A look inside how Skip’s Candy Corner makes their Irish Potatoes
Coulton Decher of at Skip’s Candy Corner makes Irish Potatoes in Lahaska on Friday, March 7, 2025.
Bucks County sweet tooths have we got a treat for you; two local favorites just got a national nod.
Owowcow Creamery was named the fifth best ice cream spot in the country, and Skip’s Candy Corner was named ninth in candy stores in the 2025 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.
The rankings, which are formed by industry experts and public voters, are an annual affair that produces community top 10 lists on a range of subjects, from best shopping center to best Alaskan dog sledding tour.
Unique scoops made from scratch
Owowcow Creamery is no stranger to praise — 2025 is the shop’s third year running in the nation’s list of favorites.
Owowcow locations — of which there are five across Pennsylvania and New Jersey — have 12 signature flavors available year-round, but stop into a storefront to see what’s on offer from the constantly rotating concoctions, like mango lassi, Thai tea black sesame brittle or rain (yes, rain).
Since the 2024 rankings, Owowcow dropped two places, beaten out by shops in California, Nebraska, North Carolina and nearby Adams County, Pennsylvania.
The USA TODAY profile of Owowcow describes it as “one of a handful of ice cream companies in the country that’s licensed by the Department of Agriculture to make its ice cream base from scratch.”
That means every scoop starts with locally sourced cream, eggs and milk — part of the brand’s broader commitment to sustainability and supporting nearby farms. The result is ice cream that feels homespun and unexpected.
While the rankings might fluctuate year to year, Owowcow’s role as a summer mainstay in the region seems firmly set.
Three generations of confectionery at Peddler’s Village
Skip’s Candy Corner climbed to ninth place in this year’s candy shop rankings, setting in stone something locals have known for years: this place knows its sweets.
Though Skip’s now operates a large-scale, nut-free manufacturing facility that distributes across the East Coast, its roots are still in Lashaska, where the original candy store in Peddler’s Village has been drawing a crowd since the ‘90s. Inside, the shelves are packed with treats — dense squares of fudge, polished chocolate truffles and brightly colored packages of sour sweets.
The shop is still a family affair, staffed by three generations, with the grandson of Skip himself still working behind the counter today.
What else made the list?
According to the 2025 USA TODAY 10BEST list, these are the nation’s top ice cream shops:
1. An’s Dry Cleaning (San Diego, California)
2. Coneflower Creamery (Omaha, Nebraska)
3. Mr G’s Ice Cream (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
4. Andia’s Ice Cream (North Carolina)
5. Owowcow Creamery (New Jersey and Pennsylvania)
6. Leopold’s Ice Cream (Savannah, Georgia)
7. Island Creamery (Maryland and Virginia)
8. Loblolly Creamery (Arkansas)
9. Cedar City Creamery (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
10. Marianne’s Ice Cream (California)
And these are the top candy stores:
1. Schimpff’s Confectionery (Jeffersonville, Indiana)
2. Bright’s Candies (Walla Walla, Washington)
3. Marini’s Candies (Santa Cruz, California)
4. Lammes Candies (Texas)
5. Squishington’s Candy (Lawrence, Kansas)
6. Big Top Candy Shop (Austin, Texas)
7. The Farris Wheel Candy Co. (Wichita, Kansas)
8. Sweet Pete’s Candy (Jacksonville, Florida)
9. Skip’s Candy Corner (Lahaska, Pennsylvania)
10. Henry’s Candy Co. (Hamilton, Ohio)
