Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream in Provo Utah

I have 9 children, all grown now. This means we have ample opportunities to go out to eat to celebrate birthdays. 

My oldest daughter wanted to go to Ombu’s Grill for dinner. After dinner, we all wanted ice cream, so we tried out - Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream. 

Handel’s is tucked away on State Street near the border of Orem and Provo. It has the old-fashioned ice cream parlor vibe, mid-60’s style like from the TV show, Happy Days with Fonzie.  

So much fun! 

You walk in one side of the ice cream parlor. A huge counter spread across the span of the parlor. As you approach the counter, friendly young servers greet you and help you place your order.

As soon as it’s ready, they hand your ice cream or shake over to you. 

You’d head down the counter to pay for your ice cream treats at the cashier’s stand. 

There is a long bar complete with bar stools across from where orders are taken. They also have tables to sit at throughout Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream. 

The ice cream containers are large freezer bins lined across in the opposite way the counter goes. 

I noticed that each of the large bins contains several other bins inside. These are the containers for each of the ice cream flavors. Then on the outside of the large bin, there are 3 to 4 labels with the ice cream flavor printed on it. You can easily find whatever flavor you wanted to try. 

What really impressed me though is how quickly the servers worked. They pretty much knew by heart which containers held which flavor. 

The best part of all, of course, is the size and the prices! The prices are way better than most other ice cream parlors in Provo and Orem. 

It is not fancy like the Sweet Rolled Tacos Ice Cream Parlor or Cold Stone. It is not as good as the BYU Creamery ice cream, but comes close. I like it better than Leatherby’s. 

I ordered the Chocoholic Chunk. It was dark chocolate with dark chocolate chips and it tasted delicious. It lived up to its name, that is for sure.

My daughter ordered the Turtle, like a salted caramel. My granddaughter chose the coffee flavored ice cream with almonds.

My son went for Salty Caramel Truffle. I sampled them all. They all pass the taste test!

Where did Handel's Homemade ice cream originate?

It all began in 1945 when Alice Handel founded the very first Handel’s Ice Cream Shop at the corner of Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard in Youngstown, Ohio. 

She initially started serving her delicious treats from her husband’s gasoline station on Market Street. She made her first batches of ice cream using fresh fruit from the family garden. It was very popular, and soon she had built up a loyal following of customers queuing up for her homemade ice cream. 

Due to the growing line extending into Market Street, Alice decided to move her operations to Vermont Court. It was here that she continued to serve up tasty treats while also ensuring the safety of all children who visited her shop. 

In 1985, Handel’s Ice Cream was purchased by Leonard Fisher, who now established corporate headquarters in Canfield, Ohio. Handel’s has grown to become a household name across 11 states: Ohio, Arizona, Alabama, California, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah. 

The menu expanded to include over 150 flavors of homemade ice cream. 

Why is Handel's Ice Cream so popular?

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has become a nationally renowned ice cream destination in recent years, gaining recognition from some of the most prestigious publications in the United States. From its humble beginnings as a small stand in Youngstown, Ohio, Handel’s has become one of the top ice cream businesses in the country. 

The Travel Channel was among the first to recognize Handel’s for its delicious creations, naming it “One of the Best Ice Cream Parlors in the Country”. Since then, Handel’s has been featured by various other publications, including USA Today, which rated it as one of the top-ten best ice cream businesses in the country in 2002. 

Ohio Restaurant News also quoted Handel’s as “The Busiest Ice Cream Stand in America” due to its popularity among locals and tourists. National Geographic named Handel’s the #1 ice cream in its 10 Best of Everything book published in 2006. 

People Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and the book Everyone Loves Ice Cream have also featured Handel’s success stories. 

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream was included on Vegas Magazine’s list of the top 10 ice cream shops in Las Vegas in 2021. 

It received yet another incredible honor when Entrepreneur Magazine ranked it as 295th in their 2023 Franchise 500 ranking.

Graham Central Station: Handel's Most Popular Ice Cream Flavor

Aside from recognitions from established award-giving bodies, their unique and delicious flavors are really what made Handel's one of America's favorite ice cream stands.

Their most popular flavor is Graham Central Station and it's easy to see why.

This Handel's Homemade Ice Cream flavor is pure graham goodness! It's made of graham ice cream with graham cracker ripple and chocolate-covered crunchies. If you will be trying out Handel's Homemade ice cream flavors for the first time, this is definitely one you wouldn't want to miss!

What’s Unique About Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream

Catering 

Handel’s offer catering services for any occasion you need. They specialize in sundae bar, pints, scoops, and Handel pops. 

Sundae bar - offers three flavors of Handel’s homemade ice cream, along with a variety of toppings to choose from. 

Pints & half pints - you can order pints or half-pints of your favorite flavors, along with custom labels outside each container. 

Handel pops - these chocolate dipped creations are available in both full size and miniature. The best part about this dessert is you can pick any flavor you want. 

Single scoop - if you prefer something simple yet delicious, there’s always the single scoop option, where you can select any three flavors for each individual guest. 

Handel’s will make sure your guests aren’t lacking when it comes to delicious ice cream treats, whether you’re hosting a birthday party or corporate event. 

Fundraising

Besides providing delicious desserts, Handel’s has a strong commitment to fundraising initiatives. 

One way to maximize your fundraising efforts is by taking advantage of Handel’s Spirit Night program. With this program, you get 20% of sales when you distribute flyers inviting people to enjoy a night out at Handel’s and sample their delicious offerings. 

You can also host an ice cream social or pre-sell pint cards for retail value. 

Click here to learn more about Handel’s fundraising. 

Franchising 

Handel’s is looking for franchisees who value great taste as much as they do to help continue their mission of making great homemade ice cream available everywhere. 

Join Handel’s through their franchising opportunities. 

Gift Cards 

Handel’s makes it easy to share their tasty creations with friends and family by offering gift cards ranging from $10 to $100. Perfect for birthdays or any special occasion! 

You can purchase gift cards here. 

Where to find Handel's Ice Cream

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is located at 1405 S State, Orem, Utah 84097

What time does Handel's Ice Cream open?

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is open: 

Monday - Thursday - 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. 

Friday - Saturday - 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. 

Sunday - 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

Store hours may vary depending on holidays or special events. Be sure to check their website at handelsicecream.com or social media (Facebook or Instagram) before making plans. 

Handel's Best Ice Cream Flavors: Prices and Calorie Count

Cones/Dishes 

Small (200-510 cal) - $4.60 

Medium (280-690 cal) - $5.60 

Large (380-870 cal) - $6.60 

Waffle Cones/Bowls

Small (360-710 cal) - $5.70 

Medium (440 - 890 cal) - $6.70 

Large (630-1080 cal) - $7.70 

Extra Cone or Dish (30-60 cal) - $0.25 

Extra Waffle Cone (80 cal) - $0.80 

Dipped Waffle Cone (240-290 cal) - $1.00 

Dipped Cone with Topping (240-290 cal) - $1.25 

Hand Picked Pints 

675-1215 cal – $7.25 

Hand Packed Quart 

1350-2430 cal – $10.50 

4 Scoop Sampler (Choose 4 flavors)

320-720 cal – $6.50 

Banana Split 

780-1540 cal – $7.75 

Sundaes 

540-730 cal – $6.25 

Caramel/Chocolate/Crushed Cherry/

Marshmallow/Peanut Butter/Pineapple

Specialty Sundaes

630-900 cal – $7.25 

Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae/Waffle 

Extra Toppings/Nuts 

Pecans 

Handel’s Hurricanes

Small (600-780 cal) - $5.50 

Medium (910-1020 cal) - $6.50 

Large (1210-1360 cal) - $7.50 

Banana Split/Butterfinger/Caramel Cone Crunch 

Chocolate Brownie Chunk/Chocolate Covered Strawberry 

Cookie Dough/Heath Bar/M&M’s/NERDS/OREO 

Snickers/Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk 

Milkshake 

770-1050 cal – $6.25 

Extra thick 

870-1250 cal – $6.95

Monster Shake 

1410-2100 cal – $9.25 

Extra thick (1610-2500 cal) – $9.95 

Malt 

803-1082 cal – $6.50 

Extra thick (903-1283 cal) – $7.25 

Monster Malt 

1476-2166 cal – $9.50 

Extra thick (1676-2566 cal) – $10.25

Float 

450 cal - $5.75 

Ice Cream Sandwich 

230-260 cal – $3.50 

Handel Pops 

230-260 cal – $3.50

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream Orem Popular Flavors

Ice Cream 

Banana Cream Pie - banana ice cream using fresh bananas with marshmallow ripple and sugar cookie gems

Birthday Cake - yellow cake batter ice cream with blue icing ripple and sprinkles

Black Cherry - black cherry ice cream with whole black cherries

Black Raspberry Chunk - black raspberry ice cream with chocolate truffles

Blue Monster - blue vanilla ice cream with Oreo ® cookies and Nestle ® Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brownie Dough - chocolate and vanilla ice cream layered with cookie dough and brownie pieces

Buckeye - peanut butter ice cream with fudge ripple and buckeye candy pieces

Butter Pecan - butter pecan ice cream with whole roasted, buttered, & salted pecans

Caramel Apple - sour apple ice cream with caramel ripple

Caramel Pretzel Crunch - caramel ice cream with caramel ripple and chocolate covered pretzels

Cherry Vanilla - vanilla ice cream with whole maraschino cherries

Chocoholic Chunk - deep, dark chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips

Chocolate - chocolate flavored ice cream

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough - vanilla ice cream with cookie dough pieces and chocolate chips

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie - chocolate ice cream with Reese’s Peanut Butter® ripple and brownie chunks

Chocolate Raspberry Truffle - deep, dark chocolate ice cream with raspberry ripple and chocolate truffles

Cinnamon Roll - yellow cake batter ice cream with brown sugar cinnamon ripple

Coconut Caramel Delight - coconut ice cream with caramel ripple, coconut caramel cookies, and coconut flakes

Coffee Chocolate Chip - coffee ice cream with chocolate chips

Coffee W/ Heath® - coffee ice cream with Heath® pieces

Cotton Candy - cotton candy ice cream with mini chocolate rainbow chips

French Silk Pie - chocolate butter fudge ice cream with graham cracker ripple and chocolate chips

German Chocolate Cake - chocolate ice cream with coconut flakes with a pecan mixture

Graham Central Station - graham ice cream with graham cracker ripple and chocolate-covered crunchies

Key Lime Pie - key lime ice cream with graham cracker ripple 

Meri’s Joy - coconut ice cream with almonds and chocolate chips

Mint Chocolate Chip - mint ice cream with chocolate chip specks

Mint With Oreo® - mint ice cream with Oreo® cookies

Mocha Almond Fudge Ripple - coffee ice cream with fudge ripple and toasted almonds

Monkey Business - banana cake batter ice cream using fresh bananas with caramel ripple and brownie pieces

Mud Pie - double coffee ice cream with chocolate ripple and Oreo® cookies

New York Cheesecake Chunk - cheesecake ice cream with graham cracker ripple and cheesecake chunks

Orange Dream Cream - orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream mixed together

Oree-Dough - vanilla ice cream with Oreo® cookies and cookie dough pieces

Peanut Butter Parfait - chocolate butter fudge ice cream with Reese’s Peanut Butter® ripple

Pistachio - pistachio ice cream with pistachios

Praline Pecan - vanilla ice cream with candied pecans and butterscotch ripple

Rocky Mocha Blast - chocolate and coffee ice cream with cookie dough pieces and Oreo ® crumbs

Salty Caramel Truffle - salty caramel ice cream with chocolate truffles filled with salted caramel

Snappy Turtle - chocolate ice cream with caramel ripple and whole roasted, buttered, & salted pecans

Strawberry - strawberry ice cream using real strawberries

Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk - cheesecake ice cream with strawberry ripple and cheesecake chunks

S’mores - graham cracker ice cream with marshmallow ripple, chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows

Taro - taro root flavored ice cream with a hint of ube

Tin Lizzy - vanilla ice cream with chocolate-covered toffee pieces and butterscotch ripple

Vanilla - vanilla ice cream

Vanilla With Oreo® - vanilla ice cream with Oreo® cookies

Shebets, Ices, & Other

Sour Green Apple Ice - dairy free/vegan 

Lime Sherbet - low dairy 

Strawberry Sorbet - dairy free/vegan 

Review - 5 Stars

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is the perfect place to go for a sweet treat. Not only do they have delicious ice cream, they also have outstanding customer service. Their young servers have friendly smiles on their faces all the time. They are helpful. They willingly give out taste after taste with patience to those who want to try before they buy. 

The atmosphere of the restaurant is really great too – it’s casual, fun, clean, and enjoyable. There’s a wide range of flavors available. We will definitely get ice cream there again.

Other Places to Eat In and Near Provo (and a few in other Utah locations):

Kickin’ Seafood Restaurant Near Provo, Utah

Seven Brothers Burgers

Provo Bakery: Best Bakery in Provo Utah

Malawi’s Pizza in Provo: Pizza With a Purpose

Happy Sumo Sushi in Provo, Utah

Asa Ramen Near Provo, Utah

Granny’s Drive-In in Heber City

Bowls Superfoods (Acais and Smoothies) in Provo, Utah

Tucanos Brazilian Grill Near Provo Utah

Oh Mai Sandwich Kitchen

Sweet Rolled Tacos

Taichi Bubble Tea in Provo Utah

Black Bear Diner Near Provo Utah

The Brunch House in Provo Utah

Jurassic Street Tacos

CupBop Korean BBQ in Provo Utah

Mi Ranchito: Mexican Restaurant near Provo

Thai Hut Restaurant: Fresh Thai Food in Provo, Utah