Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Summer and ice cream: perfect together. There is something primally refreshing about an ice cream cone on a warm summer night, when the sweet-toothed inner child in all of us is overcome with smooth sugary bliss. Ice cream sales in this country will total about $6 billion this year; the average American consumes about 22 pounds of ice cream annually.

We've picked the best pizzeria, best diner, best burger, best Italian restaurant, best bakery and best hot dog joint in each county, so with the dog days of summer officially here, it's time to give ice cream its double-dip due. I first compiled this list in 2017. For this update, I visited 15 stops around the state — though I've been to 200-plus New Jersey ice cream shops/stands in all. This is just one person's list of the best ice cream shop or stand in each county — we encourage you to disagree in the comments section. Each of my top picks makes its own ice cream.

Oh, and Sunday, July 21 is National Ice Cream Day!

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Atlantic: Royale Crown Homemade Ice Cream and Grill, Hammonton

Hammonton is the blueberry capital of the world, so it comes as no surprise that Royale Crown makes blueberry ice cream. Make that unbelievably good blueberry ice cream. The diner-shiny ice cream stand opened in 1953 on the White Horse Pike. There are about 40 kinds of hard ice cream and eight flavors of soft ice cream. Another must-try: the black raspberry soft-serve.

Atlantic: Runners-up

Lindy Hops, Galloway

Margate Dairy Bar, Margate

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Bergen: Ice Cream by Mike, Ridgewood

I'll surely take heat for not picking local legends Bischoff's or Conrad's or Van Dyk's, but I've been to all three, and think Ice Cream by Mike is better. Mike Elias recently moved from a tiny, narrow space in Hackensack to a bigger, brighter spot in Ridgewood. He uses high-end ingredients and is always creating creative if not crazy flavors. You're not going to find 40-50 flavors here; more like ten. Try the French vanilla or lemon ice cream; you'll thank me later.

Bergen: Runners-up

Bischoff's, Teaneck

Conrad's Confectionary, Westwood.

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Burlington: Maple Shade Custard Stand, Maple Shade

The red-and-white-trimmed Maple Shade Custard Stand, which dates to the 50s, is a scoop of vanishing Americana, with its walk-up counter and DRIVE IN sign atop the roof. Custard or soft-serve is more a South Jersey than North Jersey thing, and this stand is one of the absolute best in the state.

Burlington: Runners-up

Ummm Ice Cream Parlor, Burlington City

Smylie's Ice Cream Shop, Columbus.

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Camden: Arctic Freeze Creamery, Collingswood

Never had Thai-style rolled ice cream? What are you waiting for? Arctic Freeze does it, and well. First of all, it's quite a production: Milk, cream and sugar are poured, pounded and scraped on a flat surface, then fashioned into a half dozen rolls. Choose your flavor of ice cream first (vanilla, chocolate, coconut), add your choice of toppings later, and you're good to go. I tried the Mint Dip, a mint sandwich cookie and brownies, with vanilla ice cream and jimmies; and the Brownie Overload, brownies and chocolate chips, with chocolate ice cream, then bananas and coconut flakes (a perfect combo if say so myself). Rolled ice cream may not be for everyone, and it may be gimmicky, but give it a try

Camden: Runners-up:

Hilltop Creamery, Blackwood

Sundaes, Berlin

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Cape May: Springer's, Stone Harbor

Vanilla Bean Creamery (no relation to the one in Cranford) was the county's best ice cream shop in my opinion, but it has closed. Springer's is a Shore legend - it was Taylor Swift's favorite when she summered here. There are 50-plus flavors on the board, so if you don't find something you like, there is probably something wrong with you.

Cape May: Runners-up

Duffer's, Wildwood

Fleck's Ice Cream, Villas.

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Cumberland: Serene Custard, Vineland

Literally located on the other side of the railroad tracks in the state's largest city by size, Serene Custard opened in 1959; current owner Ed Rone took over in 1984. His wife, Linda, makes the ice cream, although Ed did build the miniature gold course out back. He uses what he calls "the Rolls-Royce'' of mixes, Crowley's, which costs $9 per gallon. The result is rich and creamy, and colder than any soft-serve I've tried.

Cumberland: Runners-up

Flipper's Custard, Millville

Verona Custard, Vineland

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Essex: Nasto's Ice Cream Co., Newark

One of the great food institutions in Newark's Ironbound, Nasto's opened in 1939 in a former brewery. Secret to its success and long life? "Put the good stuff in and get good stuff out,'' says Frank Nasto III. The blue-awninged shop supplies ice cream to about 750 restaurants around New Jersey. Try the key lime if they have it.

Essex: Runners-up

Applegate Farm, Montclair

Mark & Julie's Homemade Ice Cream, West Orange

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Gloucester: Latteria, Swedesboro

There is no ice cream shop in New Jersey quite like Latteria - the tables and wall are painted in swirly kaleidoscopic colors - think Cezanne and Van Gogh meet Peter Max over ice cream. "Our cream is from farms that take care of the animals and land,'' says a sign. There are about 40 flavors at any given time- check the big board behind the counter. My favorites: the dark chocolate and toasted coconut.

Gloucester: Runners-up

Alaura Kitchen, Pitman

Dippy's, Mantua

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Hudson: Torico Homemade Ice Cream, Jersey City

If it were up to me, I'd declare a tie between Milk Sugar Love and Torico Homemade Ice Cream. But ties, I am told, are not allowed in ice cream, so I'll give a very slight edge to Torico, because of the colorful ice cream parlor atmosphere and wider range of flavors. Peter and Bura Berrios started the business with slushes and sorbets in 1968; their daughters, Denise and Christine, are now in charge. My favorites: the mango and soursop.

Hudson: Runners-up

Milk Sugar Love, Jersey City

Luigi's Ice Cream (inside Ani Ramen), Jersey City

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Hunterdon: oWowCow Creamery, Lambertville

The winner of our N.J's best ice cream showdown in 2016, oWowCow Creamery has just one location in New Jersey, in Lambertville, but we sure hope that changes soon. oWowCow dazzles with its classic and non-traditional flavors, superbly made. There are Tahitian, Madagascar and Indonesian flavors of vanilla ice cream, plus such head-spinners as lime cilantro, blueberry lemon and cinnamon bourbon. The mint chocolate chip may be the best I've had anywhere.

Hunterdon: Runners-up

Jimmy's Ice Cream, Holland Township

Polar Cub, Whitehouse.

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Mercer: The Bent Spoon, Princeton

The Bent Spoon - named after an object in "The Matrix'' - was opened in 2004 by Gabrielle Carbone and Matt Errico, who met at the College of New Jersey. They're still at it, overseeing a tiny, perpetually packed shop on Palmer Square. They're big on using locally-sourced ingredients, and the ice cream is both terrific in quality and eclectic in range. Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey sea salt caramel, anyone? My favorites: the blood orange and blue lemon.

Mercer: Runners-up

Halo Pub, Princeton

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Middlesex: Fajji's Homemade Ice Cream, Perth Amboy

There's no Fajji at Fajji's Homemade Ice Cream - that was an employee of the former owners - but current owner Tom Griffin doesn't mind if you call him Fajji. "They buy my ice cream, they can call me anything they want,'' he says. The staff wears tie-dyed t-shirts, and many of the flavors are Caribbean-accented, including coconut (Griffin cracks the coconuts himself), pineapple and passion fruit. The Thin Mint ice cream tastes just like the real thing.

Middlesex: Runners-up

Colonia Dairy Maid, Colonia

What's the Scoop, Metuchen

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Monmouth: Nicholas Creamery, Atlantic Highlands

It would take exceptional ice cream to knock Cookman Creamery off its previously-held perch as the county's best ice cream, but newcomer Nicholas Creamery has done just that. Nicholas is Nicholas Harary, owner of Restaurant Nicholas in Middletown. Small-batch ice cream "using natural dairy and working directly with local farmers and food artisans to source the freshest, seasonal ingredients'' is the mission statement here. The ice cream is uber-rich and impossibly creamy. In the photo are the Jersey blueberry and the Chocolate Valrhona. The Monster Mash is a killer mint ice cream. There is another location in Fair Haven.

Monmouth: Runners-up:

Cookman Creamery, Asbury Park

Ryan's Homemade Ice Cream, Tinton Falls

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Morris: Das' Creamery, Budd Lake

I looove both Cliff's Ice Cream in Ledgewood and Denville Dairy in Denville, but Das' Creamery pushes the ice cream envelope like few others, with whimsically-titled flavors that belie the seriousness that goes into making each one. Owner Komal Das presides over the bright, cherry shop. Indulge your wild side with some cinnamon almond tipsy raisin (made with rum-soaked raisins), basil Junior Mint or the sweet cream blueberry.

Morris: Runners-up

Cliff's Homemade Ice Cream, Ledgewood

Denville Dairy, Denville.

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Ocean: Charlie's Homemade Ice Cream, Seaside Park

Another example where an under-the-radar spot edges out a longtime legend. Charlie's Homemade Ice Cream has been open nearly 35 years, yet I ran across quite a few folks who had never heard of Charlie's when I asked about it two years ago. They do chocolate about as well as anyone - regular chocolate, chocolate fudge brownie, and my favorite, the Jamaican almond fudge.

Ocean: Runners-up

Hoffman's Ice Cream, Point Pleasant Beach

Original Rich's Ice Cream, Toms River

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Passaic: Guernsey Crest Ice Cream Co., Paterson

Practically hidden along 19th Avenue, and sharing the neighborhood with Bergen Lift Truck, United Motor Collision and Swift Lube, Guernsey Crest is not much for appearances inside or out but it's a longtime locals-only hangout. There's no web site, and a barely-there Facebook page. Find it — that's half the challenge — and enjoy.

Passaic: Runners-up

Gelotti, Paterson

Note: Curley's Ice Cream in Wayne was on the previous list. That location has since closed. There are Curley's in Riverdale and Boonton, in Morris County.

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Salem: Cream Valley Custard, Woodstown

Is there anything more quintessentially small-town America than people lined up outside an ice cream stand at night? Cream Valley Custard, open since 1973, is owned by Nancy Wilson, who worked here when she was in high school. The homemade custard is swirly, soft and uber-creamy, and every bit as good, if not better, than fabled Kohr's Down the Shore.

Salem: Runners-up

Hudock's Custard Stand, Quinton

Pennsville Custard Stand, Pennsville

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Somerset: Summer Ville Homemade Ice Cream, Somerville

Computer tech-turned-ice cream maker Elio DeFranco opened Summer Ville Homemade Ice Cream several years ago, furnishing the interior with a wooden whale and a fearsome-looking hammerhead shark replica. One of his most popular flavors is Somerville Mud (chocolate chip cookies, M&Ms, Reese's Pieces, Oreos); kids have been known to burst into tears when they discover the shop's out of it. No Mud? Try the key lime.

Somerset: Runners-up

Ava's Ice Cream, Basking Ridge

Gabriel's Fountain, Martinsville

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Sussex: Cow's Brow Creamery, Fredon

Jake Hunt at Cow's Brow is the mad scientist of New Jersey ice cream making. His Taylor ham ice cream last year turned the iconic breakfast meat into a dessert delight. He followed it up with tomato pie ice cream. You can get "regular'' ice cream here, and it's delicious - Madagascar bourbon vanilla, salty caramel, milk chocolate and white mint chip, among others. Vegan flavors include lavender agave, plus coconut blackberry sorbet and grapefruit rosemary sorbet.

Sussex: Runners-up

Alpine Creamery, Sparta

Dairy Swirl, Vernon

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Union: Zita's Homemade Ice Cream, New Providence

Zita's, named after Zita Elefante, grandmother of owner Pete Elefante, opened in 2000. They won top specialty flavor for its S'mores at the N.J. Ice Cream Festival in 2010. There are about 30 flavors, including black raspberry, cake batter, cherry vanilla and rum raisin. One must-try: the 91716, made with chocolate-covered pretzels, peanut butter, caramel and chocolate chips in vanilla ice cream.

Union: Runners-up

Vanilla Bean Creamery, Cranford

Magic Fountain, Summit

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Warren: Mackey's Orchard, White Township

Great ice cream at a farm? Yes again! At Mackey's Orchard, order away at the walk-up counter. The hard ice cream comes from an outside vendor; you'll want to try the homemade soft-serve, made with fruits in season - strawberry, blueberry, peach and black raspberry. The latter is pretty close to incredible.

Warren: Runners-up

Blairstown Dairy, Blairstown

Ice Cream Junction, Phillipsburg.

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Who makes the best ice cream in your county?

On a list like this, there's bound to be debate and disagreement; several local legends were skipped over in favor of newer, more adventurous shops. What's the best ice cream shop/stand in your county? Who did we leave out? Let us know in the comments section.

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More stories about N.J. food

The best pizzeria in each of N.J.'s 21 counties

N.J.'s 35 greatest old-school restaurants, ranked

N.J.'s best fried chicken: The 25 most delicious spots around the state

Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile@NJ_Munchmobile. Find the Munchmobile on Facebook andInstagram.