From downtown strolls to after dinner cravings, Franklin serves up ice cream, gelato, and frozen treats that feel indulgent without fuss. Whether you favor classic scoops, velvety custard, or a creative affogato, you will find polished spots for date nights, grandkid outings, and everything in between. Options for dietary needs, from dairy free to lighter swirls, make it easy to please a group.
Let’s get to it.
Sweethaven
Sprinkles take center stage here, not as an afterthought but as a design choice. Sweethaven dresses super‑premium scoops from a Wisconsin creamery with a themed artisan sprinkle bar, holiday blends, even Disney-style mixes. Nostalgic and a little luxe.
Flavors stay classic with smart twists. Tennessee Sunset, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Salted Caramel Cashew, and Valencia Orange rotate with seasonal and limited runs, so variety feels intentional.
Craving soft serve or lighter picks? Dole Whip style swirl and a Dole Whip float bring tropical cheer. Farm‑fresh frozen yogurt, coconut‑milk options, and dairy‑free sorbet keep mixed groups happy. Add King of Pops, homemade waffle cones, and mix‑ins that actually blend rather than sit on top. Weekend donuts and specialty cookies round it out.
Both Franklin spots keep it easy. Westhaven suits neighborhood strolls, while Main Street works for a downtown pause with indoor seating and outdoor perches. Staff is allergy-aware. Pricing sits in premium territory, yet portions and quality make it feel like a treat worth planning.
Celebrations are their sweet spot. Cookie‑decorating classes, private parties, and The Sweet Cycle mobile cart turn dessert into the event. For families and anyone who values choice, Sweethaven reads as a polished crowd‑pleaser.
High Brow Coffee
Affogato steals the show at High Brow Coffee in Westhaven. Silky scoops meet their in-house espresso, and the result reads like dessert and digestif in one. It is coffee-first, not a scoop-shop free-for-all.
Expect a tight rotation of ice cream flavors tied to what they are pouring. Bourbon caramel might appear, or a seasonal syrup to brighten an affogato. Their house ganache turns shakes into something special, and an occasional coffee soda keeps things playful.
Prices sit slightly above basic cafe treats, yet the house roasting, syrups, and whipped cream justify it. Portions are standard, more European than jumbo, which keeps things feeling refined.
The space invites lingering, with a big community table inside and a pet-friendly patio outside. Families fit in easily, and there are kid-friendly shakes, plus pastries and sandwiches if you need real food.
Go if you love the idea of coffee doing the heavy lifting in your dessert. Skip it if a wall of 30 ice cream flavors is the goal or if you need guaranteed dairy-free scoops. Parking is easy, and you can take home their beans for later.
Fork of the South Sugar Factory
All eyes go to the Banana Pudding, made with real bananas and Nilla wafers. Then the milkshake bar lets you pick your level of drama, Basic, Extra, or Boujie, each crowned with house-whipped cream and playful toppings.
Scoops are crafted on site with a rotating lineup. Expect Cookie Monster and Biscoff plus whimsical seasonals, sometimes tied to local carousel events. Cones, cups, sundaes, floats, waffles with ice cream, and fountain-style refreshers arrive generous and made to order.
Inside The Factory at Franklin, it blends nostalgic general-store charm with plenty of room to linger, a courtyard patio, and curated goods from local makers. Kids love the candy corner while grown-ups eye the Candy Martini Bar or the reservable Southern Tea Room. Dairy-free friends can visit Sips at the Silo for shaved ice and specialty sodas.
Value comes from scaling up or keeping it simple. Go Basic for a lighter tab, save Boujie for birthdays. Parking is easy, community events pop up, and hours shift with the season, so a quick check before you go helps.
Perfect for families and celebrations, especially if playful nostalgia beats minimalist gelato purity.
Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream Brentwood
Cold fog curls over the counter while your scoop is born in real time. A quick hop from Franklin, Chill-N Brentwood uses liquid nitrogen to flash-freeze each order, which yields that ultra-smooth, satisfyingly dense bite.
Customization is the game here. Choose a dairy, yogurt-style, or vegan base, then layer flavors like matcha, birthday cake, or ube, and finish with Mix-Ns from brownie bits to cheesecake pieces. House-made hot fudge and salted caramel add a grown-up polish, and seasonal specials keep the board interesting.
The vibe leans science lab in a good, clean way, with a few tables and plenty to watch as the clouds billow. Parking is easy in the plaza, so it works well for a treat before heading back toward Franklin. Kids get the spectacle, adults get the texture.
Pricing sits in the moderate-to-premium lane, but portions are rich and filling. Many are happy with a small, especially if toppings pile high. Cones, cups, sundae-style builds, plus pints to-go or a Pint Club for gifting.
Best for curious eaters and families who enjoy a little show with their scoop. Also helpful for dietary needs, with clearly marked gluten-aware choices and dairy-free bases that actually taste like dessert.
Kilwins Ice Cream – Chocolate – Fudge
Butter, sugar, and chocolate do the talking here. In historic downtown Franklin, Kilwins feels like confectionery theater, with fudge paddled on marble and apples dipped into glossy caramel while you watch. The aroma alone sets a mood that says splurge a little.
Ice cream leans rich and classic, built on a super-creamy signature base. Expect standbys like chocolate, mint chip, cookies ’n cream, and salted caramel, plus rotating seasonal flavors that keep things interesting. Chocolate-dipped waffle cones are a playful touch, and sundaes, shakes, and floats scratch that dessert-once-removed itch. Dairy-free fruit sorbets show up, though availability can vary.
It is a premium stop. Portions are dense rather than towering, so the smallest scoop often does the job. Shakes and specialty sundaes run higher, while pints travel well if you prefer an at-home treat.
Seating is limited, but the scene is part of the charm, especially for families or anyone strolling downtown. Beyond ice cream, the heritage chocolates, brittle, and gift boxes make thoughtful takeaways. If you want chef-y gelato nuance, look elsewhere. If you’re chasing nostalgic sweetness done with skill, this is the indulgence that delivers.
Whit’s Frozen Custard – Franklin, TN
Churned throughout the day, the custard at Whit’s stays velvety and satisfyingly cold, the kind that holds its shape and spoils regular ice cream. In Franklin, it reads as simple quality over gimmicks.
Vanilla and chocolate are always ready, then a Flavor of the Week keeps things lively with seasonal and holiday twists. Build a Whitser with mix-ins like chocolate flakes, nuts, or fruit swirls, or keep it classic in a cup.
Value is a pleasant surprise. Portions skew generous and the shakes and malts run substantial, often enough for two. Those cookie-and-custard Whitties are fun for grandkids and equally nice with coffee on the way home.
Practical touches stand out. Pints and quarts travel well, and custom custard cakes only need a 48-hour heads-up. Gluten-free bases make ordering easy, while vegan options vary by location, so a quick check before you go helps.
The vibe leans nostalgic and family-friendly without feeling chaotic, with easy parking and a low-fuss counter rhythm. When you want something indulgent, consistent, and reasonably priced, Whit’s is a smart stop in Franklin.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Flavors read like a chef’s tasting menu: Salted Caramel with backbone, Darkest Chocolate that actually earns the name, Brambleberry Crisp with pastry swirls, then a curveball like a floral sorbet or a boozy collab.
This is the stop for adventurous palates and indecisive mix-and-matchers. Scoops are priced like a boutique experience and portions skew modest, yet the density, bright flavors, and chunky mix-ins feel indulgent. Dairy-free coconut and oat bases shine, not consolation prizes.
Around Franklin and Cool Springs, the scoop shops are bright, modern, and unfussy. Indoor seating plus the occasional patio keep it easy with kids while still reading nicely for a date night.
Cones or cups, doubles, sundaes, and often shakes keep options open. Pints to go make the freezer happy, and the rotating drops and artist tie-ins add a little thrill to repeat visits.
Choose Jeni’s when you want creativity and quality over bargain pricing. If budget comes first, skip it. If you chase seasonal flavors and like trying new profiles, this one satisfies.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
Fresh-made daily and unapologetically abundant, Handel’s leans into classic ice cream joy. The Franklin shop in Cool Springs serves super-premium scoops that feel like a small celebration.
Portions run generous, cones are hand-dipped, and the menu is expansive. Expect scoops, multi-scoop samplers, sundaes, shakes, Hurricanes, plus chocolate-dipped Handel Pops and ice-cream sandwiches.
Flavor depth is the draw. A rotating board pulls from 100-plus recipes, from Butter Pecan and Buckeye to S’mores, Banana Cream Pie, and a summery Peach made with real fruit. Hot fudge, caramel, marshmallow, nuts, and cookie pieces let you dress it up without fuss.
Those skipping dairy are not sidelined, thanks to bright sorbets and a few vegan choices. Outdoor seating keeps it casual and kid friendly, pet cups get tails wagging, and to-go pints and quarts travel well for backyard desserts.
Choose Handel’s when you want big flavor, bigger variety, and value in a lively setting. Prefer a hushed gelato boutique and tiny portions? Look elsewhere. Planning a crowd? Their sundae bars and catering pints make hosting simple.
Sweet Cece’s Downtown Franklin
Customization rules here. Sweet CeCe’s Downtown Franklin turns dessert into a choose-your-own adventure, and it works for every appetite and budget.
Start at the self-serve wall, where rotating frozen yogurt and sorbet flavors keep things lively. Cake batter beside mango sorbet, mint chocolate chip near cherry vanilla, and seasonal specials that change often. Then wander to the generous topping bar for candies, fruits, syrups, and those dipped waffle cones that make a simple cup feel celebratory.
Not in a froyo mood? Scooped and hand-spun options step in. Milkshakes are made to order, cookie sandwiches and other treats show up fresh, and there are grab-and-go cookies for the ride home.
The shop is bright and family-friendly, a short stroll from the square with easy parking nearby. Prices are casual, portions are flexible, and the loyalty punch card sweetens repeat visits, with promo days that locals watch for. Yes, it is a local chain with sisters around Middle Tennessee, yet this downtown spot fits the Franklin rhythm perfectly, especially for quick meetups and post-dinner strolls.
Sweet CeCe’s Cool Springs
Choice. That is the headline at Sweet CeCe’s Cool Springs. Frozen yogurt sits beside gelato, frozen custard, soft-serve, and hand-scooped Blue Bunny ice cream, so everyone at the table lands on a favorite. One stop, many styles, zero dessert negotiation.
Flavors rotate generously, from Tahitian vanilla and dreamy dark chocolate to cake batter, mango, and sea-salt caramel. Holiday runs show up too, like pumpkin, eggnog, and candy-cane. The yogurt uses fresh milk and live cultures, while gelato and custard are prepared to shop specs. Ice cream is the familiar premium brand.
The toppings bar reads like a grown-up candy drawer. Think mochi, cookie dough, cereals, fresh fruit, nuts, sprinkles, and warm sauces. Build a cup, get a cone, or turn it into a shake. It is unabashedly DIY, which keeps kids and committees happy.
Pricing follows the pay-by-weight model, so portion control is in your hands, and the loyalty punch card helps the budget along. Seating is small and bright in that Cool Springs shopping-center way, with easy parking that fills at peak times. Non-dairy sorbets and no-sugar-added flavors broaden the crowd. High-art gelato purists may prefer elsewhere, variety lovers will be right at home.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Real cream churned on-site that same day is the quiet flex here. Yes, it is a franchise, yet each shop churns daily, so it never feels cookie-cutter.
Expect 20 to 30 flavors in rotation, with seasonal riffs that keep regulars happy. Graham Central Station and Purple Dinosaur are the kind of playful signatures that sit alongside butter pecan, mocha chip, and other classics.
Portions are generous, prices reasonable, and the hand-rolled waffle cones are made in-house. Pints and quarts to go make dessert for the whole crew simple.
In the Franklin and Cool Springs corridor, the vibe leans family-friendly, with easy parking, patio seating, and a walk-up pace that keeps the line moving. Many shops also blend shakes, sundaes, splits, and candy-studded blasts.
Dietary considerations get a nod with occasional oat milk non-dairy and no-sugar-added choices, though availability varies. If you want chef-y gelato flights, look elsewhere; if you want a classic scoop shop that delivers creamy comfort and crowd-pleasing variety, this is it.
Cold Stone Creamery
The show happens on the stone, where they fold candy, fruit, or brownie bites into ice cream made in-store. In the Cool Springs corridor, it feels like a little dessert theater with plenty of choices and zero pressure.
Signature Creations take the guesswork out. Birthday Cake Remix is a crowd magnet, but the create-your-own path is the real draw, since the mix-in roster is huge. Staff are quick with suggestions when you want them.
Scoops run large, priced by size, with mix-ins nudging the bill upward. It is not the cheapest scoop in town, yet the customization and texture justify it for families and groups who want different things.
Dietary notes: rotating sorbets and some dairy-free options show up often, and allergen info is available. Prefer a less-sweet route? Try coffee or cheesecake ice cream with nuts, fruit, or a drizzle of caramel instead of candy.
Need dessert for later? Pints, quarts, and ice cream cakes make take-home easy, and there is catering for events. For a quick treat or a celebratory splurge, this spot delivers variety with a bit of fun.
