.82, which is lower than a comparable serving at Baskin-Robbins (~$4.49) or Cold Stone Creamery (~$4.99). Bruster's Blasts (from $4.24) are slightly less expensive than a Dairy Queen Blizzard (~$4.59). Overall, Bruster's sits at the affordable end of the premium ice cream segment.