KDG
Google
Stumbled on this little oasis while walking the ‘mean streets’ of Santa Cruz. All kinds of flavors and friendliness here. Wouldn’t surprise me to see a banana slug flavor! There’s outdoor seating to enjoy your cone or cup in the sun. My kid loved his double dark chocolate.
Grok says:
The Penny Ice Creamery is a beloved artisan ice cream shop in Santa Cruz, California, renowned for crafting small-batch ice cream, sorbets, and treats entirely from scratch using local, organic, and seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farmers, ranchers, and foragers. Founded in 2010 by chef Kendra Baker—a UCSC alum with a passion for sustainable, farm-fresh desserts—and her partner Zachary E. Davis, it’s the only ice creamery in Santa Cruz (and one of the few in Northern California) with its own on-site dairy processing equipment, allowing full control from pasteurization to churning without pre-made bases, stabilizers, or preservatives. This commitment to sustainability extends to using 100% recycled, biocompostable packaging and even repurposing egg whites from their custard base into daily-made marshmallow meringue (torched fluff topping). Flavors rotate frequently, blending classic comforts with adventurous twists inspired by the Central Coast’s bounty—think wild-foraged herbs from the Santa Cruz Mountains or produce from local farms. It’s expanded from a single downtown spot to multiple locations, including recent Bay Area outposts, while maintaining a hippie-rooted, community-focused vibe that earned it a shoutout from Vice President Joe Biden in 2010 for its local impact.